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VIII. YOUTH COUNCIL AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES

VIII A. Youth Council and Youth Activities

VIII. A.1 Describe your progress to date establishing your Youth Council.

The Chair of the Workforce Investment Board opened the nomination process for Youth Council members on October 8, 1999, which was the first meeting of the new WIB. At its November 19, 1999 meeting the Board approved the establishment of a 30 member Youth Council.

VIII A.2. Provide the membership composition of your Youth Council.

The State recommends that you include a local secondary educational representative on the Youth Council.

Category A: WIB Members with Interest/Expertise

Category B: Youth Service Agencies

Category C:Public Housing Authority

Category D: Parents of Eligible Youth

Category E: People and Representatives of Organizations That Have Experience in Youth Activities

Category F: Job Corps Representative

Category G: Others

Several local secondary education representatives are on the Council, including local school districts, charter schools, and alternative schools.

VIII A.3. Describe how the Youth Council will work with your LWIB in order to ensure that youth activities are aligned with your local workforce investment system.

Members of the Youth Council who are not members of the Workforce Investment Board shall be entitled to vote in Youth Council meetings, but shall not be allowed to vote as a member of the Workforce Investment Board.

The Youth Council shall report to the Executive Committee of the Workforce Investment Board.

The Chair of the Youth Council is a member of the Executive Committee. The Strategic Goals discussed in Chapter II provide the Youth Council with a framework to engage the youth provider and education community in a dialogue, and a basis to articulate local needs.

VIII A.4. Provide a description of how the Youth Council will fulfill each of the four duties prescribed by the Section 117(h)(4).

The Council, subject to the approval of the Board, will:

1. Develop the portions of the local plan for eligible youth.
2. Conduct a competitive Request for Proposal process and make recommendations to the full board to award contracts to providers to carry out WIA youth activities and conduct oversight of youth activities provided by eligible providers. The agenda for each regular meeting of the Executive Committee and full Board will contain a Youth Council report.
3. Coordinate activities authorized under WIA. The Council will design a process to ensure that youth access the One-Stop system and have the full range of allowable WIA services available to them.
4. Conduct other activities as directed by the Board.

VIII B Provide a description and assessment of youth services including the type and availability of youth services in the LWIA and a identification of successful providers.

Since 1984, Pima County has managed a consolidated employment and training system for adults and youth throughout the City of Tucson and Pima County. With the advent of the Workforce Investment Act, and at the recommendation of the Youth Council, the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) intends to merge traditional stand-alone summer and year round programs into a single service menu for youth eligible for services. Under WIA, youth will receive services from a system of service providers. The service network, which appears seamless from the youth's perspective, will be coordinated and linked by a case management team.

To further ensure maximum access to services for all youth, the Pima County One-Stop Centers will coordinate the case management team. The Youth Council is responsible for recommending a distribution plan specifically for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) youth funds to the Workforce Investment Board. The Council's intention is to coordinate the distribution of WIA youth funds with other related local initiatives. It will review and, if necessary, update the plan annually in order to respond to community change and new information and foster continuous program improvement. It may also review the composition of the Youth Council to promote expanded coordination of local youth development activities.

The Youth Council's priorities for youth services represent a considered response to the need for youth workforce development services in Pima County, within the framework of the Workforce Investment Act. The following priorities are intended to guide the Youth Council's activities and to assist the Council in recommending the award of contracts to provide youth services.

First, The Youth Council intends that WIA services provide youth participants with appropriate tools to become economically and personally self-sufficient.

Second, The Council intends to direct resources to areas where existing resources are inadequate to meet the needs, and to prioritize critical services, and areas where the gaps between existing resources and service needs are greatest.

Third, The Youth Council has the responsibility to ensure that the LWIA meet the performance standards required for youth under the law and defined by the State. The Council, in recommending the award of contracts to the Workforce Investment Board, will ensure that the mix of recommended programs will achieve the highest possible performance on WIA core indicators for youth.

Fourth, The Youth Council recognizes that there is a need for workforce development services throughout Pima County. Both urban and rural areas of Pima County are intended to receive services provided through WIA funds.

Fifth, The Council intends that WIA services be linked with Pima County's larger economic development and workforce development initiatives and plans developed by local businesses, governments and educational entities, as well as directed towards the needs of individual youth participants.

Sixth, Services provided by WIA funds will be linked with current youth programs. The Youth Council does not intend to duplicate services that are already available within the community and intends to encourage collaboration among youth service providers. The Council expects that youth workforce development services funded through the Workforce Investment Act will fill gaps in services. Filling service gaps may include expanding or enhancing existing workforce development services.

The term "case management," as defined by the Workforce Investment Act, means the provision of a client-centered approach in the delivery of services designed (1) to prepare and coordinate comprehensive employment plans, such as service strategies, for participants to ensure access to necessary workforce investment activities and supportive services; and (2) to provide job and career counseling during program participation and after job placement.

VIII B.1. Description and Assessment of Youth Services

The Workforce Investment Act mandates that Local Workforce Investment Boards provide ten (10) service elements for youth [P.L. 105-220. Sec.129(c)(2)]. Those elements are:

1. Alternative secondary school services
2. Summer employment activities that are directly linked to academic and occupational learning
3. Leadership development opportunities, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social behaviors during non-school hours, as appropriate
4. Tutoring, study skills training, and instruction, leading to completion of secondary school, including dropout prevention strategies
5. Occupational skill training
6. Paid and unpaid work experiences, including internships and job shadowing
7. Adult mentoring for the period of participation and a subsequent period, for a total of not less than 12 months
8. Supportive services
9. Comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral, as appropriate
10. Follow-up services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation.

The following section provides a description of current and proposed youth program services arranged according to the ten Workforce Investment Act program elements, including a description of how the services are incorporated into a WIA program design framework.

VIII B2: WIA Program Design Approach and Service Strategy

The Youth Council brings together an unprecedented range of youth development stakeholders to refine integrated strategies for comprehensive, year round youth development services.

During the development of the youth service plan, the Youth Council based service approaches and strategies on the concepts of improved service coordination, creatively using and leveraging the full range of resources, and ensuring that youth are able to access critical services.

Participating comprehensive service providers, identified through a Request For Proposal process and contracted to provide services, will assign a youth services specialist, at least on a part-time basis, at identified One-Stop Center(s). Case management services will be delivered via methods and practices that are most convenient and accessible for youth. The youth services specialist will participate in a case management team coordinated by the One-Stop Center. Through a coordinated case management approach youth services specialists will be more aware of information and referral opportunities, and youth will be more likely to access appropriate services.

The One-Stop Center's role is to convene the case management team; coordinate documents for each youth, including non-WIA funded activities; administer qualitative and quantitative follow-up and performance instruments; arrange for payment of supportive services; and arrange for payment of services attained through non-WIA sources. All WIA systems and processes will be designed to avoid duplication of services. The One-Stop Center will also provide core services, including information and referral, job development, job search assistance and job leads, and employability skills training for youth not eligible for WIA services.

An RFP process will be used to identify providers for required services. For in-school youth, those required services are summer youth opportunities, leadership development opportunities, tutoring, occupational skills training, paid and unpaid work experience, adult mentoring, and comprehensive guidance and counseling, not including substance abuse counseling. For out-of-school youth, those required services are alternative education, summer youth opportunities, leadership development opportunities, tutoring and study skills training and instruction leading to secondary school completion, occupational skills training, paid and unpaid work experience, adult mentoring, and comprehensive guidance and counseling, not including substance abuse counseling.

Comprehensive service providers, including their sub-contractors, identified through an RFP process, must offer a minimum of four of the required services, and must outline a strategy for how the remaining required services will be provided. In addition, a comprehensive service provider will participate in the case management team responsible for intake, assessment, and follow-up.

In order to minimize service disconnects, comprehensive service providers may propose subcontractors. Substance abuse counseling services will be procured through a Request for Qualified Vendor process and support services and follow-up will be provided through the One-Stop system.

Comprehensive, supportive follow-up strategies will continue at least twelve months. The supportive follow-up is designed to ensure the effectiveness of services over the long term.

Youth participants will play an important role in the design approach and service strategy. In addition to participating in the governance of programs by serving on the Youth Council, youth may participate in activities such as service learning, peer mentoring, and unpaid work experiences.

WIA programs may use incentives to reward youth for achieving goals and exercising leadership skills. Program incentive and/or stipend strategies will be selected according to the individual achievement and program appropriateness. Examples are: gift certificates, monetary payments, scholarships for post-secondary opportunities and other further education and training, and award ceremonies.

VIII B2a: Criteria for Selection of Youth Service Providers

A competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, such as the one used under JTPA Title II, will be expanded to procure comprehensive service providers to provide eight of the service elements mandated for youth by WIA, including: alternative secondary school, summer youth opportunities, leadership development opportunities, tutoring, occupational skills training, paid and unpaid work experience, adult mentoring, and comprehensive guidance and counseling, not including substance abuse counseling.

Selection criteria for youth services providers are:

1. The comprehensiveness of the program offered by the service provider (together with any subcontractor/s).
2. The service provider demonstrates the ability to measure and attain satisfactory performance levels of the WIA core indicators.
3. If applicable, the service provider has previously received satisfactory customer evaluations from both participants and employers for similar services.
4. The service provider demonstrates the ability to conduct skill/need assessments and to establish performance goals and objectives for each youth participant.
5. The service provider demonstrates the ability to coordinate with local secondary and post secondary institutions, either through previous experience or other means.
6. Prior experience successfully working with disadvantaged, special populations, and in operating education, training, and/or employment programs.
7. The service provider demonstrates the ability to leverage funding and resources with other non-WIA funding sources.
8. The service provider has sound financial management practices and a positive history of fiscal accountability.
9. The service provider can provide a youth program design that includes, for each participant, an objective assessment, individual service strategy, and services that prepare youth for post secondary educational opportunities, link academic and occupational learning, prepare youth for employment, and provide connections to intermediary organizations linked to the job market and employers.
10. The capacity and quality of the organization's staff.

A competitive Request for Qualified Vendor (RFQ) process will be used to procure qualified vendors for behavioral health counseling, including substance abuse counseling and other services. Criteria for selection includes organizational expertise and capacity in providing behavioral health services and experience with a client population similar to youth enrolled in WIA programs.

The Youth Council may determine awards and/or incentives to be awarded to contractors who substantially exceed contract performance standards.

In the event a service provider does not perform to contract standards, the Pima County Workforce Investment Board will:

1. First, give the service provider an opportunity to identify the problems and improve performance within a reasonable time. The specific situation will dictate what is considered a reasonable time.
2. When not corrected within a reasonable time, the Pima County Workforce Investment Board will implement a corrective action plan.
3. In extreme cases, after a reasonable amount of time has passed and the corrective action plan has not resulted in an increased standard of performance, the Workforce Investment Board will suspend the contract.

VIII B2a(1): Size of Targeted Population and Number to be Served

Pima County's youth population eligible for WIA services is estimated at 18,000. Previously, under the Job Training Partnership Act, Pima County provided employment and training services for 456 youth in the year round (IIC) program and 598 youth in the summer (IIB) program. These numbers include youth who were enrolled in both programs during the same reporting year as well as youth who were co-enrolled and received services funded through other resources.

Assuming that funding levels will not significantly increase or decrease, Pima County Workforce Investment Board intends to serve as many youth as possible, but no fewer than 250 youth, of which a minimum of 30% will be out-of-school youth. In keeping with its stated priorities, the Youth Council intends to target the majority, or 55%, of WIA funding to be focused on services for in-school youth and 45% of the funding to be focused on services for out of school youth. Under WIA there will be a higher cost per participant because services will be more comprehensive, longer term, and include follow-up services for at least 12 months.

VIII B2a(2): Eligibility Criteria and Intake

Youth receiving services under WIA will be between the ages of 14 and 21, and will meet the federal standards for low income. Eligible youth will also meet at least one of the following six additional criteria:

1. Basic literacy skills deficient
2. School dropout
3. Homeless, runaway, or foster child
4. Pregnant or parenting
5. Offender
6. Occupational skills deficient

Intakes will be accomplished at all of the six One-Stop Centers and at each of the comprehensive service provider locations. Intake schedules and requirements will be accessible and customer friendly, and will be designed to expeditiously move youth through the eligibility and assessment process.

For youth under the age of 18 who left school without completing, the youth services specialist will discuss, as part of the individual case plan, returning to school. During the first year of WIA implementation, the Youth Council will gather data related to out-of-school youth returning to an education setting. The data will be aimed at determining whether additional service alternatives should be developed to ensure youth are academically prepared for the future.

Youth who are not eligible under WIA will be assisted in identifying locally funded programs and other services and resources to help them achieve their educational and career goals through the One-Stop Centers.

VIII B2b: Assessment of Academic Level, Skills, and Services

At the six One-Stop Center locations and the comprehensive service provider locations, in addition to administering standardized testing for basic skills, a youth services specialist will conduct an assessment interview with each youth. The interview will focus on determining service needs based on academic and occupational skill-level and interests, work experience and work readiness, and supportive service and developmental needs. Pima County's comprehensive service providers and One-Stop Centers will administer the Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) as the standard instrument throughout Pima County. Additional instruments for career planning, such as interest inventories and aptitude tests, may also be administered. When a youth primarily speaks a language other than English, the TABE may not provide an accurate assessment of the youth's educational needs. In those situations an ESOL assessment will be performed.

Based on the assessment results, the youth customer will work with the youth services specialist to develop his or her own individual service plan to meet education and employment goals. The plan will establish the sequence of services from the service menu, the appropriate provider of those services, and the expected outcome(s) of each activity. The plan will also identify an appropriate twelve-month follow-up strategy for each youth, based upon the intensity of the services provided and the participant's situation.

Youth who are too young to work in the private sector, lack the necessary work maturity, are academically deficient, or need supportive or developmental services will be assisted in identifying the services they need to help them achieve their goals.

Based upon the individual service strategy, each eligible youth will be enrolled in one or more of the WIA service elements. The youth services specialist will coordinate services to ensure that the individual service plan is followed, and will work with providers and the participant to revise the plan as appropriate.

Following completion of the activities identified in the plan, the participant will receive twelve months of follow-up services. Follow-up services begin with a review of the individual service strategy to assess the participant's progress toward his or her goals. The youth services specialist will help the participant determine what he or she needs to do to continue progressing towards his or her goals and what additional services are required. Follow-up strategies will incorporate a flexible model as provided for by the WIA regulations. The scope of follow-up services varies with the needs of the individual. At minimum, all follow-up services will collect data related to core youth and, if applicable, adult indicators, survey customer satisfaction of youth and employer (if any), and provide the youth with information about additional services and resources.

VIII B2c: Accountability

Data will be collected from contractors according to State requirements for the following indicators and reviewed by the Youth Council. The need for local collaborative agreements with educational agencies to collect additional information will be studied, and executed as indicated.

Core indicators of performance for youth ages 19-21 are:

• Entry into unsubsidized employment
• Retention in employment for six months after placement
• Earnings at six months after placement, and
• Attainment of a recognized credential related to achievement of educational skills (such as a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent), or occupational skills, by participants who enter post-secondary education, advanced training, or unsubsidized employment. In some instances, particularly in new employment arenas, such as information technology, certifications may be issued from recognized industry organizations.

Core indicators of performance for youth ages 14-18 are:

• Attainment of basic skills
• Attainment of secondary school diploma, and
• Placement and retention in post secondary school, military, employment, or apprenticeships.

The Youth Council will oversee customer service surveys to be administered to parents, participants, providers, and employers to gather information to guide continuous program improvement.

The Youth Council will determine what additional indicators are required to effectively manage programming initiatives during the first year of program operations, and implement new indicators during the second year RFP process.

VIII B2c(1): Exceptions

Not more than 5% of youth participants receiving services through WIA funds will be individuals who do not meet the minimum income criteria to be considered eligible. These individuals must meet one or more of the following criteria: high school dropout; basic skill deficient; educational attainment is one or more grade level below the grade level that is appropriate to the age of the individual; pregnant or parenting; disabled, including learning disabled; homeless or runaway; offender; or lack basic occupational skills.

VIII B2c(2): Prohibitions

Prohibition Against Federal Control of Education.
The Pima County Workforce Investment Board acknowledges that WIA does not have authority to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution, administration, school, or school system, or over the selection of library resources, text books, or other printed or published instructional materials by any educational institution, school, or school system.

Prohibition Against Duplication of Funding.
WIA funds shall not be used to provide funding under the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 or to carry out, through programs under this Act, activities that were funded under the School to Work Opportunities Act of 1994, unless the programs funded under this Act serve only those participants eligible to participate in the programs under this Act.

Prohibition Against Using WIA Funds to Interfere with Regular Academic Requirements.
WIA funds shall not be used to provide an activity for eligible youth who are not school dropouts if participation in the activity would interfere with or replace the regular academic requirements of youth.