MCESA Re-Engaging Disconnected Youth Summit II

Breakout Pathway 3:

Career Connections

“Developing and Implementing Workforce Programsfor Disconnected Youth”

Laura Tate-McHughDirector of Program Strategy and

Integration

Philadelphia Youth Network

Career Connections

Disconnected youth face challenges and encounter barriers to career attainment and career readiness.

All sectors must work collaboratively to build systems and partnerships that will enhance the career prospects of disconnected youth.

All sectors of society must collectively create systems and approaches to help support our youth through this process.

Career Connections Sub-Topics

DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING WORKFORCE PROGRAMS FOR DISCONNECTED YOUTH • Laura Tate McHugh; Director of Program Strategy & Integration,

Philadelphia Youth Network

ALIGNING, INTEGRATING, AND RE-DESIGNING WORKFORCE CONNECTIONPROCESSES & SYSTEMS • Patricia Wallace; Assistant Director for Maricopa Workforce

Development

WORKFORCE PREPARATION THROUGH COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING• Brianna Bendotti; Maricopa Corporate College, Vice President of

Workforce Solutions • Ron Stefanski: Chief Business Development Officer, ed2go,

Cengage Learning• Dr. Eugene Giovannini: President of Maricopa Corporate College

CREATING RELEVANT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES BY ENGAGING BUSINESSES • Caroline VanIngen-Dunn; Science Foundation Arizona Program

Manager, STEM Pathways

Philadelphia’s cross-sector partnership dedicated to improving the economic outcomes of the region's youth by attracting, aligning and investing resources in youth workforce-development strategies.

WorkReady Philadelphia

• Philadelphia Council for College Access and Success• Philadelphia Works Board• Public and Private-Sector Investments

- Government- Local and national philanthropies- Greater Philadelphia employers

Governing Structure

Year-round and summer programming Career exposure and preparation opportunities Skills mastery

WorkReady Philadelphia

Decreased Federal Finding• School-to-Work Opportunities Act

Strong desire to sustain progress achieved under school-to-career initiative

Clear need for one entity that could serve multiple functions

Launched in 2003

Coordinated, city-wide portfolio of summer and year-round programs

Blended-funding to maximize resources

Historical Perspective

88,000+ youth experiences

9,000+ work experiences supported by the business sector ($15M)

130+ organizations supported in delivering high-quality, workforce preparation programming to youth

Notable Successes: 2003-2013

Youth understanding and mastery of skills needed to be successful in a 21st-century economy

Academic enrichment Awareness of postsecondary options

Learning High School Completion Work Experience College and Career Readiness

WorkReady Philadelphia

E3 Power Centers Occupational Skills Training GED-to-College WorkReady Summer

WorkReady Program Models

Holistic approach to preparing out-of-school youth and youth returning from juvenile placement to achieve:

Long-term educational, career and personal goals Self-sufficiency

Provides supports along three interrelated pathways:

Education, Employment and Empowerment

E3 Power Centers

Broad array of educational services that support youth at varying academic levels including:

Low-literacy supports GED-prep classes Post-secondary access and planning

E3 Power Center Educational Pathway

Intensive work-readiness programming prepares participants at varying academic levels for unsubsidized employment.

Job-readiness training Subsidized internships Community-service opportunities Service-learning opportunities Job search assistance

E3 Power Center Employment Pathway

Increased literacy and numeracy skills 21st century and work-readiness skills development Attainment of a GED or High School Diploma Post-secondary placement

E3 Center Outcomes

Training model that offers opportunities for technical-skill development in targeted industries specifically for disconnected, out-of-school, over-aged youth (ages 17-21) who lack a credential.

Contextualized academic and vocational training in high-growth industries

Employer-recognized credentials

Experiential and industry-informed

Occupational Skills Training

Wrap-around services that foster participant success in attaining:

Industry-recognized credential Employment and/or access to an advanced

occupational-skills training or other higher-education institution

Occupational Skills Training

Increased literacy and numeracy skills 21st century and work-readiness skills acquisition Attainment of secondary and industry-specific

credentials Post-secondary placement

Occupational Skills Training Outcomes

The GED-to-College program: Creates a pathway for disconnected youth to

earn a secondary credential

Supports them through access to and persistence in college

Targets out-of-school youth ages 17-24 who:• lack a secondary credential• test at or above the 7th grade level in literacy and

numeracy

GED-to-College

Focuses on connecting pre-GED programming to post-GED success in college by exposing out-of-school youth to the following:

Academic, professional and social-development activities

Transition support to post-secondary education and/or employment

On-going support to advocate and navigate the social, financial, academic, and bureaucratic challenges encountered once matriculated

GED-to-College

Increased basic skills Attainment of GED as their secondary credential Successful enrollment in college as their preferred

post-secondary placement

GED-to-College Outcomes

Educationally-enriched work opportunities to in-school and out of school youth ages 14-21.

Six-week (120 hour), paid work experience that fosters the acquisition of the 21st Century skills through work-based learning.

WorkReady Summer

Learning High School Completion Work Experience College and Career Readiness

WorkReady Summer Components

InternshipsOffer employment and career-exposure opportunities for youth with

prior work experience and a basic understanding of workplace competencies.

Work ExperienceIntended for youth with limited or no work experience.

Service LearningTeaching and learning strategy in which youth address

real-world issues relevant to their community.

System-Level Best Practices of the WorkReady Model

Separate organization(s) with staff and a specific set of skills to:

•Serve as the backbone for the entire initiative•Coordinate participating organizations and agencies

Best Practice 1:Cross-Sector Collaborative Lead by a Strong Backbone Organization system

System-Level Best Practices of the WorkReady Model

Best Practice 2:Developing Key Connections

City-wide, cross-sector partnership Businesses Philanthropies Government Non-Profits Private Sector

$12(M) WIA/TANF-YD + $16(M) Leveraged

Resources

System-Level Best Practices

Best Practice 3:Capitalizing on a Diverse Funding Portfolio system

System-Level Best Practices of the WorkReady Model

Best Practice 4:Promoting Career Connections through Contextualized Learning Opportunities

Contextualized work experiences

System-Level Best Practices of the WorkReady Model

Best Practice 5:Utilizing Technology to Enhance the System

Better maximization and allocation of resources

Increased efficacy

User-friendly learning opportunities• Debit cards• Online applications

Program-Level Best Practices of the WorkReady Model

Best Practice 1:Building Capacity in Youth Workforce Development

Training Opportunities for Providers

Includes Professional Development in:• Program-implementation• Program-enhancement workshops• Peer-teaching opportunities

Program-Level Best Practices of the WorkReady Model

Creativity and Innovation Critical Thinking Communication Collaboration and Teamwork Initiative & Self-Direction Productivity & Accountability Flexibility & Adaptability

Best Practice 2:Measuring Attainment through 21st Century Skills Assessment

Program-Level Best Practices of the WorkReady Model

Best Practice 3:Adaption and Individualization of Program Services

Youth Case Management Wrap-Around Services

Program-Level Best Practices of the WorkReady Model

Industry specific work experiences

Credential or job placement

Best Practice 4:Promoting a Post-Secondary Culture and Support for Transitional Planning

Program-Level Best Practices of the WorkReady Model

Best Practice 5:Intentional Celebration and Recognition of Youth Success

E3 Graduation WorkReady Summer Expo Awards Ceremony

Opportunities for Implementation,Replication and/or Expansion

Building better connections between workforce and academics through contextualized/project-based learning strategies

Capitalizing on employers desire – and need – for a 21st Century skilled workforce

Partnerships with public agencies serving the same youth – blending of funds with Family Court, DHS, etc.

Increased support at the federal level for “special populations”

Challenges of Implementation,Replication and/or Expansion

Youth-level barriers to employment• Criminal records, low educational functional levels,

transportation, child care, etc.

System-level sustainability• Remaining flexible to changing employment trends and specific

needs of employers• Building and sustaining relationships with new employer

partners• Identifying pipelines to family-sustaining wages

Other Ideas for Implementation,Replication or Expansion

Capitalize on existing programs and strategies – employer-based training programs, etc.

Be flexible and willing to target services to specific populations

“Sell” your program to partner agencies who may need support or have access to funding for services

Tell the story! Be prepared to talk about your impact

Do not exclude education!

Single point of entry for private-sector investment in the system

Staff dedicated to employer engagement and relationship management across the system • (e.g., Business-Partnership Unit)

Centralized Operations• Single point of entry for all youth via an on-line application• Employing a uniform enrollment processes for all youth• Utilizing a uniform worksite screening process • Maintaining a central database (PYNDEX)• Providing a centralized payroll service for all youth across the

system

Other Ideas for Implementation,Replication or Expansion

Survey Links and Shared Results Page Links

Career Connections Survey http://tinyurl.com/careerconnhttps://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CareerConnectionz(Use this one in case the tiny URL does not work)

Career Connections Shared Results http://tinyurl.com/cconnresultshttps://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-TZKQSNYL/ (Use this one in case the tiny URL does not work)