Youth Ecology Corps Program
“A Crash Course in
Workplace 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 Development
200-300 youth and young adults annually
• Environmental Stewardship
Crews complete environmental projects
• Community Benefits
Flood Protection, Park Access, Food, Safety
• Strategic Partnerships
Good 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
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Builds work-readiness skills
Fosters environmental awareness
Builds career awareness and aspiration
Youth save $$ and contribute to household expenses
Environment
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Creeks and streams maintained
Habitats restored
Contributes to fish recovery
Helps build environmental awareness
Sonoma County:
Results
Community
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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
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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 Participants
Target 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
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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 segments
6 additional segments
Personal Protection Equipment
Badges for Identification
(6 hours)
All
Field
Field
All
• Microsoft Office Software Review
Word, PowerPoint, Excel
(4 hours)
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
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Experience
Advice
Recommendations
Rewarding!!
Benefits to EMWD
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Increases youth awareness of careers
Provides staff with exposure to youth
Backburner projects get addressed
Rewarding!!
Future Plans
Steve Trippe
SCYEC Partner
New Ways to Work
707/824-4000 x22
sgtrippe@newwaystowork.org
Questions?