Pathways to Success by 21 A Collaboration of State and Regional Partners Supporting Youth

1. Pathways to Success by 21A Collaboration of State and Regional Partners Supporting Youth

2. P21 Process (Not a Program!) • Two Prong Approach • State Level Steering Committee • Tri-Chaired by DWD, DOE, HHS (Youth Voice) • Regional Teams (Youth Voice) • Regional Planning Grants • Analysis of Regional Action Plans • Creation of Statewide Strategic Action Plan • Prioritize Action Steps with Leadership • 400+ regional/state partners participated: still growing!

3. What did we hear? Youth • 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)

4. 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

5. Strategy #1 Public Awareness Strategy #9 Share Data Strategy #2 Early Identification Strategy #8 Persistent Barriers Strategy #3 Early Intervention Strategy #7 Unified Staff Development Strategy #4 Outreach & Support Strategy #6 Work-Readiness Assessment Strategy #5 Increase Alt. Ed. & Training Pathways to Success by 21 Statewide Strategic Priorities

6. Strategy 1: Public Awareness Deliverables Short-Term: Resource Map Long-Term • Youth Web Portal • “Phone Book” for non-internet access • Messaging Campaign (Youth & Families)

7. 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)

8. 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

9. Strategy 5: Expand Alternative Pathways for Youth • Resource Map to describe gaps in funding • Build state support for increased funding

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. EOHHS Connection to P21 • Executive Office of Health and Human Services • Children Youth & Families Cluster • Department of Social Services • Department of Transitional Assistance • Department of Youth Services • Office of Refugees and Immigrants

15. CYF Mission As a Cluster within EOHHS, CYF has as its goal the continuing improvement of coordination and collaboration between its member agencies through the use of Agency Head Meetings and Interagency Meetings and shared goals.

16. CYF Priorities 1.Integrating Interagency Systems of care to insure that state dollars are used effectively and efficiently 2. Support Transition Aged Youth/Housing and other Supportive Services 3. Supportive Services to increase Self Sufficiency/Welfare Reform 4. Agency Staff Development

17. EOHHS Office of Children, Youth and Families: Moving to Self Sufficiency. Developmental Framework COMMUNITY Health Availability of formal/informal health and mental health supports FAMILY Access to formal/informal health and mental health resources Safety Availability of safe places in the neighborhood and community Emotional & physical well being • CYF provides services that: • are strength based • promote self sufficiency & independence • are child focused, family driven and community based Safe family environment Family connection to other families, social well-being Personal safety Neighborhood,inter-neighborhood,regionalcohesion. Adult/peer/ family relationships CHILD/ YOUTH Relationships Skill development Civic/ community engagement Family member education & employment Family involvement in civic activities Schools; jobs; workforce training Opportunity for engagement: religion; clubs; community service opportunities; cultural events, voting etc.... Skills Civic Engagement Transportation

18. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance Background: Family Resources—Welfare Vs. Work Relative to the Federal Poverty Level (Family of Three)

19. DYS Mission The mission of the Department of Youth Services is to: • Protect the public and prevent crime by promoting positive change in the lives of youth committed to our custody, and by partnering with communities, families, and government and provider agencies toward this end. We accomplish this mission through interventions that build knowledge, develop skills and change the behavior of the youth in our care.

20. DYS Youth: Cross-Agency Needs • DYS Need Cross-Agency Supports • 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

21. DYS Partnerships Need for Partnerships: Shared populations dictates need for shared service strategies • Pathways to Success by 21 State & Regional Teams • Children, Youth and Families Cluster Meetings • Vocational School Programming for DYS Youth • Alternative Education & GED Programming

22. 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

23. CONTACT INFORMATION Jennifer James • Deputy Director of Workforce Development, Dep’t. of Workforce Development • 617.626.7124 • jennifer.james@state.ma.us Kathy Betts • Deputy Assistant Secretary, Children Youth and Families, EOHHS • 617.348.8492 • Kathleen.Betts@state.ma.us Robert M. Turillo • Assistant Commissioner for Program Services, Dep’t. of Youth Services • 617.960.3306 • Robert.M.Turillo@state.ma.us