1. All Aboard?
Presented to: Project 10: Transition Education Network Region 3 Winter Institute January 17, Presented by: Dawn Hamilton, NextGen Recruiter

2. Warm Ups!
Why Are you here?

3. Making the Case
Workforce development is especially important for youth with disabilities because research shows that they are more likely to be out of school, unemployed, or incarcerated. (Source: In the population of youth ages 15 to 24, 11 percent of individuals have disabilities. (Source: 24% of NextGen participants have a self-disclosed disability.

4. Familiar Stats December 2011 Labor Force Participation
People with disabilities: 20.7% People without disabilities: 69.3%
Unemployment Rate
People with disabilities: 13.5% People without disabilities: 8.1%
(Source:

5. What entities make up the Workforce Development System?
(Isn’t this fun?)
What entities make up the Workforce Development System?

6. Workforce Development System (State/Local Levels)
State and local workforce investment boards
State and local career and technical education and adult education agencies
Vocational rehabilitation agencies
Recognized apprenticeship programs
[Career one-stop centers]
State and local welfare agencies
And/or sub-units of these entities

7. The Shared Youth Vision

8. The Shared Youth Vision
In response to the White House task force report, the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, Social Security Administration, Transportation, and the Corporation for National and Community Service formed a Federal Partnership with a focus on serving the neediest youth.

9. The Shared Youth Vision
Mission To serve as a catalyst at the national, state, and local levels to strengthen coordination, communication, and collaboration among youth-serving agencies to support the neediest youth and their healthy transition to successful adult roles and responsibilities.

10. The Shared Youth Vision
Results By implementing a Shared Youth Vision, all youth service organizations and the youth and communities benefit through: • Better use of resources • Better outcomes for programs • Better futures for our youth and our economy

11. Our Chain of Command

12. Who We Are
Local workforce investment boards One-stop career centers

13. “The Unemployment Office”
Who We’re NOT
“The Unemployment Office”

14. What We Do
Boards
Development / oversight of workforce development programs in assigned region
Selects One-Stop service providers
Selects occupational skills training providers
Monitors local system performance
Develops local performance measures
Serves under local Board of Directors
Business driven
Includes Youth Council

15. What We Do Youth Council
Includes parents, WIA Youth program participants and other members of the community with special interest or expertise in youth policy, programs, and services.

16. What We Do One-Stop Career Centers Provides training
Individual Training Accounts (ITAs)
Services that improve employment potential
Core – available to all
Intensive – available to eligible customers
Services provided via full service, satellite, and mobile sites, network of mandatory / eligible One-Stop partners

17. What We Do One-Stop Career Centers Core Services Outreach Intake
Orientation
Initial assessment
Eligibility determination for additional services
Job search / placement assistance
Career counseling
Labor market information

18. What We Do One-Stop Career Centers Intensive Services
For unemployed unable to obtain employment through core services.
Comprehensive / specialized assessment
Individual employment plan
Counseling / career planning
Short term prevocational services

19. What We Do One-Stop Career Centers
(Occupational Skills) Training Services
For eligible customers not able to obtain employment via core and intensive services
Individual Training Accounts (ITAs)
Choose among approved training providers
Providers approved through competitive process based on performance-related information

20. What We Do One-Stop Career Centers Youth Services
WIA Youth eligibility applies
Younger youth (14-18) / Older youth (19-21)
In school
Out of school
Dropout
Graduated but are
Basic skills deficient
Unemployed
Underemployed

21. What We Do One-Stop Career Centers Youth Services
10 mandated program elements (per WIA regs)
Offered through provider or via referral to other community resources

22. Brevard Workforce
The Brevard Workforce Development Board is a regional public/private partnership under Workforce Florida, Inc. Workforce Boards create local workforce development systems through one-stop career centers which combine multiple federal, state, and local program funds.

23. Brevard Workforce
A Workforce In Motion We provide workforce solutions to help keep businesses operating and thriving.

24. Brevard Workforce
We assist many businesses with meeting their hiring, retention and training needs–continuing to help businesses evolve year to year.  
We help area companies manage periods of downsizing, partnering with others to bring forward resources to best serve the business and its affected employees.

25. Brevard Workforce
We help transitioning workers find their way, open doors to new careers and help them meet the challenges of change.
We welcome youth into the workforce and help them gain soft skills, training, experience and confidence.

26. Brevard Workforce
We welcome veterans home, show them opportunities and help them make their way back to work. We assist military families to transition to work here, and help them prepare to be successful in their next location.
We counsel mature workers, assist disabled workers, meet welfare to work challenges and work to cut the red tape for those who can work and want to work.

27. Brevard Workforce
We help businesses and individuals plan ahead. We help discover or create specific training our workers need to succeed. We’re a community agency with deep roots and great pride in our role. We keep the pulse on workforce trends, regional evolution and economic developments.

28. Brevard Workforce
We partner with others to make certain our efforts are effective, sustainable and collaborative. We’re a catalyst for workforce development and a link in the chain of economic development. We study the region, the state and the nation to bring best practices to Brevard.

29. “Bring it Back Y’all”
We welcome youth into the workforce and help them gain soft skills, training, experience and confidence.
We counsel mature workers, assist disabled workers, meet welfare to work challenges and work to cut the red tape for those who can work and want to work.

30. FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS 16-21. Make a choice. Make a plan
FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS Make a choice. Make a plan. Make it a reality. The world of work is changing at an ever-increasing pace! Are you ready to compete? Do you have the skills? Discover NextGen. Plot your course, get needed skills, develop a professional image and gain confidence!

31. The j-track
If your goal is to become immediately employed, choose the j track—Job Track and quickly get the tools you need to start earning money.  This track gives you access to the following available assistance**:
Learn job search techniques
Get work readiness training
Get career coaching and planning assistance
Achieve placement into employment or military
Look into assistance with transportation and/or childcare
Achieve a goal … Earn a bonus!
**Assistance is offered as-needed and based on available funding.

32. The t-track
If your NextGen plan indicates that you’ll need additional skills training to meet your goals, then enter the t track—Training Track* and gain access to the following available assistance**:
Enroll in a skills training program
Get career coaching and planning assistance
Look into assistance with transportation, childcare, tuition, exam/credential fees and/or tutoring
Get continued support after placement
Achieve a goal … Earn a bonus!
*Training must lead to a recognized credential.
**Assistance is offered as-needed and based on available funding.

33. Eligibility (Per DOL WIA Youth Funding Policy)
Youth must be ages AND…
Low income
There is a five percent window for non-low-income youth if they experience one or more specified barriers to school completion or employment.
AND…

34. Eligibility (Per DOL WIA Youth Regs)
Meet at least one of the specified barriers to employment:
Basic Skills Deficient
School Dropout
Homeless or Runaway
Foster Child
Pregnant or Parenting
Offender
Is an individual (including a youth with a disability) who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure and hold employment

35. Program Elements (Per DOL WIA Youth Regs)
Objective assessment of each youth’s skill level and service needs
Individual service strategy
Preparation for postsecondary educational opportunities and unsubsidized employment
Strong linkages between academic and occupational learning
Effective connections to the job market and employers

36. Program Elements (Per DOL WIA Youth Regs)
Tutoring, study skills training and instruction leading to completion of secondary school, including dropout prevention
Alternative school services
Adult mentoring
Occupational skills training
Paid and unpaid work experiences including internships and job shadowing

37. Program Elements (Per DOL WIA Youth Regs)
Leadership development opportunities
Supportive services (i.e. transportation)
Follow-up services for not less than 12 months as appropriate
Comprehensive guidance and counseling
Summer employment opportunities

38. Appreciate Diversity!
Local control over program design = variations in how services may be accessed / offered.
Branding
Referral / admissions process
Services provided onsite or by referral
Level of “face time” engagement
Targeted age groups (younger, older, combination)
At the One-Stop vs. through a youth-based CBO
Career Coaches, Staffing Specialists, Youth Specialists

39. Brevard Workforce Initiatives
Special Project Grants
Project CRAFT
Construction pre-apprenticeship program
Business Learning Sessions
Tapping into the hidden job market
Project SEARCH
Healthcare internship program
12 youth obtained PACT certification through the CRAFT program. Of these, 4 obtained employment (2 in construction) and 1 youth obtained a high school diploma. 8 students and approximately 80 of their supporters attended the CRAFT graduation ceremony at Riverdale Country School (see attached article).
Federal Initiatives
Disability Mentoring Day
Job Shadow Day
Employment Network / Ticket to Work
Disability Program Navigator

40. Project CRAFT
Project CRAFT (Community, Restitution, and Apprenticeship-Focused Training)
Designed to improve educational levels, teach vocational skills and reduce recidivism among adjudicated youth, while addressing the home building industry's need for entry level workers.
Program initiated in 1994 when the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration awarded a Youth Offender demonstration grant to Home Builders Institute (HBI).
Incorporates the apprenticeship concept of hands-on training and academic instruction. Under the supervision of instructors, students learn residential construction skills while completing community service construction projects.

41. Project CRAFT
Utilizes industry validated Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT), numeracy, literacy and employability skills curricula.
Nearly 60% of participants have a disability, with special education planning a key component of the program.
Since 1994, Project CRAFT has served more than 2,000 high-risk youth at 15 sites in ten states (Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas). Project CRAFT currently operates at nine sites in four states, including Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey, and Mississippi. Each year it serves about 400 youth.

42. Project Craft – Brevard
Project CRAFT (Community, Restitution, and Apprenticeship-Focused Training)
Grant from Workforce Florida, Inc.
Replicated best practice program
Target population
SED students at Riverdale Academy
Construction training provider
Home Builders Institute
12 graduates with PACT certification
4 employed

43. Project SEARCH
The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a unique, business led, one year school-to-work program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations

44. Project SEARCH
The sole definition of a successful outcome is competitive employment in an integrated setting for each Project SEARCH intern.
Employment in an integrated setting
Year-round work
20 hours/week or more
Minimum wage or higher
Project SEARCH is a business-led program. This means that students learn relevant, marketable skills while immersed in the business and those businesses are active partners, participating without subsidies.

45. Project SEARCH
True collaboration among partner agencies is essential. This leads to seamless transition services and sustainability through braided funding streams. True collaboration requires a willingness among partner organizations to share resources and adapt policies and procedures.
Businesses
Education / Schools
Vocational Rehabilitation
Community Rehabilitation Providers
Long-term Support Agencies
Families
Social Security Administration

46. Project SEARCH
The Program focus is on serving young adults with a variety of developmental disabilities (acquired before age 22 such as intellectual disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, orthopedic impairment, autism, etc.).
Program participants experience total immersion in the workplace. Students are on site at the business each school day for a minimum of six hours for an entire academic year.

47. Project SEARCH
The partners provide consistent on-site staff including a special education teacher from the school district and job coaches (usually funded by Vocational Rehabilitation and a supported employment agency and/or the school).

48. Project SEARCH
Program activities are tied to these federal IDEA (2004) Indicators:
1 - Graduation
2 - Dropout Rates
5 - Least Restrictive Environment
8 - Parent Involvement
13 - Compliant (Quality) IEP's and Transition Goals
14 - Post School Outcomes

49. Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH graduates receive effective follow-along services to retain employment.
Each Project SEARCH program site has a licensing agreement signed with Project SEARCH Cincinnati through Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

50. Project SEARCH - Brevard
Best practice program replication
Grant from Workforce Florida, Inc.
35 participants
24 completed work-site rotations
17 obtained employment
First project site in Florida, TA agent for other replication sites
Sustained by community partners
Two statewide awards
Florida Division on Career Development and Transition’s 2006 Collaboration Award (awarded to Brevard Public Schools
Agency for Persons with Disabilities for supporting the employment and retention of persons with disabilities (awarded to Holmes Regional Hospital/Health First).

51. How WE Can Help Employer Intermediary Work experience opportunities
Support services
Incentives
Career exploration/planning
Work readiness / life skills training

52. How WE Can Help Occupational skills training (scholarships)
Innovative program replication
Project SEARCH
School Based Enterprise
Project Sting Ray
ARTthread
High School / High Tech

53. How YOU Can Help
Learn more about your local workforce development (investment) board
Attend Youth Council meetings
Engage in cross-referral
Be a resource!
Cross-training:
Disclosure
Accommodations
Resource identification / referral
Education planning
Transition planning
Shared case management strategies

54. Making the Connection 24 Florida Workforce Regions www.floridajobs.org
100 Career One-Stop Centers
See handout for directory!

55. Wrap Up
Q & A
Best Practice Sharing

56. All Aboard!