Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board

1. Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board OUR MISSION: To promote economic development in the region by providing quality employment services to employers, job-seekers and youth.

2. Connecticut’s Workforce Boards Funded this Year by the:State of Connecticut With Leveraged Funds from Select Municipalities and Foundations, the Department of Children and Families and the Bureau of Rehabilitative Services

3. Northwest Region Workforce Investment Area WATERBURY, DANBURY, TORRINGTON LABOR MARKETS

4. What is WIA? • WIA provides funds to states and local workforce areas to deliver a comprehensive array of youth development services. The goal of WIA Youth program is to improve the long-term job prospects of young people by providing basic skills, work readiness skills, occupational skills training, and citizenship skills.• Eligibility - a youth must be low income, ages 14-21 with one of six barriers including basic skills deficient; school dropout; homeless, a runaway or in foster care; pregnant or parenting; an offender; or an individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program, or to secure and hold employment. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 enacted a formula-funded youth program serving eligible low-income youth, ages 14-21, who face barriers to employment. Local communities provide youth activities and services in partnership with the WIA One-Stop Career Center System and under the direction of local Workforce Investment Boards.

5. In-School WIA Youth Programs Naugatuck Valley Community College/Conncap • The Conncap program operates a project based program that is designed to educate enrollees on the principles of environmental science. 20 youths take a 3 credit Biology 180 course offered at NVCC. In addition to their project all youths attend formal academic classes during the morning hours of this five week session. Recruitment & Target Population • Conncaprecruits exclusively from their own program and seeks those younger youths who are making the transition from middle to high school. • The youths recruited come from the Waterbury School District.

6. Out-of-School WIA Youth Programs Naugatuck Valley Community College WAVE Program • This program is geared toward the individual interests of each WIA eligible youth accepted into the program. The intent of the program is for each youth to attain their Associate’s Degree during their stay. However, for those youth that might not achieve that credential there is certificates both credited and non -credited that can be afforded youth. Recruitment & Target Population • NVCChas established linkages with each school district (Waterbury and Danbury) as well as established collaborations with WIA funded In-School programs.

7. Manufacturing • Played an integral role in creating partnerships between industry and education to promote the ongoing development and growth of a manufacturing workforce • USDOL : Advanced Manufacturing: Partnering for Success in Training and Employment • NVCC Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program • W.F. Kaynor Voc-Tech High School Manufacturing Program • Waterbury Career Academy- Manufacturing • College Connections- NVCC, Waterbury Board of Education and NRWIB • Working with CT DOL Office of Apprenticeship Training

8. Youth Pipeline Programs College ConnectionsYouth Manufacturing Pilot Program Overview • Manufacturing machining program that provides high school juniors and seniors with opportunities to consider career paths in manufacturing and related technology. • Students participate in machine shop practices and related subject matter to earn both high school and college credits. • NCRC and MSSC credentials • Funded in partnership with Waterbury Board of Education 18 Juniors 9 Seniors

9. Naugatuck Valley Community College Curriculum: First Year Juniors • Fall 2010 Semester • Blueprint Reading I (2 credits): Students learn the xyz coordinates system and how to lay out front/top side views in a two dimensional drawing of a manufactured part. • Lathe I (2credits): Students learn the basic operation of the lathe and what the machine does.  They also learn turning between centers. • Mill I (2 credits): Students learn the basic operations of the mill and what the machine does. • Spring 2011 Semester • Blueprint Reading II (3 credits): Students will learn orthogonal projections, how to set up datum’s measurements of a manufactured part.  Also an introduction to tolerancing. • Lathe II (3 credits): Students learn automatic feed controls for the lathe, tapering, operations, and threading operations. • YEAR 1 = 12 credits

10. Naugatuck Valley Community College Curriculum: Second Year Seniors • Fall 2010 Semester • Introduction to Engineering Technology (3 credits): Students are introduced to the careers in Engineering Technology. They are also given training in presentation skills, problem solving, teamwork, and design. • Computer Aided Manufacturing I (3 credits):Students are trained in manual data input for programming CNC machines. • Spring 2011 Semester • Manufacturing Machinery Mill I (2 credits): Students are given basic machine shop training on Milling machines.  They learn how to mill slots and pockets using an end mill. • Computer Aided Manufacturing II (3 credits): Students use Mastercam Software to create CNC Milling programs directly from CAD files. • YEAR 2= 11 Credits Total Credits 23

11. Summer Youth Employment Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce Today

12. NRWIB# of Youth Served in- Northwest, CT Total Number of Participants: 734 Applications completed: 1,216 Applicants unable to be served: 482

13. NRWIB- Summer Jobs 2012 Profile

14. NRWIB- Summer Jobs 2012 Profile *These funds came primarily from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for older, Out of School Youth participation in the State’s revitalized Conservation Corps. Leveraged funds are used by the Boards to engage more youth in summer employment opportunities.

15. Every year, we measure the effectiveness of the summer youth employment initiative. Year after year, youth participants in this program have greater school retention, advancement and graduation ratesthan similar youths who have not been afforded the same opportunity.

16. Proven Positive Outcomes – Statewide per SDE (2011 data) % Students Who Returned to School and Advanced to the Next Grade Program Participants More Likely to Advance to the Next Grade in School A 7.4% increase; 4th consecutive year of increases.

17. Proven Positive Outcomes – Statewide per SDE (2011 data) % Students Who Graduated An 11.7% increase; 4th consecutive year of increases.

18. Summer Youth Employment- Benefits Research from various sources tells us that teens who work during the summer are more likely to: Return to school in the fall and advance to the next grade Graduate from High School Experience a smoother transition to the labor market and higher weekly and yearly earnings for up to 15 years after High School graduation Benefit from an opportunity to apply classroom learning to workplace scenarios while building skills not taught in school

19. Summer Youth Employment- Benefits *In a recent employer study by Drexel University, the #1 indicator of success in a career is good attendance in High School. Having a job builds that trait in youth.* Young people who are exposed to the work world at an early age: Are more likely to continue working Have greater earnings over their lifetime Are less likely to be unemployed Are less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system

20. Helpful Links www.ctdol.state.ct.us/youth/main.htm www.nrwib.org