Los Angeles Harbor College Economic and Workforce Development Warren T. Furutani Harbor YouthSource Center

Partnership between Los Angeles Harbor College and City of Los Angeles Economic Workforce Development Department Youth Programs Grant program began in July of 2012 Warren T. Furutani Harbor YouthSource Center is one of 13 YouthSource Center’s citywide Harbor YouthSource Center serves the South Bay region of Los Angeles and includes the cities of San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City and surrounding neighborhoods

The overall mission of the YouthSource Centers are to provide resources and services aimed at completing high school and learning how to get the most out of education, which will lead to a solid careers Staff at YouthSource Centers help build the skills necessary for education, employment and work readiness skills, career exploration and guidance, computer training and more

The YouthSource system works to promote youth achievement by engaging families and community partners in creating opportunities for teenagers and young adults to reach their education, employment, and personal development goals YouthSource is a city-wide program open to young people ages 14-21

The Warren T. Furutani Harbor YouthSource Center is the first YouthSource Center to be embedded in a community college campus Program staff work with young people to facilitate access higher education and increase educational attainment Program staff leverage existing college services and resources to provide wraparound services to program participants to help ensure student success

Having the YouthSource Center embedded at Los Angeles Harbor College can help in the following areas: Provide participants with many skills development options Engage participants in a variety of college and community services and resources Access financial aid Improve the likelihood that participants will realize the full benefit of post secondary education Provide access to a wide array of services all within the campus location

Program staff deliver a comprehensive array of youth workforce development and educational services including: High school diploma or equivalency attainment Alternative school offerings College enrollment services Academic tutoring Work readiness training Paid and unpaid internships Academic and personal counseling Summer employment opportunities Occupational skills training Leadership development Supportive services

Harbor YouthSource Center participants must be: Low income In school or out of school Age 17 – 21 Harbor YouthSource Center participants should have at least one of the following barriers: Basic skills deficient School dropout Foster care, homeless, or runaway Pregnant or parenting An offender An individual with a disability

Harbor YouthSource Center case management staff work with participants to develop a Individual Service Strategy (ISS) The ISS includes a process that identifies service needs, academic levels, goals, career interests, aptitudes, past work experience, employability potential, and more

Harbor YouthSource Center participant characteristics include: Majority male Majority of Hispanic Age 18 to 21 Unemployed Basic skills deficient Low income Out of school ( high school dropout) Primary language English, but household language Spanish Educational or career goals not defined

Harbor YouthSource Center participant characteristics continued: Non veterans Some parenting youth Some foster youth

Harbor YouthSource Center participant service activities have included: Educational achievement services (GED or HS diploma) Enrolled in higher education Internship placement Summer youth employment activities Leadership development activities Employment services