sample strategic plan job training...
TRANSCRIPT
1
OVERVIEW OF THE XYZ PROGRAM
• is a job-readiness, placement and retention program that
helps impoverished adults find and keep jobs.
• works with clients who have multiple barriers to employment.
• takes a holistic approach, addressing the underlying causes of
each client‟s unemployment.
• has almost two decades of experience and has tracked
outcomes for more than a decade.
• has success rates that are among the best in the nation:
approximately 85% of XYZ graduates find jobs.
XYZ:
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MISSION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Mission
To empower individuals living in poverty to achieve economic self-sufficiency and to
inform practices and policy by sharing our research and solutions
Guiding Principles
• Everyone is treated with dignity, respect and compassion.
• Everyone has a right to universal access to the workforce and upward mobility.
• Everyone is held accountable for his/her actions and behaviors.
• XYZ values education and a strong work ethic.
• Openness and good communication are critical to XYZ‟s success.
• XYZ works with the entire individual: mind, body and spirit – to help each person to
rebuild his/her life.
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KEY PROGRAM COMPONENTS
AND CLIENT DEMOGRAPHICS
76% of XYZ‟s clients are African American
16% are Latino
8% percent are White/Asian
81% are female
43% of all clients have childcare needs
80% have mental health issues
57% lack a high school degree or GED
35% are former offenders
71% have a history of substance abuse
Program Components Client Demographics
16-week job-readiness program: Monday-
Friday from 9am-5pm
Self-assessment activities
Life skills classes
GED tutoring
Computer classes
Benefits assistance
Mentorships
Professional clothing
Individual and group counseling
Case management
Work internships mutually selected to meet
students‟ interests
Job placement services
Job retention services
Lifetime of follow-up services
Breakfast, lunch and food pantry
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The XYZ Program
OUTSIDE REFERRALS
ORIENTATION
OUTREACH
RECRUITMENT
ASSESSMENT CLASSROOM TRAINING
INTERNSHIPS
COUNSELING AND
CASE MANAGEMENT
FOLLOW-UP
SERVICES
JOB CLUB
EXTENDED
INTERNSHIPS
JOB
PLACEMENT
JOB
RETENTION
PERMANENT
HOUSING
COMPUTER AND LITERACY CENTER
RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION
GREATER IMPACT PROJECT
ONE-ON ONE
CONTACTS
JOB PLACEMENT
REFERRALS
MENTORSHIPS
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KEY FINDINGS FROM MARKET RESEARCH
1. XYZ‟s 16-week job readiness
program is effective, exceeds clients‟
expectations, and is a model for
others.
2. Emphasis should now be placed on
intensifying the services offered after
the 16-week program (focus on self-
sufficiency and job-retention).
3. XYZ provides an essential voice in
the field and should communicate its
findings on best practices to
practitioners, policy makers and the
media.
4. XYZ should ensure its financial
stability by increasing its government
funding, endowment and individual
donations.
Over 45 interviews were conducted … …with four key findings
• Current students and graduates
• Staff and board members
• Government officials
• Current and potential funders
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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR THE XYZ PROGRAM
1. Complete Planned Program Expansion
2. Move Graduates Towards Economic
Self-Sufficiency
3. Inform and Improve Practices in the Field
4. Secure XYZ’s Financial Stability
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FIVE YEAR VISION FOR THE XYZ PROGRAMOverall vision
Specifics
• XYZ will complete its program expansion, serving 450 clients overall and enrolling 180 students in
its job readiness program each year.
• XYZ will be among New York City‟s most effective job-readiness, placement, and retention
programs working with individuals with multiple barriers to employment, as evidenced by success
rates above the city and national norms.
• XYZ will be recognized nationally by practitioners and policy makers as a highly effective model for
moving individuals from poverty to economic self-sufficiency.
• XYZ will be financially stable with a diversified funding base and an endowment of $1,000,000.
1. XYZ will complete its planned program expansion.
• Serve 50% more people than served in FY‟00.
• Cap enrollment in the job readiness program at 180 and overall clients served at 450 to preserve
the “family-like” community and high staff-to-student ratio.
• Lease and renovate additional space.
• Hire an additional job-readiness teacher and job developer.
2. XYZ will move graduates towards economic self-sufficiency.
• Create and monitor a long-term career plan for each graduate of the job-readiness program.
• Provide additional career counseling and other services to clients beyond the sixteen-week job-
readiness program.
• Increase XYZ‟s relationships with employers, including the development of a business advisory
committee.
• Offer additional evening and/or weekend GED and computer training, or develop cooperative
agreements with organizations that provide these services.
• Add pre-vocational training services to XYZ‟s curriculum to better help clients train for jobs in
specific fields.
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FIVE YEAR VISION: FOR THE XYZ PROGRAM
(CONTINUED)Specifics
3. XYZ will inform and improve practices in the field.
• XYZ will be recognized nationally by practitioners, policy makers and the media as a model
program for moving individuals from poverty to self-sufficiency.
• Policy makers will use the XYZ model when developing new strategies for combating poverty and
unemployment.
• The media will look to XYZ for information on anti-poverty and employment strategies.
• XYZ‟s research will be valued and used by practitioners looking for best practices and by policy
makers for legislative initiatives.
• XYZ will train practitioners who want to replicate our methods.
4. XYZ will be financially secure.
• The percent of government funding will be at least 35%.
• XYZ‟s Board of Directors will have established an effective fund raising committee that will double
the contributions from individual donors.
• XYZ will have an endowment of at least $1,000,000.
• XYZ will be able to track the cost of each service.
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1. COMPLETE PLANNED PROGRAM EXPANSION
FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06
Enroll 25% more clientsthan in FY 01.
Secure and renovateadditional space.
Hire and train a thirdteacher.
Expand Computer Center.
Raise necessary funds.
Improve reportingprocedures forgovernment contracts.
Increase individual donorbase to fund expansion.
Completeexpansiongoals byenrolling 170students ayear. (Cap at180 studentsa year) withoverall clientsserved at450.
Maintainenrollment
Maintainenrollment
Maintainenrollment
Complete the final phase of XYZ‟s Expansion Project, increasing overall enrollment by 50% (compared to
FY „00). In FY ‟03 (Year 2 of the Strategic Plan), the expansion will be completed.
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2. Move Graduates Towards Economic Self-Sufficiency
FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 Move to a four-phase
plan that places equal emphasis on course work, work internship, job placement, job retention and advancement.
Utilize the Benefits Coordinator to help employed graduates to obtain their transitional benefits.
Make therapists available to working graduates.
Implement a system in which we develop an individual employment plan for each graduate and monitor the plan through regular contact between client and employment staff.
Track and evaluate the efficacy of key services offered and use the results to reconfigure XYZ‟s network of follow-up services, offering additional services if necessary and canceling or improving those services, if any, that are not effective.
Look into the feasibility of offering GED or computer classes at XYZ in the evenings or on weekends or arranging for these services to be offered by another organization.
Evaluate the need for an additional job developer/follow-up staff person. If necessary, add to staff.
Add pre-vocational service to XYZ‟s curriculum to help graduates better train for jobs in specific areas.
Continue research on efficacy of key services offered by XYZ; institutionalize this effort.
Continue to implement plan for restructuring services (adding, strengthening, canceling services) to ensure the best allocation of resources.
Research and develop an employer project.
Kick-off an “employer project” to better involve businesses in XYZ‟s job development and job-retention programs, including the development of a business advisory board.
Strengthen XYZ‟s job placement, job-retention, and follow-up support services to better enable clients to achieve economic self-sufficiency
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3. INFORM AND IMPROVE PRACTICES IN THE FIELD
FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06
Increase visibility of the Executive Director and XYZ by the ED attending four conferences.
Circulate and publicize research report
Clarify XYZ‟s message(s).
Develop relationships with Council Members, State Legislators on key committees to XYZ by introducing them to and educating them about the effectiveness of XYZ‟s model.
Participate in coalitions that share XYZ‟s beliefs and that have access to policy makers.
Build relationships with two think-tanks or research organizations and encourage them to use XYZ in case studies.
Develop relationships with Brooklyn legislators; maintain relationships with those on key committees.
Develop materials that illustrate and support XYZ‟s message.
Host one conference for practitioners and policy makers.
Raise funds for the staffing plan.
Hire appropriate staff to allow ED to focus on Research and Policy.
ED should present at two conferences.
Continue research on XYZ‟s client demographics, outcomes, and effectiveness of service provision.
Continue to provide educational materials and briefings to legislators in all branches of government on the real-world issues faced by those in the field and the effectiveness of XYZ‟s model.
Begin an in-depth research paper that can be published in a respected journal.
Develop a training institute for practitioners and policy makers.
Conduct market research to determine the demand areas for technical assistance.
Develop training criteria.
Develop a technical assistance income and expense budget.
Create a 12 month schedule for training practitioners in different components of XYZ‟s model and on relevant policy issues.
Publish research paper and present it at conferences and other arenas. Findings will be shared with the press and other interested parties.
Continue to provide current information on XYZ‟s model, outcomes and best practices to legislators making comparisons to other models.
Raise funds to cover training institute budget.
Provide at least 3 training workshops on components of XYZ‟s model/best practices.
Continue in-depth research, write and publish paper.
Present research paper to policy makers and practitioners.
Obtain print , TV and radio coverage for research paper.
Inform practitioners in the field, policy makers, and general public on XYZ‟s successful strategies and innovations and provide information on the
barriers our clients must overcome
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4. SECURE XYZ’s FINANCIAL STABILITY
FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06
Expand XYZ‟s annual campaign by doubling the number of individual donors and raising 50% more from individuals than in the past year.
Make in-roads into securing line-item support in City and State budget.
Increase funding from churches.
Build individual donor base by an additional 25%.
Put in place systems for better tracking costs of services.
Develop and begin to implement a plan to increase XYZ‟s endowment to $1,000,000.
Continue endowment campaign and make a major, public announcement once $500,000 (50% of the goal) is reached.
Reach $1,000,000 endowment goal.
Secure financial health of organization
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1. COMPLETE PLANNED PROGRAM EXPANSION: YEAR ONE
Key Action Responsibility Target Date
Hire and train a third teacher Recruitment Manager 2/02
Secure and renovate additional space
Executive Director 1/02
Intensify client recruitment efforts
Recruitment Manager on-going
Develop a contract reporting system
Development Director 11/01
Increase employment staff Assistant Director 11/01
Increase individual donor base to help fund expansion
Development Director, Board of Directors
11/01 (ongoing)
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2. MOVE GRADUATES TOWARDS ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY: YEAR ONE
Key Action Responsibility Target Date
Prepare for a four-phase plan that places equal emphasis on course work, work internship, job placement, and job retention
Executive Director, Assistant Director
6/02
Utilize the Benefits Coordinator to help employed graduates to obtain their transitional benefits
Social Service Coordinator
In progress
Pending research results, make therapists available to working graduates
Social Service Coordinator
3/02
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3. INFORM AND IMPROVE PRACTICES: YEAR ONE
Key Action Responsibility Target Date
Clarify XYZ‟s message(s) ED/Staff/Board of Directors
3/02
Develop staffing plan to allow ED to devote more time to Research and Policy
ED/staff 5/01
Publish and disseminate Research Report on changes in XYZ population after welfare reform
ED 12/01
Play a leading role in coalitions that share XYZ‟s beliefs
ED ongoing
ED attend two conferences ED 5/01
Publicize and circulate Research Report
ED 2/02
Develop relationships with Council Members, State Legislators on key committees to XYZ (e.g., Human Services, Public Safety) by introducing them to and educating them about the effectiveness of XYZ‟s model
ED 1/02 (on-going)
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4. SECURE XYZ’s FINANCIAL STABILITY: YEAR ONE
Key Action Responsibility Target Date
Expand XYZ‟s annual campaign by doubling the number of individual donors and raise 50% more from individuals in past year
ED/Development Director/Board
1/02
Make in-roads into securing line-item support in City and State Budget
ED/Development Director
2/02
Increase funding from churches Development Director 2/02
Evaluate the feasibility of developing a Business Advisory Board
ED 4/02
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1. COMPLETE PLANNED PROGRAM EXPANSION
Expand Program
Maintain Integrity of Program
• 170-180 clients enrolled in job-readiness
program, and overall clients served at
450
• Customer satisfaction surveys
• Program completion, job placement and job
retention rates are maintained or improved
Years 1- 5
Area Metrics
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Area Metrics
Job placement and retention Maintain or increase job placement rates (compare toother programs‟ outcomes, changes in the economyand unemployment rates) Maintain or increase job retention rates (compare to
other programs‟ outcomes, changes in the economy
and unemployment rates) Document clients‟ salary increases
Study the relationship between specific services and
their impact on outcomes and conduct a cost-benefit
analysis for key services
2. MOVE GRADUATES TOWARDS ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Years 1- 5
In this area, XYZ must first:
• Evaluate effectiveness of current services
• Set goals for improving clients‟ outcomes
• Determine which employment and follow-up
services need to be added or strengthened and how
this will be carried out
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3. INFORM AND IMPROVE PRACTICES IN THE FIELD
Metrics
Years 1-3
Increase awareness and create a
positive attitude about XYZ
• Survey legislators/policy makers and practitioners to measure awareness and
attitudes toward XYZ
• Survey again at 18 months to see if awareness has increased
Area
Educate policy makers,
practitioners and the general
public in the issues facing XYZ
clients and in the XYZ model
• Track legislators‟ requests for information from XYZ
• Monitor voting patterns of legislators on key pieces of legislation concerning
welfare policies
• Determine if new bills or funding initiatives include support for XYZ‟s model of
comprehensive service provision
• Count how often the press contacts XYZ for information
Years 2-3
Impact practices in the field and
solutions to complex problems• Increase the effectiveness of organizations working in areas of poverty, job
readiness, and self-sufficiency
• Survey groups that participate in XYZ‟s training sessions to determine the
effectiveness of the workshops and survey 6 months later to track if they have
made any changes in their organization as a result of XYZ
• Monitor any changes in the number of groups that enroll in training sessions and
if groups attend more than one training
• Monitor if new groups were referred by other XYZ customers
Years 4-5
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4. SECURE XYZ’s FINANCIAL STABILITY
Years 1-2
Years 2-3
Years 4-5
Area Metrics
Increase donor base by 100% and revenues from individuals by 50% in Year 1 and by an additional 25% in Year 2
Compare number of donations and number of donors to prior year Track the number of donors brought in by Board
Members to determine if there is buy-in to fundraising program
Increase donations by businesses and churches
Compare donation levels of this group of donors to their prior year giving Understand the cost of each service provided by XYZ
Build an endowment of at least $1 million
Measure level of annual giving and giving to the campaign on a monthly basis
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1. COMPLETE PLANNED PROGRAM EXPANSION
Key Findings Relevant Details
• A funder expressed concern that XYZ
might lose its effectiveness if it expanded
beyond its current expansion goal.
• Staff feels that XYZ‟s strength is in its
small size and high staff to student ratio,
and that enrollment should be capped at
the current expansion goal of
180 students per year.
• Researchers said that for XYZ to be a lab
and to experiment with different program
components, it is important that the client
base be large enough for valid sample
sizes, and that the program be small
enough to manipulate and reconfigure
various components of its model.
• Complete the final phase of the program
expansion – increase clients enrolled by
50% over a two year period – by enrolling
27% more clients (for a total of 180) in
FY‟02 than in FY‟00.
• Program staff, and the Recruitment
Coordinator in particular, should recruit and
assess potential clients to meet but not
exceed the 180 client maximum.
• Research team will design studies based on
enrollment and annual sample sizes of
180 clients.
Findings from
market research
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2. TRAIN XYZ GRADUATES FOR SELF- SUFFICIENCY
• Graduates feel that continuing GED and
computer training after completing the job
readiness phase would be helpful in job
retention and in moving up the career
ladder.
• Graduates feel that continuing mental
health services could be beneficial.
• Funders believe that XYZ has done an
excellent job at keeping track of graduates
two years out.
• Funders are interested in follow-up
services as a means to job retention.
• Funders want to see outcome studies for
various components of follow-up services.
• Current staff is overwhelmed with meeting
needs of clients.
• Follow up services that were provided in the
past but were discontinued due to lack of
graduate interest should be identified,
understood and evaluated.
• Follow up services should be analyzed to
determine which components are effective
in job retention and self sufficiency and
which, if any, are not.
• A funding stream for these services must be
identified.
• Proposed structures must be evaluated for
effectiveness in job retention, self-
sufficiency and costs.
• Organizational structure should be more
clear for these services.
Findings from
market research
Key Findings Relevant Details
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3. INFORM AND IMPROVE PRACTICES IN THE FIELD
Key Findings Relevant Details
• Recognize that XYZ‟s ability to provide a missing and
essential voice on job-readiness and job-development
practices is dependent on its comprehensive research
and innovative direct service work.
• XYZ must maintain as its central core perfecting its
model and maintaining program outcomes that far
exceed the national norms.
• Institutionalize and document what XYZ has learned
about running a job training model. That done, it should
take a leadership role in disseminating its findings.
• Showcase its findings on best practices by sharing its
research in a structured and easily translatable way.
• Communicate its message to all relevant policy makers.
• Present its findings in legislative hearings at the federal,
state and city levels.
• Speak at conferences.
• Participate in local and state coalitions.
• Clarify the message(s) it wants to convey.
• Develop materials that support its message(s).
• Identify individuals and institutions to approach with its
message.
• Designate one staff member to be responsible for the
broader policy and practices goal.
• Participate in the debate about vocational models for the
hardest to serve clients.
• Use its findings to inform government officials about the
importance of training, counseling, treatment and case
management in the development of welfare to work policies
and legislation.
• Meet with local Congress people and influential politicians
to explain its welfare to work model and develop strategies
for working together.
• Identify individuals and institutions to approach with its
message.
• Recognize that there is strength in numbers: join coalitions
to share best practices and increase its effectiveness in
conveying its message(s) and findings.
Findings from
market research
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3. INFORM AND IMPROVE PRACTICES IN THE FIELD (CONTINUED)
• Avoid partisan efforts, focus on
dissemination of information.
• Recognize that the government does not
fund advocacy or partisan activities.
• Do not replicate within New York City. If
XYZ replicates in other cities, it should do
so by training the staff at the other site,
and not by providing XYZ employees to
staff the new site.
• Any consideration of another XYZ
replication should take into consideration
lessons learned from XYZ‟s five previous
replication efforts.
• Recognize that replication is very
expensive, time-consuming and difficult.
Findings from
market research
Key Findings Relevant Details
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4. SECURE XYZ’s FINANCIAL STABILITY
• Demonstrate that XYZ can win and work
with large government contracts.
• Understand the costs of each service that
it provides.
• Recognize that there is a large number of
potential individual donors to XYZ and that
the staff/board must learn to better tap
into these sources.
• Some government officials reported that
less government funding will be available
at the federal level and more at the state
and city levels.
• There will be increased competition for
private dollars due to the implementation of
performance-based government contracts,
which force non-profits that previously relied
exclusively on government funding to apply
for private funding to cover their non
reimbursable expenses.
• XYZ must rise to the challenge of increasing
demand for private funding by developing
effective, compelling materials to convey the
essence of its program and outcomes.
• The trend is for government to fund
programs that are community-based and
focused on specific populations.
Findings from
market research
Key Findings Relevant Details