1. Pathways to Success by 21 A 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
REVIEW SLIDE:
Supporting youth to transition between supports is our Common Challenge – out of K-12, between support services, out of DYS or foster care etc. Yet
Our Common Goal is to support the educational and skill attainment of youth to meet their economic and life goals.
And, we know that education and employment are critical for their success. This is evident on many levels. NEXT SLIDE

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 Regional Strategic Action Plans
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. Based on streamlined Work-Based Learning Plan
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
Goal for the Slide: Highlight the self-interest for DYS in the action steps and strategies under P21.

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