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As part of the Federal Workforce Investment Act,
the Tri-County Workforce Council established the Tri-County Youth Council. It is charged with
overseeing the coordination of federal youth workforce programs with education
and other services for young people at the local level.
The Youth Council has aligned its plan (page 19 of the Tri-County
Workforce Council's Strategic Plan) in support
of Washington State's education reform (Goal 4 of the
Essential Academic Learning Requirements) - linking
academic learning to the world of work. Through partnerships with local school
districts, business and community partners, the Youth Council is piloting new
ways that prepare youth for careers, while addressing local employment
shortages and growing talent locally for current and future needs.
Understanding that basic education is a cornerstone to career
success, summer paid work internships now include an educational component
requiring students to spend equal time in an educational environment to
strengthen basic reading, writing and math skills. To help young people succeed
academically and in work, innovative programs are funded that utilize mentors,
tutorial programs and student portfolios.
Objective A: Strengthen the connection between school and the
workplace
Strategies:
- Establish a clearinghouse of workforce learning materials
available to the Tri-County region to support education.
- Recruit and maintain a pool of employers (business people) who
can serve as resource speakers and instructors for job readiness classes.
- Develop labor/business advisory committees to serve as a
resource to local educators in the development of curricula, classes and
programs that utilize contextual, applied and work-based learning
opportunities.
- Develop a database of employers who will provide first-hand,
work-based learning experiences to youth through internships, work experience,
and job shadowing.
- Establish teacher internships to keep educators abreast of the
skills needed in the workplace.
Objective B: Develop programs that will help all students,
including dropouts and students at risk, to succeed.
Strategies:
- Develop programs and organize efforts to assist dropout
students with school reentry to achieve a high school diploma or in accessing
alternative education opportunities for GED completion.
- Develop programs that focus on development of basic education
skills for high mobility students, migratory students and students of farm
families.
- Develop tutoring programs that will assist students in
mastering reading, writing, and math skills.
- . Develop employer mentoring/counseling programs to help
dropout youth recognize their employment potential.
- Link “second-chance” programs for youth who are out
of school with the “first-chance” system for youth who are in
school.
WIA Youth Services
The major components of the WIA youth program
offer guiding principles to ensure the needs of young people are met. The
target population of WIA Youth include both in-school and out-of-school, so
services provided reflect the priorities of each of these unique populations.
In-school priorities include comprehensive and integrated services
that promote enhanced academic achievement; successful graduation; awareness of
post-secondary and technical education; work readiness; and connections to the
world of work. The focus is on drop out prevention; preparation for
post-secondary college or technical schools; and assistance with work related
goals. These priority services are delivered in partnership with the school
system in which the youth is enrolled.
Out-of-school priorities for younger youth (age 14-18) include
returning the youth to school for secondary education completion; awareness of
post-secondary and technical education; work readiness; and connections to the
world of work. For those who are 19-21 years old, primary emphasis is on
completing their secondary-education and on building connections to advanced
training and/or post-secondary education tied to the completion of a WIA
approved credential. For older out-of-school youth, a plan for financial
self-sufficiency is the backbone of the service
strategy.
The holistic approach begins at the initial registration and
continues through the post-exit follow-up.
- Outreach and Recruitment: Includes, but is not
limited to, identifying potentially eligible youth, working with parents or
guardians to secure necessary documentation, and communicating with schools and
community organizations to facilitate outreach and recruitment.
- Orientation: Included in the orientation,
youth receive information on all available services, and WorkSource. This
process also includes an introduction to the responsibilities of the youth and
the System’s expectations with regards to drug and alcohol abuse,
governing policies, behavior and attendance.
- Eligibility Determination and Registration:
This process begins with an application form to generate all information
necessary to determine eligibility.
- Objective Assessment: Each youth participant,
is given an objective assessment that incorporates a review of the youth’s
skill levels including basic skills, occupational skills, prior work
experience, employability, interests, aptitudes (including interests and
aptitudes for nontraditional jobs), supportive service needs, and developmental
needs.
- Individual Service Strategy (ISS): For each
youth participant, an individual service strategy is developed that includes
the identification of an age-appropriate career goal, taking into consideration
the youth’s assessment results and preparation for postsecondary
educational opportunities. The ISS information provides linkages between
academic and occupational learning, provides preparation for employment, and
provides effective connections to intermediary organizations that provide
strong links to the job market and employers.
- Case Management: Through individual connection
with participants, Case Managers serve as the youths’ advocate within the
education, training, and employment arenas.
- System Building: Working together as a system,
case managers are goal oriented and customer driven by motivating participants
and coordinating services. WIA Case managers bring community resources together
to leverage funds and develop opportunities for youth.
- Health and Safety: All participants are
provided with information and instruction on the subject of health and safety.
In addition, orientations are provided to all work-related site supervisors
regarding worker health and safety issues.
- Referral Services: In addition to the
information shared at the orientation level, participants receive referral
information regarding the full array of applicable and appropriate services. To
best meet the needs of youth, organizations are strongly encouraged to network
and partner with other youth serving agencies.
- Supportive Services: Intended to enable an
individual to participate in program activities and to secure and retain
employment, examples include assistance with local transportation costs;
childcare and dependent care costs; housing and food; and relocation and
out-of-area job search expenses.
- Retention Services (Follow-Up Services):
Post-exit services, that may include continued case management; employment
retention services; supportive services; counseling; and training, are
allowable under WIA. These services are intended to assist customers in
maintaining and succeeding in their jobs, as well as progressing in wage levels
to achieve self-sufficiency.
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