Foster Youth
Pathways to Employment
October 2010
New Ways to Work
Builds community connections that
prepare youth for success
• 25 years building comprehensive youth-serving systems
nationally
• Focuses on effectively targeting public resources to prepare
youth for the future
• Connects efforts to economic development
• Pioneered the All Youth-One System approach
• Since 2004 a focus on foster youth transitions
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
All Youth - One System
• Academic Achievement
– All youth are educated and ready to learn
• Career Development
– All youth are experienced and ready for careers
• Community Services and Supports
– All youth are connected to adults, peers, services and
supports
• Youth Leadership
– All youth are confident and ready for life
• Comprehensive Youth Development Approach
– A connected operational infrastructure supports youth
success
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
New Ways
and
Foster Youth Transition
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Youth Transition Action Teams (2004 - 2010)
Breakthrough Series on ILP Transformation (2008 – 2010)
Foster Youth Summer Jobs Plus (2009)
Foster Youth Career Development Access and Success (2009)
Foster Youth and Summer Jobs (2009 - 2010)
Foster Youth Career Development and Employment Task
Force (2007 – Present)
• Foster Youth Pathways to Employment (2010)
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Why Are We Here
The Need to be Connected and Supported
• Foster youth need to begin exploring and preparing for careers
and employment early on, and throughout the transition to
adulthood.
• Opportunities exist to help prepare young people for careers
and the world of work.
• In the current economic climate, a jobs-only focus is not a
fruitful approach,
• How do we ensure that foster youth are connected to every
possible opportunity to be better prepared for a successful
future?
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Youth in the Current Economy
• Employment rates for youth (ages 16-24), both for those who
are in school, and those who are not, declined in 2009,
continuing a trend that began in 2000.
• Youth employment rates are the lowest since WWII, since
data has been gathered on the population.
• Jobs in the secondary labor market, traditionally an entry
point for youth and young adults are being filled by adults
and retirees.
• Youth overall are suffering disproportionally.
• While the economy appears to be recovering, hiring is
lagging far behind.
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Foster Youth and Employment
• Results from early of youth who age out of foster care show
poor employment outcomes between ages 18 and 21.
– High unemployment
– Unstable employment
– Low wages
• Recently, the Urban Institute, the University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, and UC Berkeley examined employment
outcomes for youth aging out of foster care through age 24.
– Data from 3 states, including California
– Youth who aged out of care experienced poorer outcomes
when compared to both low income and other youth
nationally
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
FY Employment Outcomes
• Poor employment outcomes persisted at age 24 for
former foster youth when compared to their low income
counterparts and other youth nationally.
– Less likely to be employed (56% less likely than low
income youth )
– Less likely to be employed regularly (41% less likely than
low income youth)
– Earn less on average (11% less than low income youth,
$690/month)
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Progress in California and the Nation
CA NGA Policy Academy
CA Foster Youth Employment Summit
CA BSC on ILP Transformation
Return of Summer Jobs
Multiple Pilots, Demonstrations, and Programs
Federal Movement
Senate Caucus on Foster Youth
New Legislation: additional steps to assist children in
foster care in making the transition to independent
living
• Fostering Connections/AB12
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2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
The Challenge
Employment seems to be last on the list
• Career Development and Employment recommendations
not implemented
• Spotty results in Workforce and CWS Partnerships
(including summer jobs)
• Career Development and Employment buried in legislative
solutions and among policy makers
• Tough Economy freezes youth out of the labor market
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
What do we Know?
• All youth need a range of experiences
• All youth need employment experience prior to aging
out
– Data shows that early employment is the greatest success
indicator for gainful employment at 24
• New strategies need to be developed for older youth
in care
• More of the same just won’t work
• It’s more than just a job!
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
A Range of Approaches
• Seasonal Jobs, Transitional Jobs, Summer Jobs and
Part-time Work
• Workforce Training Programs
• Occupational Training
– Community College
– Trade Schools
• Volunteering
• Entrepreneurial Approaches
• Dedicated/Preferential Hire Opportunities
• Sequenced, Career Development Strategies
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
What is Career Development?
• A sequenced continuum of activities and experiences that
address career and college awareness, exploration, and
preparation.
• Includes a series of classroom activities, workplace exposures,
and community experiences over time.
• Programs and services provide a range of opportunities for
youth to develop their interests and explore options for their
future.
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Career Development Continuum
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
What is Career Development?
Key Principles
The following key principles support a comprehensive career
development system:
• Provide meaningful career development opportunities
• Develop youth-centered and developmentally appropriate
experiences
• Engage parents, guardians, and caregivers
• Provide real world experiences
• Build a connected system
• Allow for flexibility and adaptability
• Measure success and solicit feedback
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Opportunities that Support
Career Development
• California Career Resource Network (CalCRN)
• Career Ladders Project
• The Gateway Project
• Career Advancement Academies
• Guardian Scholars
• Chafee Education and Training Vouchers
• California College Pathways
• Foster Youth Success Initiative
• Adult Education Programs
• California Connected by 25 Initiative
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Opportunities that Support
Employment and Training
• Employment Development Department
– Youth Employment Opportunity Programs
– Workforce Investment Act
• California Conservation Corps
• Job Corps
• Youth Build
• Americorps
• CalWorks
• California Department of Rehabilitation
– Vocational Rehabilitation Services
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Connecting to Employment
What can you do to help:
• Encourage early career planning (7th or 8th grade)
• Identify interests
• Determine whether or not college will be required
• Set short and long term goals
• Assess work maturity and employability skills
• Identify part-time employment, internship, or volunteer
opportunities to gain skills and experience
• Create a career development plan
• Connect with existing programs that will
assist with career and/or employment
preparation
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Building Partnerships
to Better Serve Foster Youth
“Young people who leave foster care have an
increased likelihood for economic stability and
success if there is an intentional, integrated
and well-coordinated set of supports in place.”
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
Supporting Foster Youth to Achieve Employment and Economic
Self-Sufficiency
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Building A Partnership Between
Workforce and Child Welfare
• No one system can do it alone
• Identify which elements of the system we can change and
which elements we need to learn to work within
• Create relationships
• Be persistent
• Collaborate
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Youth Transition Action Teams
YTAT
• Launched in the summer of 2004 with 18 counties
participating by 2008
• Addressing the issue of transition for youth aging out of foster
care
• Consisting of leaders from child welfare, education, workforce
development, and other local systems
• Improving outcomes for youth aging out of the foster care
system in the following areas:
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Educational achievement and aspiration
Workforce readiness
Employment
Support networks
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Opportunities to Collaborate with
Workforce
• Priorities in both systems support coordination
• Staff in systems are open to collaboration
• Common goal to prepare vulnerable youth for a
successful future
• WIA measures better support foster youth engagement
• At 18 foster youth can access adult WIA services
• Both systems contain directives to involve the other
• Model programs have paved the way
• Others?
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Connecting Youth to Next Steps
Find out who and what foster youth are connected to:
• Caregivers
• Birth Family
• Social Worker
• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate)
• Mental Health Counselor
• Educational Liaison
• ILP Case Manager
• Case Plan
• Individual Education Plan
• Transitional Housing Program
• Transitional Independent Living Plan
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Supporting Youth in Opportunities
• Help youth to identify developmentally appropriate
experiences
• Coach and model positive workplace behaviors in the home
• Develop learning objectives and/or work-based learning plans
• Provide opportunities for reflection
• Practice effective communication skills
• Document experiences through
creation of resumes and portfolios
• Connect work-based learning to
next steps and a career plan
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Mapping Existing Employment
Opportunities and Challenges
• Identify specific career development/employment
opportunities that already exist in your community
• Identify what gets in the way of foster youth getting connected
to these opportunities
• Define what you can do or do
differently to ensure that foster
are connected
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Foster Youth Pathways to Employment
Statewide Forum, October 2010
• 130 Practitioners, Policy Makers, Youth, and Caregivers
• Workforce, Child Welfare, Education, and Others
• Focus on Practice Innovations and Policy Implications
– Workforce Approaches and Partnerships
– Permanency, Career Development, and Employment
– Strategies for Serving Older Youth in Care
– Supporting Success in Post Secondary Education
– Career Development Continuum and Younger Youth
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Foster Youth Pathways to Employment
Sample Practice Innovations
• Youth Transition Centers
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Riverside County Youth Opportunity Centers
Napa and Sonoma County, VOICES
Kern County, Dream Center Coffee House
Mendocino County, Arbor on Main
• Workforce and ILP Partnerships
– San Diego, Co-Issued RFPs and Programming
– Humboldt County, ILP Services and Supports at the One Stop
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Foster Youth Pathways to Employment
Sample Practice Innovations
• Blended and Leveraged Efforts
– San Francisco, TAY and Emancipated Youth
• Priority Hire Programs
– Santa Clara County
– Tulare County
• First Source Hire Programs
– Los Angeles and Riverside
– Sonoma County (planning)
• Others?
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Foster Youth Pathways to Employment
Next Steps
• Process and Disseminate Information
• Report to Key Elected Officials
• Share results with CDSS and Other Appropriate State
Agencies
• Share results with Counties and Workforce Areas
• Work with key legislators on identified legislative needs
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Ten Things you can do Tomorrow
1. Implement a Career Development plan with all youth
– CA Career Resources Network and the Career Zone
2. Connect with your local Youth Council, Workforce Investment
Board, and WIA service providers
– Encourage priority service to Foster Youth
– Learn about existing programs and opportunities
– Develop strategies to access the adult system
– Help advocate for summer jobs in 2011
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Ten Things you can do Tomorrow
3. Make sure youth have the required right to work and
eligibility documentation
– Right to Work documentation includes:
• A passport or
• A birth certificate or driver’s license AND a social
security card
• Non-citizens must also provide right to work (green
card)
– Specific Program eligibility documentation
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Ten Things you can do Tomorrow
4. Map and connect with career development programs and
services in your area
– Community College Programs
– Specialized Programs
(Youthbuild, Job Corps, Conservation Corps and others)
– Occupational and Trade Schools
– Apprenticeship Programs
– Targeted Programs
(Juvenile Justice, Voc Rehab, YWD, others)
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Ten Things you can do Tomorrow
5. Prepare youth for employment experiences
- Spend time developing and supporting work maturity skills
- Develop a plan for dealing with barriers such as
transportation
- Help youth identify the types of opportunities they are
interested in
- Encourage young people to think about how a transitional
work experience or internship can contribute to their career
and educational goals
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Ten Things you can do Tomorrow
6. Engage caregivers, social worker and others in supporting a
career development approach
7. Begin the conversation around priority or preferential hiring
with local elected officials and others
8. Explore opportunities for dedicated seasonal hires
9. Equip youth with job search skills (workshops and programs)
10. Provide a workplace skills focus in the home.
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
Next Steps
Ensure that Foster Youth are Connected and
Supported in Your Community
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What do you already know?
What do you need to find out more about?
Who do you need to connect with?
What commitments will you make?
How will you engage and empower youth and caregivers?
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
For More Information
New Ways to Work
707-824-4000
www.newwaystowork.org
Steve Trippe
sgtrippe@newwaystowork.org
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work
“We should dream of and plan for a day
when fewer children require foster care.
But until that day comes, we have a moral
responsibility to prepare young people
leaving foster care to become whole
adults who can fulfill their potential and
build bright promising futures.”
President Jimmy Carter
2010 FYP2E, New Ways to Work