Workforce Investment Boards-

Youth Programs

Youth Ecology Programs

• Youth Ecology Corps are workforce training and ecosystem education programs aimed at

employing youth and young adults while teaching environmental stewardship

• We will look at programs operating in Sonoma, Riverside and Marin Counties

Sonoma County: Program Information

• Program was started in 2009 • In 2013:

– 247 Youth participated43 Individual placements

– 25 Crews (8 Youth per crew)19 Summer crews (entry/senior level)4 Extended (senior level)2 Year Round (senior level)

– Kick-off Event– Opportunity Fair

Sonoma County: Youth Participants

Target populations are 14 to 24 year-old economically disadvantaged youth including: •Current Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Participants •Participants on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) •Current or former Foster Youth•Participants with disabilities •Pregnant or Parenting youth•Youth involved in the justice system*In addition to these target groups, other youth are served based on funding availability.

Sonoma County: Partners

The Sonoma County Human Services Department administers the Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps in partnership with:•Workforce Investment Board (WIB) •Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA)•Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE)•6 local non-profit agencies which HSD contracts with to employ and supervise the youth •New Ways to Work•Sonoma County Parks Alliance

Sonoma County: Funding Sources

The 2013 summer work experience opportunities were funded by multiple sources including the following:•Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through the Workforce Investment Board•Sonoma County Water Agency•Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)•Realignment funds•Parks Alliance Eligibility requirements and age criteria differed depending on the funding source. All participants were tracked according to funding source.

Sonoma County: Evaluation

• Done for the summer program only• Met program goals:

– Youth– Environment– Community

Marin County:Program Overview

• 2013 pilot program • Paid conservation work and career planning for 16 youth• Designated junior and senior crews at two sites• Conducted intensive recruitment sessions for youth • Developed marketing/outreach to elicit community interest

Marin County:Youth Participants

Target populations are 16 to 24 year-old economically disadvantaged youth including: •Current Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Participants •Participants on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)/ (CalWORKS)•Current or former foster youth•Participants with disabilities •Pregnant or Parenting youth•Youth involved in the justice system*In addition to these target groups, other youth are served based on funding availability.

Marin County:Partnerships

• Marin Employment Connection (MEC), operated by the Department of Health and Human Services of Marin County (H&HS)

• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (GGNPC)• California State Parks (CSP)• Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB)• Marin County Board of Supervisors (BoS)• Marin Charitable• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through the Marin County

Workforce Investment Board

Marin County:Funding

• Marin County, Department of Health and Human Services, CalWORKS

• Marin County Board of Supervisors• Golden Gate National Recreation – entrance fees collected

from visitors to local state parks

Marin County:Personnel Outcomes

• From the 8 senior crew participants:- Enrolled 4 out-of-school youth in WIA Services- Placed 3 in ongoing employment opportunities- Secured 3 in classes at College of Marin

•From the 8 junior crew participants:- Helped youth earn course credits at respective high schools- Ensured all 8 returned to school for fall quarter

Provided all 16 with a clear and motivated career trajectory

Marin County:Environmental Outcomes

Before… After..

Marin County:Future Plans

• Build in more components to support youth • Conduct a full debriefing with youth participants • Organize a one-on-one session with each applicant upon hire• Bring back 2013 corpsmembers to assist with recruitment

Riverside County: Youth Participants

Target populations are 16 to 21 year-old economically disadvantaged youth including: •Current Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Participants •Participants on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) •Current or former Foster Youth•Participants with disabilities •Pregnant or Parenting youth•Youth involved in the justice system*In addition to these target groups, other youth are served based on funding availability.

Riverside County: Partners

The Workforce Investment Board administers the Riverside County Youth Ecology Corps in partnership with:•California Family Life Center (CFLC)•Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)•Workforce Investment Board (WIB)

Riverside County: Funding

The 2013 summer work experience opportunities were funded by the following sources:•Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through the Workforce Investment Board •Eastern Municipal Water District

Riverside County: Outcomes

- 3 entered Post-Secondary Education- 1 obtained employment- 2 are enrolled in the Empower Youth WIA Program

Success Stories

Future Plans

Questions?