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Strategies to Engage Today’s Youth on Their Path Towards Self-Sufficiency and Success. GST BOCES Adult Education and Training Services Robin DeLong, Holly Leszyk, Kristin McNamara, Cory Tremaine . What are the challenges in engaging today’s youth?.
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Strategies to Engage Today’s Youth on Their Path Towards Self-Sufficiency and Success GST BOCES Adult Education and Training Services Robin DeLong, Holly Leszyk, Kristin McNamara, Cory Tremaine
What do today’s youth need to become self-sufficient and successful?
What Is Self-Sufficiency? • Able to provide for or support oneself without the help of others • Self-Sufficiency Standard defines the amount of income necessary to meet basic needs (including taxes) without public subsidies (e.g., public housing, food stamps, Medicaid or child care) and without private/informal assistance (e.g., free babysitting by a relative or friend, food provided by churches or local food banks, or shared housing). • Self-Sufficiency wages vary across New York State—between $11.00+ -- $23.00+ (2010--http://www.selfsufficiencystandard.org/pubs.html)
Communities Have What Youth Need; But How Do We Get The Word Out? • WIA Youth Program • Strong Partnerships/ Referrals • WFNY One-Stops • Community Service Agencies • Local Youth Bureau • High Schools • AHSEP program • GED classrooms • Incarcerated Youth program • Community College • Social Media—Facebook, Twitter • Outreach Efforts
GST BOCES Outreach Efforts • WIA Youth Counselors go into AHSEP classroom weekly • Youth Counselors highly visible in WFNY One-Stop Center • Frequent contact with area service agencies • Maintain a Facebook page with daily updates and links to relevant youth issues (WIA Youth Elmira) • Youth Counselors regularly go into TABE assessments/ info sessions • Attend appropriate community events (i.e. college and high school open houses) • Work closely with incarcerated youth transition counselor • Run youth job club events
Once Enrolled, How Do We Engage the Youth? • “Employment First” philosophy • Job Readiness Trainings/Job Clubs (offer at least 6/wk) • Credential Programs (OSHA 10, Fork Lift, CNA) • NYSHSED prep classes if needed • Financial Literacy (“Wealth Health”) • Health Literacy (Smoking Cessation, Nutrition) • Life Skills presentations including Parenting and Family Reading (Literacy Zone) • Post-secondary transition/“College 101” presentations
Engaging Youth through Intensive Case Management • Personalized engagement--Regular contact with students—classroom, phone, e-mail, and Facebook • Career and Education Plan plus Individual Service Strategy are used as working documents to develop individual plan towards self-sufficiency—education and employment goals are regularly reviewed • Barriers to education and employment are addressed • Refer students to short-term job readiness trainings • Place qualified students into funded vocational trainings to help them meet their career goals • In contact with local employers to develop job opportunities for youth • Support job search and educational activities
Communication Is Key! • Electronic Referral Forms in shared drive for easy access • Electronic Checklist to Request Training Funds • ASISTS, CMS, OSOS • E-mails • Weekly meetings
Examples of Job Readiness Trainings • Resume Writing • Basic Computer Skills • E-Mail and Applying for Jobs Online • Interview Skills • Dress for Success • Customer Service Excellence • Cash Handling and Cashier Skills • Conflict Resolution • Time Management • Intro to Word Processing • Intro to Spreadsheets • Keyboarding • Managing Work and Life • Workplace Expectations and Ethics • Filing of Personal and Business Names • Intro to Security Guard • Intro to Health Care Field • Apprenticeship Referral— DLEA
Stacking Credentials for Success • WorkKeys Certificates • OSHA 10 • CDL • Fork Lift • Certified Nurse Aide/Home Health Aide • Welding • Construction Equipment Operation • Phlebotomy • Practical Office Skills • Culinary Arts Program (Community Food for Jobs Program—ServSafe Certification)
Integrating Career Awareness into the Curriculum (ICA) • Integrate career awareness curriculum in the ABE/GED classrooms • Students identify their current skills and explore potential career paths based on their interests and job values (O*Net--http://www.onetonline.org/ or Occupational Outlook Handbook-- http://www.bls.gov/oco/) • Ties into post-secondary education and/or vocational training to reach career path goals • Students actively participate and are enthusiastic about end results
Transitioning Released Inmates • Transitioning starts in the jail with Career and Education Plan and Career Awareness lessons • Résumés completed • Stackable credentials available (OSHA 10, Shop Math, Blue Print Reading, Construction Math) • Career exploration through Choices software or O*Net • Explanation of services available at nearby WFNY One-Stop • Referral to WIA Youth program upon release • Seamless transition into ABE/GED classroom • Pre-scheduled meeting with transitional counselor at the WFNY One-Stop
Blended Funding Streams • WIA Youth Grant • Employment Preparation Education Program Grant • WIA Title I and WIA Title II • ACCES VR • Local, state, and federal DSS
Setting and Achieving Goals Along The Path to Self-Sufficiency and Success Success stories
SUCCESS! • 18-year-old male—self-referred, high school graduate • Underprivileged youth moving from place to place • Looking for stability in his life • Goal: Build his job readiness skills--accomplished! • Goal: Learn how to answer interview questions and dress for interview—accomplished! • Goal: Get a job to work towards independence—accomplished! • Goal: Work towards a career through post-secondary education—attending community college—accomplished!
SUCCESS! • 19-year-old male, self-referred, high school graduate • Underprivileged youth receiving food stamps • Poor work history • Goal: Increase his work skills and work on dependability—attended job readiness trainings--accomplished! • Goal: Identify a career path and get training—accepted into a 10-week culinary program that includes ServSafe certification--accomplished!
SUCCESS! • 17-year-old incarcerated youth; out of school for a year • Goal: Get back into high school—accomplished! • Goal: Earn Regents Diploma—accomplished! • Goal: Increase job readiness skills while incarcerated—participated in career awareness curriculum and completed a resume; learned to fill out job applications online--accomplished! • Goal: Stay out of jail!—So far, so good!
Contact Us • 607-739-7684 or 877-ADULTED (238-5833) • Robin DeLong rdelong@gstboces.org • Holly Leszyk hleszyk@gstboces.org • Kristin McNamara kmcnamara@gstboces.org • Cory Tremaine ctremaine@gstboces.org