youth ecology corps program a crash course in workplace competencies

Youth Ecology Corps Program

“A Crash Course inWorkplace Competencies”

Youth Ecology Programs

• Youth Ecology Corps are workforce training and ecosystem education

programs aimed at employing youth and young adults while teaching environmental stewardship

• We will look at programs operating in Sonoma, Marin, and Riverside Counties

Sonoma County: Program Focus

• Youth Employment / Youth Development200-300 youth and young adults annually

• Environmental StewardshipCrews complete environmental projects

• Community Benefits Flood Protection, Park Access, Food, Safety

• Strategic PartnershipsGood Government, Leveraged Resources

Sonoma County: Program Information

• Program was started in 2009 • Provides work and learning opportunities for 200-250 youth

and young adults each year• Primarily a summer program with a growing number of year

round crews• Launched with ARRA dollars (Recovery Act)• Sustained by leveraging a range of investments and a growing

set of partners• Highly visible and popular with elected officials / others

Sonoma County: Partners

• The Sonoma County Human Services Department and Workforce Investment Board

• Sonoma County Water Agency • Sonoma County Office of Education • Six local non-profit agencies • New Ways to Work• Parks Alliance for Sonoma County • More than 60 Project Hosts

Sonoma County: Youth

Target populations are 14 to 24 year-old economically disadvantaged youth including: • Current Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Participants • Participants on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

(TANF) • Current or former Foster Youth• Participants with disabilities • Pregnant or Parenting youth• Youth involved in the justice system*In addition to these target groups, other youth are served based on funding availability.

Sonoma County: Funding Sources

2013 Program Funders• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through the Workforce

Investment Board• Sonoma County Water Agency• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)• Realignment funds• Parks Alliance (Vintners Foundation, Regional Parks, City

Parks, local grants and contributions)

Sonoma County: Results

Youth• Builds work-readiness skills• Fosters environmental awareness• Builds career awareness and aspiration• Youth save $$ and contribute to household expenses

Environment• Creeks and streams maintained• Habitats restored• Contributes to fish recovery• Helps build environmental awareness.

Sonoma County: Results

Community• Small stream flooding reduced• Access to parks and trails improved• Community gardens planted and harvested• Many other outdoor community projects completed

Program and the Partners• Identifies and connects partners around a common purpose• Wide range of partners help sustain the SCYEC• Responsible use of a range of public funds• Engages private investors.

YEC Communities:

The YEC model is being replicated in a number of communities:

• Marin County• Riverside County• Portland, Oregon

Summer 2014 Pilots Include:• Napa County• Contra Costa County• Alameda County

Marin County: Program Overview

• Summer 2013 pilot program • Two crews of 8 youth• Paid conservation work and career planning

– Indian Valley Organic Farm– John Muir Woods– Mount Tamalpalais

• Planning for expansion in 2014

Marin County: Partners

• Marin Employment Connection • Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

California State Parks • Conservation Corps North Bay• Marin County Board of Supervisors • Marin Charitable Trust• Workforce Investment Board

Marin County: Funding

• Marin County, Department of Health and Human Services, CalWORKS

• Marin County Board of Supervisors• Golden Gate National Recreation – entrance

fees collected from visitors to local state parks

Riverside County: Youth ParticipantsTarget populations are 16 to 21 year-old economically disadvantaged youth including: • Current Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Participants • Participants on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

(TANF) • Current or former Foster Youth• Participants with disabilities • Pregnant or Parenting youth• Youth involved in the justice system

*In addition to these target groups, other youth are served based on funding availability.

Riverside County: Partners

The Workforce Investment Board administers the Riverside County Youth Ecology Corps in partnership with:• California Family Life Center (CFLC)• Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)• Workforce Investment Board (WIB)

Riverside County: Funding

The 2013 summer work experience opportunities were funded by the following sources:• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through the

Workforce Investment Board • Eastern Municipal Water District

Riverside County: Outcomes

• 3 entered Post-Secondary Education• 1 obtained employment• 2 are enrolled in the Empower Youth WIA Program• Program Expansion

Administrative Prep

• Identify Projects• Promote to Youth• Conduct Interviews• Perform Background Checks / Testing• Hire Youth• Sign Agreements• Complete Forms

– Orientation Checklist– Computer Network Access (office assistants)

Training

• Safety & Ethics Training (6 hours)

6 segments All6 additional segments Field Personal Protection Equipment Field Badges for Identification All

• Microsoft Office Software Review (4 hours) Word, PowerPoint, Excel All

• PowerPoint & Headquarters Tours (8 hours) 20 Departments All

Workplace Experiences

• Lunch During Orientation• Facility Tours• Recognition at a Board Meeting

Certificate & Letter of Recommendation

Workplace Competencies

• Planning, Organizing, & Scheduling• Problem Solving & Decision Making• Working with Tools and Technology

• Teamwork• Following Directions• Business Fundamentals

Workplace Competencies

Benefits to Youth

• Experience• Advice • Recommendations• Rewarding!!

Benefits to EMWD

• Increases youth awareness of careers• Provides staff with exposure to youth• Backburner projects get addressed• Rewarding!!

Future Plans

Steve TrippeSCYEC Partner

New Ways to Work707/824-4000 x22

sgtrippe@newwaystowork.org

Questions?