First Nations & Inuit Youth Employment Strategy (FNIYES) Program

1. First Nations & Inuit Youth Employment Strategy (FNIYES) Program 2008/2009 YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (YWEP) APPLICANT GUIDE B.C. REGION

2. YWEP WELCOME TO THE YWEP GUIDE This APPLICANT GUIDE has been developed to assist applicants in applying for the YWEP youth funding. This will help you through the YWEP application and reporting process, with useful tips and resource information.

3. YWEP PROPOSAL CALL The YWEP is applied for by a PROPOSAL APPLICATION submission.

4. YWEP WHO CAN APPLY? • First Nations governments/organizations may submit proposals.

5. YWEP WHICH STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE? • Youth between the ages of 15 and 30 who live on reserve and are unemployed or underemployed at the time the project begins. • Exceptions may be made for youth under the age of 15 if they have completed high school or are for some other reason not legally required to be attending high school.

6. YWEP PROGRAM DESCRIPTION • Supervised youth work experience in community service, community businesses, or other work experiences that contributes to long-term success. • The program pays minimum wage plus benefits. • The project must not exceed 11 month work terms. • At the start of the project, participants will outline how their program fits with their Needs Assessment and within a longer-term Individual Learning Plan.

7. YWEP PROGRAM OBJECTIVES • Provide out-of-school, unemployed or underemployed youth with opportunities for mentored work experience in a supportive environment, giving them valuable experience for future employability or encouraging them to return to school. • Provide career planning and counseling activities, including a Needs Assessment for each participant. • Provide life and work skills development. • Support the development and enhancement of essential employability skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and working with others. • Expose youth to a variety of career options so that youth can develop a broader sense of possible career paths.

8. YWEP PROGRAM OBJECTIVES • Provide an opportunity for personal development for unemployed youth by helping them to develop individual plans to set a direction for their future. • Provide youth people with an avenue to contribute to their communities through their work in service projects (if this is the approach taken). • Allow communities to benefit from the energy, talents and creative strength of youth. • Establish partnerships with public and private organizations to increase employment opportunities for youth; and • Promote the benefits of education as being key to labour market participation.

9. YWEP PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY • Be in accordance with the program guidelines. • Outline the activities that support any or all of the listed objectives. • Demonstrate that the program activities will provide assistance only to eligible participants. • Provide an estimate of costs, including the share to be borne by partners. • Outline the results to be achieved. • Provide for a community-based project leaders, mentoring and support for youth to develop life skills and work skills. • Each participant work with a Project Leader to develop an Individual Learning Plan that incorporates their work experience into a longer-term education and employment plan.

10. YWEP PROJECT REQUIREMENTS • Not exceed 11 months and there is a deadline (March 31, 2008 this year). • Involve at least 4 participants working in teams, in individual work placements, or a combination of the two. • Provide a real benefit to the community and/or provide a workplace experience that is likely to increase the participants future success. • Provide a genuine learning experience for the participants; and • Be as gender balanced as possible.

11. YWEP IMPORTANT POINTS It is recognized that the length and type of work activities will vary with the level of education of the participants and the employment characteristics of the region in which the First Nation is situated. Participants will only be eligible for more than one work term if: • A second work term is shown to be consistent with their progress toward the goals set out in their individual learning plan; and • The sponsoring organization is funded for a second year. Participants will be paid the prevailing minimum wage plus all required benefits. If a young person wishing to participant would not be able to do so because she or he is receiving SA benefits for dependents, the First Nation can make appropriate arrangements to cover the dependent benefits.

12. YWEP FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS YWEP funding is distributed as follows: • 50% upon signing a CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT. • 25% upon receipt of an YWEP INTERIM REPORT. • 25% upon receipt of a YWEP FINAL REPORT.

13. YWEP PROPOSAL APPLICATION FORM Tips… Keep statement of goals and objectives clear and simple; use bullet point form statements; objectives should relate to your program description.

14. PROPOSAL APPLICATION FORM List in sequential order the project timelines and project activities. Ie. August 2007, Hire Coordinator, September 2007, Complete IEP’s with participants etc. Continue your work plan list to the completion of the project. Tips… Enter your project start and end date - not to exceed the date required for final reporting.

15. YWEP PROPOSAL APPLICATION FORM Tip… List – Suggest you use the ‘Employability Skills List’ available in the FNIYES Resource Guide.

16. YWEP PROPOSAL APPLICATION FORM Develop an Individual Learning Plan which incorporates further education, training, and on-the-job experience. Tips… Female participants + male participants equals total number of projected participants. Ensure you complete all numbers in these sections.

17. YWEP PROPOSAL APPLICATION FORM Remember to include their support letters with your proposal. Use budget page – sample on next page. Tips… Include a sample evaluation form as well as your plan. It is crucial that you demonstrate a commitment to evaluation and program follow-up.

18. YWEP PROPOSAL APPLICATION FORM List other projected funding, including the Band if it’s planning to supplement the program. Itemize your projected expenditures. Ensure your budget balances: Total Revenue - Total Expenditures = 0

19. YWEP YWEP Interim Report Form If your project is still intended to meet the goals/outcomes identified in your approved proposal all that is required is to check the box: Yes, sign, date, and submit. If your project has changed then all that is required is to check the box: No, complete only the sections of the interim report that HAVE CHANGED, sign, date and submit.

20. YWEP YWEP Interim Report Form Refer to the proposal guidelines & tips section for tips on how to complete this section. Remember to only complete the sections that have changed.

21. YWEP YWEP Interim Report Form Refer to the proposal guidelines & tips section for tips on how to complete this section. Remember to only complete the sections that have changed.

22. YWEP YWEP Interim Report Form Refer to the proposal guidelines & tips section for tips on how to complete this section. Remember to only complete the sections that have changed.

23. YWEP YWEP Interim Report Form Refer to the proposal guidelines & tips section for tips on how to complete this section. Remember to only complete the sections that have changed.

24. YWEP YWEP Interim Report Form Remember to only complete the sections that have changed.

25. YWEP YWEP Interim Report Form Refer to the proposal guidelines & tips section for tips on how to complete this section. Remember to only complete the sections that have changed.

26. YWEP YWEP Interim Report Form Refer to the proposal guidelines & tips section for tips on how to complete this section. Remember to only complete the sections that have changed.

27. YWEP YWEP Final Report Form Tips… Evaluation of project activities: Ie. Training, Work placements, etc. For each activity answer the following: Was it successful? Would you do anything differently?

28. YWEP YWEP Final Report Form Tips… Ensure you include each participants First AND Last Name, SIN #, Employer & Job Title.

29. YWEP YWEP Final Report Form Which employability skills did the participants ‘learn’? Refer to the ‘Employability Skills List’ in the FNIYES Resource Guide included in the printed copy. What transferable skills or existing skills did the participants ‘enhance’.

30. YWEP YWEP Final Report Form Including participants that did not complete the program. Total female + total male participants = to number of participants in program including those who did not complete.

31. YWEP YWEP Final Report Form Ensure your budget balances. Total Revenue – Total Expenses = 0

32. YWEP YWEP Final Report Form Suggested content from participants: *Benefits of the program *Their level of satisfaction with the activities *Was their appreciation and awareness of the benefits of school enhanced? *What are their plans for the following academic year?

33. YWEP YWEP Final Report Form Overall program evaluation. Was the project successful? Why or why not? What would you do differently? What change's did you observe in the youth? How well did the project leader facilitate the activities?

34. YWEP YWEP Final Report Form Please provide feedback and recommendations of the Youth Work Experience Program.

35. YWEP YWEP Youth Needs Assessment Form One Youth Needs Assessment Form (2 pages) MUST be completed for EACH participant including those who do not complete the program. **You must include SIN #** Parts A & B are to be completed upon intake / selection of the youth participant for a work experience opportunity. The year completed…. Ie. 2005 or 2003 etc.

36. YWEP YWEP Youth Needs Assessment Form Parts A & B are to be completed upon intake / selection of the youth participant for a work experience opportunity. Part C is to be completed upon termination / completion of the work experience opportunity.

37. YWEP FNESC PROGRAM CONTACT AND ASSISTANCE Derek Payne, Program Administrator, FNESC derekp@fnesc.ca Natasha Latter, Administrative Assistant - Programs Prog_asst@fnesc.ca FNESC yes@fnesc.ca Toll-free 1-877-422-3672 or (604) 925-6087