Northwest Pa Workforce Investment Title I Youth Programs

2. Northwest Pa Workforce Investment Title I Youth Programs Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango & Warren Counties October 2012

3. W.I.A.

4. WHO IS VTDC? • PRIVATE NON-PROFIT CORPORATION CELBRATING OUR 39TH ANNIVERSARY • SERVES OVER 800 DISABLED OR DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS FROM CLARION, CLEARFIELD, FOREST, JEFFERSON, WARREN, VENANG,CRAWFORD AND NOW ERIE COUNTIES. • PROVIDES VOCATIONAL, EMPLOYMENT, ADULT DAY, AND COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABALED AND MENTAL HEALTH POPULATION. • HAS PROVIDED TITLE I YOUTH PROGRAMS SINCE 2001 IN BOTH THE NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST WORKFORCE INVESTMENT AREAS. • ACCESS TO A CUSTOMER BASE OF OVER 100 BUSINESSES .

5. VTDC EXPERIENCE • 2 LICENSED SHELTERED WORKSHOPS • 2 ADULT TRAINING FACILITIES • SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS • HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS • TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT • STUDENT EMPLOYER ALLIANCE PROGRAM (AT RISK YOUTH) • MENTAL HEALTH DROP IN CENTER • PROJECT SEARCH TRANSITION PROGRAM • FAIRWEATHER LODGE PROGRAMS • NORTHWEST & NORTH CENTRAL WIA YOUTH PROGRAMS • BUSINESS SERVICES DIVISION/CONTRACT PACKAGER

6. NORTHWEST PA WIA YOUTH SYSTEM

7. WIA Youth Eligibility • AGES 14-21, LOW INCOME INDIVIDUAL • BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT • DEFICIENT IN BASIC SKILLS • SCHOOL DROPOUT • PREGNANT/PARENTING • HOMELESS/RUNAWAY/FOSTER CHILD • OFFENDER/ADJUDICATED • REQUIRES ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO COMPLETE EDUCATION OR TO SECURE AND HOLD EMPLOYMENT

8. 10 Elements of WIA • Tutoring, study skills training and instruction leading to the completion of secondary school, including dropout prevention strategies • Alternative secondary school services • Summer employment opportunities directly linked to academic and occupational learning • Paid/unpaid work experience • Occupational skill training • Leadership development opportunities • Supportive service • Adult Mentoring for not less than 12 months • Follow up services for not less than 12 months • Comprehensive guidance counseling

9. TANF Eligibility • SERVES YOUTH AGES 5 – 18 • MUST BE IN-SCHOOL YOUTH • MEET 235% OF POVERTY INCOME LEVEL • FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH RECIPIENTS QUALIFY • FAMILY RECEIVES CASH ASSISTANCE OR FOODSTAMPS

10. Role of the Youth Coordinator • Provides case management activities to all enrolled youth. • Develops Individual Service Strategy with youth, family and school input. • Monitors provider agencies • Tracks youth goals and outcomes • Recruitment of work experience/ job sites

11. Partnership Meetings • COMMUNICATION IS KEY TO PROGRAM SUCCESS! • MEET QUARTERLY • MEETINGS GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE: • Programmatic Information • Fiscal Information • Ideas for current and future success • Monitoring progress • PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE: • Students / Parents • Business Representatives • School Districts • VTDC Lead Agency Staff • Community Agencies / Supports

12. What programs do we offer? • Mini Grants to Schools • Out –of-School Youth Trip • Career Day • Career Camp • Industry Clubs • Tutoring Services • Funding to Community Partners for Various Programs • YMCA • Big Brothers Big Sisters • ACES • Youth Alternatives • Career and Technical Centers • Juvenile Probation • Clarion University • Hermitage House • Junior Achievement

13. Career Counselor • The Career Counselor provides students with career and work education tools and act as a link to the PA Career Link system. They do not act in a Guidance Counselor capacity. They work closely with the Guidance Counselors to insure that we are providing the tools that the schools need. We have and will continue to provide training, as part of this service, on “core Services” that occur in the PA Career Links, along with software and Industry Partnership information that is provided through the State Department of Labor and local Workforce Investment Board. Some of those Core Services are listed below. • Orientation to the PA Career Link System • Job Search and Placement Assistance • Career counselling when appropriate • CWDS (PA Career Link software) Navigation and Technical Support • Job Search Workshops • Career Exploration • Resume/Cover Letter Preparation • Civil Service Inquiries • Initial assessment of skill levels • Labor market information such as job vacancy listings, job skills necessary to obtain jobs, local in demand occupations, earnings, and skill requirements. • Performance information and program cost information on eligible training providers. • If you have any questions or concerns regarding day to day operations, please have your guidance counselor contact Juanet Shefchunas, Assistant Program Director at 814-678-5098, or by e-mail jshefchunas@venangocareerlink.org

14. Career Counselor • 2009-2010 Career Counselor Services • Jefferson, Clarion, Venango, Crawford and Forest Counties • There were 5,553 youth served (this is new and repeat youth) • 2010-2011 Career Counselor Services • Venango, Crawford, Clarion and Forest Counties • There were 7,820 youth served (this is new and repeat youth) • 2011-2012 Career Counselor Services • Venango, Crawford, Clarion and Forest Counties • There were 6,232 youth served (this is new and repeat youth)

15. Work Experiences • An opportunity to gain a work history in the field of your choice • Networking with future Employers • Learning work skills • A Chance to try an occupation • Receiving a paycheck!!!

16. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS • WHAT HAVE WE MISSED? • WHO CAN YOU NETWORK WITH TO PROVIDE OUTCOMES? • SHARE WHAT WIA ACTIVIES ARE OR ARE NOT HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.

17. QUESTIONS?

18. THANK YOU! • IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TODAY, CONTACT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: • Colleen Stuart 814-676-5755 Ext 11 or castuart@vtdc.org • John Flanagan 814-455-9966 Ext 600 or jflanagan@eriecareerlink.org • Juanet Shefchunas 814-678-5098 or jshefchunas@venangocareerlink.org Please contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you for your time today and we look forward to hearing from you.