Pathways to Success by 21 A Collaboration of State and Regional Partners Supporting Youth

1. Pathways to Success by 21A Collaboration of State and Regional Partners Supporting Youth

2. Statewide Steering Committee • Department of Education • Board of Higher Education • Commonwealth Corporation • Department of Mental Health • Department of Social Services • Department of Transitional Assistance • Department of Youth Services • Department of Workforce Development • Division of Career Services • Executive Office of Community Colleges • Institute for Community Inclusion • Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission • Massachusetts Workforce Board Association • Metro South Workforce Investment Board • Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board • Youth Empowerment Inc

3. Our Common Challenge Economic & Life Success for Youth • Impact of Degree Attainment on Income (next slide) • “Youth transition” is a national focus across services/agencies: • Graduation/Drop Outs • DSS/DYS Youth • Youth with Disabilities (MPYE) • Low-income, low-skilled • Youth with Mental Health Issues

4. Impact of Education on Income

5. P21 Process (to-date) • History of P21 • Two Prong Approach • State Level Steering Committee, Tri-Chaired by DWD, DOE, HHS (Youth Voice) • Regional Teams (Youth Voice) • Regional Planning Grants to Create Action Plans • Analysis of Regional Action Plans • Creation of Statewide Strategic Action Plan • Prioritize Action Steps with Leadership • 400+ regional/state partners participated: more to go!

6. What did we hear? Youth • Connections to Adults • Holistic Approach - Family and Community Support Systems • New Learning Environments – Small, Flexible, “Youth Friendly” • Practice Opportunities – Employability and Life Skills • Drop Agency Perspective – Partnership, Coordination, Innovation Regional Strategic Action Plans • “Caring Adults” for at-risk youth (15) • Access to key information (15) • Focus on drop-out prevention & recovery strategies and resources - (14) • Partnership and coordination (14) • Availability of skills/training opportunities for youth (12)

7. What are we doing? • Nine Statewide Strategies Identified • Action Matrix • Five Prioritized by Leadership • Regional Implementation Pilots • Model coordinated service design, delivery with youth partners in 16 regions • Other agencies considering joint funding models

8. Pathways to Success by 21 Statewide Strategic Priorities Strategy #5 Increase Alt. Ed. & Training Strategy #6 Work-Readiness Assessment Strategy #4 Outreach & Support Strategy #3 Early Intervention Strategy #7 Persistent Barriers Strategy #2 Early Identification Strategy #8 Persistent Barriers Strategy #1 Public Awareness Strategy #9 Share Data

9. Strategy 1: Public Awareness Deliverables Short-Term: • Resource Map Long-Term: • Youth Web Portal • “Phone Book” for non-internet access • Messaging Campaign (Youth & Families)

10. Strategies 2 & 3:Early Identification & Intervention • Recognized list of risk indicators and guidelines • Inventory of assessment tools, alignment across agencies • Use of MDOE data to identify high-risk students, graduation/drop out data released Spring 2007 • Schools get “credit” for alternative degrees earned (incentive for referrals) - done • Statewide Drop-Out Prevention Conference (successful models)

11. Strategy 4: Outreach & Support • Gap analysis of state/federal resources supporting case management • Eligibility analysis across funding streams – reduced barriers to enrollment • Align service connections, case management and referrals for transitioning youth

12. Strategy 5: Expand Alternative Pathways for Youth • Resource Map to describe gaps in funding • Build state support for increased funding

13. Strategy 6: Work Readiness Assessment for Youth • New work readiness assessment tool to improve youth employment outcomes • Based on streamlined Work-Based Learning Plan • Expand use of standard tool beyond MDOE and DWD

14. Strategy 7: Unified Staff Development Strategy • Cross-agency trainings • 101 forum • CORI, Case Management, etc • Integration of multi-agency focus in professional development • Statewide Calendar of PD • Long-term: Core competencies for youth workers

15. Strategy 8: Address Persistent Barriers • Work with Lt. Governor’s Council on Homelessness and Housing • Connect with DMH initiative on supports for transitioning youth • CORI trainings across youth workers to address (jointly sponsored) • Long-term: Transportation Issues

16. Strategy 9: Share Data • Process Measures for statewide P21 • Identification of statewide youth indicators across agencies - discrete projects • Build off of K-16 data warehouse • On-line source of information • Add matching from other agencies

17. Youth Need Cross-Agency Support: DYS Example • DYS Youth “Touch” Multiple Agencies • Typically between the ages 14-17; 87% male • 80 % report witnessing violence and met criteria for PTSD • 79 % self-reported substance abuse • 75 % of girls report DSS involvement • 55 % of boys report DSS involvement • 40 % were receiving DTA assistance • 40% received special education services • 45% previous out-of-home placement by another agency • 87% from non-traditional homes • 40% families on public assistance • 75% with prior probation • 35% self report weekly alcohol use • 50% self report weekly marijuana use

18. Reducing DYS Youth Employment Barriers Through P-21 Strategies • Outreach & Support • Community Network of Caring Adults – align cross-agency networks (P21 strategy 4) • Increase Alternative Education & Training • Work Readiness • DYS provides Educational, Medical, Mental Health and Substance Abuse services at it 63 24/7 sites • Improved access to work readiness and employment programs for DYS youth -- work with DOE/P21 team on core “employability competencies” to integrate with DYS educational & vocational programming (P21 Strategy 6) • Staff Development • Increase cross –training opportunities to promote consistency among youth worker staff (P21 Strategy 7) • Employment Barriers • Working within the CORI system to maximize each DYS youths’ employment options – working with state partners on joint CORI trainings! (P21 Strategies 7 & 8) • Assist transitioning youth with Medical & Behavioral Healthcare opportunities • Promoting success stories among workforce partners

19. P21 Results – So Far • Regional P21 Action Plans & Implementation Grants • Dedication of cross-agency resources to regional implementation grants • Cross-Agency, Action Plan (& Ownership) • RFP for Youth Web Portal • Cross-Training/Calendar of PD • Cross-agency forums for front-line staff • “101” on state agency services/resources • Identified Policy and Regulatory Changes • Cross-agency resource mapping (draft) • Cross-agency eligibility mapping (draft)

20. CONTACT INFORMATION Jennifer James Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development 617.626.7124 jennifer.james@state.ma.us