Workforce Investment
BoardsYouth Programs
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, Riverside and Marin Counties
Sonoma County:
Program Information
• Program was started in 2009
• In 2013:
– 247 Youth participated
43 Individual placements
– 25 Crews (8 Youth per crew)
19 Summer crews (entry/senior level)
4 Extended (senior level)
2 Year Round (senior level)
– Kick-off Event
– Opportunity Fair
Sonoma County:
Youth Participants
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:
Partners
The Sonoma County Human Services Department administers
the Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps in partnership with:
• Workforce Investment Board (WIB)
• Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA)
• Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE)
• 6 local non-profit agencies which HSD contracts with to
employ and supervise the youth
• New Ways to Work
• Sonoma County Parks Alliance
Sonoma County:
Funding Sources
The 2013 summer work experience opportunities were funded
by multiple sources including the following:
•Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through the Workforce
Investment Board
•Sonoma County Water Agency
•Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
•Realignment funds
•Parks Alliance
Eligibility requirements and age criteria differed depending on the funding source.
All participants were tracked according to funding source.
Sonoma County:
Evaluation
• Done for the summer program only
• Met program goals:
– Youth
– Environment
– Community
Marin County:
Program Overview
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2013 pilot program
Paid conservation work and career planning for 16 youth
Designated junior and senior crews at two sites
Conducted intensive recruitment sessions for youth
Developed marketing/outreach to elicit community interest
Marin County:
Youth Participants
Target populations are 16 to 24 year-old economically
disadvantaged youth including:
• Current Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Participants
• Participants on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(TANF)/ (CalWORKS)
• 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.
Marin County:
Partnerships
• Marin Employment Connection (MEC), operated by the
Department of Health and Human Services of Marin County
(H&HS)
• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (GGNPC)
• California State Parks (CSP)
• Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB)
• Marin County Board of Supervisors (BoS)
• Marin Charitable
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) through the Marin County
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
Marin County:
Personnel Outcomes
• From the 8 senior crew participants:
- Enrolled 4 out-of-school youth in WIA Services
- Placed 3 in ongoing employment opportunities
- Secured 3 in classes at College of Marin
• From the 8 junior crew participants:
- Helped youth earn course credits at respective high
schools
- Ensured all 8 returned to school for fall quarter
Provided all 16 with a clear and motivated career trajectory
Marin County:
Environmental Outcomes
Before…
After..
Marin County:
Future Plans
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Build in more components to support youth
Conduct a full debriefing with youth participants
Organize a one-on-one session with each applicant upon hire
Bring back 2013 corpsmembers to assist with recruitment
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
Success Stories
Future Plans
Questions?