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Youth Industry Partnership
Initiative
www.workforce-solutions.org
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Forming partnerships and aligning Hartford’s
resources to impact progress for our
disconnected youth.
• Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford
• Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative
• Our Piece of the Pie
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NFWS Industry Partnership Model
• Employer driven for local business impact across industry
sectors
• Bringing together public and private associations, employers,
sector organizations and service providers
• Actualizing career opportunities with local openings
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NFWS YIPI Meeting
Boston  May 1, 2014
Leveraging Partnerships
for Success in Hartford
Leveraging Partnerships
Community collaborative of
40+ organizations chaired by
the Mayor, supported by
Aspen Forum for
Community Solutions, and
guided by collective impact
and RBA
• Comprehensive approach
to connecting youth to
education and
employment
• Dual-customer model that
helps youth transform
challenges into economic
success
• Focus on real change
within and across systems
Opportunity for
organizations with heavy
content knowledge and
expertise working with
youth to intersect with a
demand-driven model that
targets the same jobs with
the same employers in the
same industries (health care
and manufacturing)
www.YouthReconneCT.org
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Introduction to ACC Manufacturing
Technology Center - 2010
Awarded a WIA OSY Award by CWP
Summer 2012
Program Concept:
• IBest Model
• Support Team Model
• OSY With No Diploma Component
• Barriers…
• The Partnership…
Programmatic Updates
The Characteristics & Needs of
OSY WIA Youth
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Differences between OSY/ISY WIA
youth.
The needs of OSY in this type of
model.
Model modifications due to these
needs
A systemic approach to working
with OSY WIA youth
YIPI Goals
www.workforce-solutions.org

Identify the unique challenges and gaps for
building momentum in re-engaging youth
• Establish suitability
• Determine and provide required preparation and
support services
• Skill-building
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Create and support training and career
pathways with a dual purpose
• Engage youth in education, training and employment
• Strengthen local business and industry
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Our Approach
www.workforce-solutions.org

Look system-wide at the best work that the
region is doing to address these needs
– What is working
• Is it scalable
– Where are the hurdles
• What possible solutions
– How will what we do as a collaborative of industry
partnerships be different for youth?
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Our Focus
www.workforce-solutions.org
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Manufacturing
– YIPI -Pathways to Manufacturing (PMI)
• A Comprehensive Service /Partnership Model
• YIPI will pay for 10 non WIA certified participants
• Reporting and learning across the PMI program
– HOYC aligned partnership designed for systemic
scalability guided by collective impact and
results based accountability measures
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Targeted Outcomes
www.workforce-solutions.org
Credential Attainment (Customer Service,
OSHA)
 Literacy Gain
 Math Gain
 Career Competency Development Training
Completion (Workforce Readiness Credential)
 Credit Accumulation
 Manufacturing Certification
 Placement in Employment
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Learning Product
www.workforce-solutions.org

Compare and report the HOYC/PMI
program’s learning with the SIF funded
Healthy Futures program that is under way.
• Delivery via Sector Intermediary Metro Hartford
Alliance for Careers in health care
• Data collection match
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Recruitment
www.workforce-solutions.org
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26 recruited first cohort
20 recruited second cohort
• 10 Non-WIA certified enrolled
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Strict Recruitment: Intentional Criteria (100 youth)
• 1 out of 5 are found suitable
• 8th grade level - Literacy and Numeracy (3-6 months to
demonstrate skills)
• Cannot miss more than one of set of 3 appointments
• Secure housing and transportation
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Recruitment
www.workforce-solutions.org

Acclimation to Mfg through Career Inventory
– Some exceptions - motivated/interest/ aptitude
– Ex: Nursing Academy/Journalism Academy xfers
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Skip recruitment criteria already prepped
Recruitment locations
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CREC University HS Intro to Manufacturing
Hartford Adult Education
Hartford Job Corps
Hartford YMCA
Girl Scouts of America
OPPortunity HS
Faith Based Organizations
Neighborhood Revilization Zone (NRZ) Meetings
Windsor HS Shop Program
Hartford HS Green Tech
Technical High Schools Prince Tech. or Cheney Tech
Media (Hartford Public Access, HPS Newsletter, Craig’s List)
Social Media (Facebook, Linkein, Etc.)
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Multi-faceted Training
www.workforce-solutions.org
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Our Piece of the Pie
– 3 week hands –on personalized team instruction
preparation
• Career Competency Development Training
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Basic Skills
Computer Literacy
Customer Service
Problem Solving/Decision Making
Interpersonal/Communication Skills
Personal Qualities (dress/self mgmt/can do
Job Seeking Skills
Financial Literacy
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Youth Support/
Case Management
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www.workforce-solutions.org
Team approach – one on one services
– Youth Development Specialist
– Workforce Development Specialist
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Youth Development Specialist
www.workforce-solutions.org
Each youth is assigned a Youth Development Specialist (YDS) who is primarily responsible for
the services including:
• Recruitment and Engagement
• Administering and Reviewing Assessments
• Individual Success Planning (Goal Identification and Management)
• Needs Assessment & Barrier Reduction
• Relationship Centered Mentoring
• Social & Emotional Development
• Integration Into Post-Secondary Education (each YDS certified FAFSA counselors)
• Parental (or significant other) Engagement
• Advocacy and the Development of Self-Advocacy Skills
• Resource Identification and Referrals to External Supports and Services
• Home, School & Work Site Visits
• Coordination of and Participation in Enrichment Activities
• Retention and Resilience Support (Includes Monitoring of Credit Accumulation)
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Workforce Development
Specialist
www.workforce-solutions.org
Each youth is assigned a (NAWDP certified) Workforce Development Specialist (WDS) who is
primarily responsible for the following services:
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Recruitment, Eligibility and Suitability Screening, Intake, and Enrollment
Academic and Career Assessment Administering and Review
Career Counseling (Development of Individual Career Plan - ICP)
Manufacturing Labor Market Research Aligned to Post-Secondary Certification
Career Competency Development Training (Including Life Skills)
Coordination of OSHA Training, Facilitation of Workforce Readiness and Customer
Service Credentials
Development and Coordination of Internships (Including Payroll/Check Distribution)
Job Placement Assistance
Worksite and School Visits
College Progression (Monitoring Credit Accumulation)
Job Retention Services and Supports and WIA Retention Services
Work Readiness Credential - http://www.hmhco.com/shop/education-curriculum/adulteducation/career-pathways/features/work-readiness-credential
National Retail Federation - http://nrffoundation.com/content/certification-customerservice
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Stackable Credentials
www.workforce-solutions.org
National Career Readiness Certificate
 OSHA Certificate
 Customer Service Certificate
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Pathways to Manufacturing
www.workforce-solutions.org
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6-8 weeks Sector based instruction July 1
– BRIDGE/Orientation Program
• Participants taken in vans the 20 miles from Hartford
to Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield to the
Manufacturing Center
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Early Anecdotes
www.workforce-solutions.org
A significant amount of interest in Mnfc. from
young people already in other careers
 Appealing to both minority men and women
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Biggest Success
www.workforce-solutions.org
Employers are paying tuition balances/for
individuals showing potential
 Employers expand access for youth in PMI
program to include
 Advanced Manufacturing
 Welding and Robotics
 Electromechanical/Technical
 Asnuntuck CC $25 million from Gov. Malloy to
increase enrollment at Mfg Center from 220- 600
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Biggest Challenges
www.workforce-solutions.org
Scalability of support services
 Dynamics to specific manufacturing
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– Unique needs of employers
– Territorial parameters of partnerships
• Money
• Alliances with specific people/groups
– Programmatic loyalties/reputations
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Employers
www.workforce-solutions.org
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8 PMI program employers are committed to
the journey
– Identifying Employer Needs
– Hands-On training Experiences (paid)
– Job Placement negotiation
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Advice
www.workforce-solutions.org
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Build on existing partnerships
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Youth Academic Specialist
www.workforce-solutions.org
Youth will have access to a (FAFSA Certified) Academic Specialist who is primarily responsible
for the following services:
• Academic Interventions (i.e. Tutoring and Remediation Aimed at Increasing Literacy and
Numeracy Skills)
• Post-Secondary Readiness
• FAFSA Assistance (Financial Aid)
• Essay Writing
• College Progression/Transfers
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