Okaloosa County BOCC — April 19, 2016 — CareerSource Okaloosa 2016-2020 Plan for County Commissioners Review — reading text

takes upon entering the CareerSource Youth Program and at certain intervals during the program. Career Planners can use this tool as a benchmark to measure improvement. Career Planners will continue to develop ways to enhance the effectiveness of the work readiness tool; and, look for additional tools to improved indicators of measuring work readiness. Some examples of work readiness tools to be researched Career Planners include the following: a. A worksite evaluation measuring performance in the workplace may be used to assess work readiness for the work readiness indicator. An effective method of assessing work readiness is to require the worksite supervisor to observe and evaluate workplace performance. b. This worksite evaluation may be conducted by the employer. Using this tool the employer will be responsible for assessing performance; and Career Planners will assist the employers in order to make the process as simple and seamless as possible. c. This tool focuses on attaining a satisfactory level of workplace proficiency as opposed to a measurable increase or gain. The attainment of proficiency or competency in the foundation and worksite‐specific skills necessary to be successful in the workplace should be determined by the employer and should be based on the attainment of work behaviors outlined in the worksite evaluation tool. This tool should clearly state the overall criteria necessary to achieve workplace proficiency. For example, worksite evaluation tools could state that work readiness proficiency can only be attained after: a) CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 30 | P a g e  the supervisor indicates satisfactory performance; and b) a minimum numerical score for determining proficiency is achieved. d. This tool should measure work readiness skills most desired by employers. This includes universal foundation skills such as work habits/professionalism (i.e., attendance, punctuality, attitude), teamwork/collaboration, communication skills, and critical thinking/problem solving. In addition, the tool should allow for flexibility to include industry or job specific skills as determined by the employer. Academic and Occupational Linkages CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board believes it is appropriate that academic learning be directly linked to work experience for each youth. The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton will continue to link academic learning to work experience opportunities. The Career Planners the Business Services Team will continue to build relationships with employers and encourage them to provide work opportunities for youth. Every effort will be made to connect the youth to an occupation related to his or her career choice, including opportunities such as entrepreneurship training. When linking academic and/or occupational learning to a work experience, the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board continues to encourage staff to assess the academic and occupational skills needs and interests of youth and determine appropriate training, especially training leading to credential attainment, combined with a work experience placement that supports the enhancement of identified skills. Supportive Services Under WIOA, the provision of supportive services is one of the 14 elements Career Source must make available to eligible youth. Supportive services may include transportation, child care, dependent care, housing, and other services that are necessary to enable an individual who is unable to obtain the services from other programs to participate in activities authorized under WIOA. Career Planners have extensive experience working with disadvantaged youth and recognizes the need for additional support for youth to overcome their employment barriers. Supportive services most often is needed to help youth resolve transportation issues and to acquire appropriate work clothing and tools. The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board encourages staff to provide supportive services to populations in need, such as at-risk youth, in order to support their efforts to connect to and succeed in education, training and work experience opportunities. Ensuring Quality Work Experiences Another primary purpose of the CareerSource Youth Program is to provide youth with meaningful “work experiences” in a structured learning environment that takes place in a classroom setting and a workplace setting; and, to promote the development of good work habits and basic work skills. The Board believes that this goal can be best be accomplished by: a. Ensuring Quality Worksites b. Job Matching c. Worksite Monitoring d. Incorporating Green Work Experiences CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 31 | P a g e Ensuring Quality Worksites The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board encourages staff to seek employers that are committed to helping participants receive high quality experience and training as well as employers that are willing to work closely with the Career Planners. CareerSource Business Services staff are asked to recruit employers based on local workforce investment targeted and priority industries; and employers who are flexible in working with youth who have issues that may present barriers to employment. In addition, Career Planners are asked to consider a combination of public sector, private sector, and non‐profit work experiences for youth. The ETA evaluation of youth programs found that while not necessarily appropriate for all youth, the private sector can be a good source of high quality jobs for many participants, particularly older youth with previous work experience. Reports have shown that by placing youth in private sector worksites, there is a greater chance for the work experience to lead to unsubsidized employment opportunities. ETA recommends that CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board place a strong emphasis on the orientation and preparation of worksite supervisors. To this end, the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board requires youth staff to formalize worksite agreements for each youth with worksite supervisors prior to youth beginning their work experience. Worksite supervisors will be fully briefed on the program’s elements, mission, and goals. Job descriptions created by the employer for participants ensure that expectations on the part of the employer are the focus of the work experience. In addition, having employers participate in an orientation and provide input on the development of the work experience, and serve as onsite mentors is sure to improve the experience of both employers and youth. Job Matching CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Youth Program requires the Career Planners to make an effort to match worksites with participants’ personal and professional interests and goals. The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board agrees with this philosophy and believes that a well thought‐out and planned match can maximize the likelihood that a youth has a meaningful work experience. Based on the variety of jobs available, every effort will be made to connect the youth to an occupation related to his or her career choice. The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board and Councils have adopted four key considerations for staff when matching youth to worksites: a. The youth’s personal interests expressed through their application, orientation, or meetings with staff; b. Direct employer feedback after a formal interview; c. The youth’s age, experience, and skills; and d. Transportation needs or other logistical issues. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 32 | P a g e Worksite Monitoring Worksite monitoring is an important component of employment or a work experience program to ensure a meaningful work experience for youth as well as to secure a quality worksite. The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board requires ongoing monitoring/oversight through in‐person visits as essential to ensuring high‐quality experiences and heading off problems between worksite supervisors and youth before they become serious. The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board encourages the CareerSource Center Manager to dedicate appropriate staff to monitor employers and worksite activities. CareerSource Worksite Monitors will work to maintain on‐going contact with employers to provide support and technical assistance. In addition, Career Planners work to ensure that worksite agreements are upheld, adequate supervision and quality mentoring are provided to youth, and worksites are in compliance with workplace safety and child labor laws. The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board believes that having dedicated staff to monitor and work with youth is valuable in assessing the quality of the work experience and measuring youth progress throughout work experience. Career Planners work to ensure youth are receiving mentoring, are safe and productive, and are achieving success in their placement. Proper and ongoing monitoring can ensure that if problems exist or if the worksite is not a good match for the youth or the employer, staff will have time to effectively address the issue or place the participant in an alternative worksite activity, if appropriate. Incorporating Green Work Experiences The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board encourages staff to expand opportunities for youth in the emerging green industry. Career Planners are encouraged to develop a variety of opportunities that expose youth to green jobs. These may include: offering opportunities for youth to receive industry‐recognized certifications, occupational skills training in green technology, materials and building techniques, and training courses on green career paths provided by local community colleges. The Career Planner may coordinate with the public housing authority to do energy audits if appropriate; and/or explore opportunities for youth to receive college credits for exploration of water quality jobs. Ensuring Transitional Opportunities beyond Work Experience This component places focus on the following areas: a. Transitioning Older/Out of School Youth beyond Work Experience b. Work Opportunity Tax Credit adds Transition Incentive for at-risk Youth Transitioning Older/Out‐of‐School Youth beyond Work Experience For older youth and out‐of‐school youth who are not returning to school following a subsidized work experience, The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board encourages staff to work to transition youth into unsubsidized employment, education, training opportunities, or co‐enroll them into the WIOA Adult Program. Additionally, the Board staff may test other transitional job models that combine short‐term subsidized work experience with support services and career CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 33 | P a g e counseling; and explore new and innovative strategies for out‐of‐school youth. For example, the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board will increase paid and unpaid work experience opportunities year-round for out-of-school youth. Some examples of transition strategies staff may pursue include: a. Forming work experience partnerships with business, education, and training institutions, and partner agencies that can continue to assist young adults beyond the work experience; b. Hiring program staff who are specifically assigned to connect young adults to