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Barriers & Promising Approaches to Workforce and Youth Development for Young Offenders : 

Barriers & Promising Approaches to Workforce and Youth Development for Young Offenders Presented by David E. Brown Executive Director National Youth Employment Coalition

Slide2: 

A 24 Year‑Old Nationwide Network of 275 Youth Employment/Development Organizations Information Sharing Youth Policy Development and Advocacy Forum for Networking Professional Development Dissemination of Effective Practice (PEPNet)

Youth Employment and Population: 

Youth Employment and Population Youth Unemployment Young Adults Most Adversely Impacted by the Recession (Sum, et al) Summer Employment for Teens Summer Was Bleakest in Since World War II ( Sum, et al) Employment and Labor Force Participation Rates of Less-Educated Young Black Men Declined in the 80s and 90’s, Despite 90’s Economic Boom (Holzer & Offner) Widespread Employment Discrimination of African American Males (Stahl, Holzer, et. al) Demographic Changes Continued Growth in Youth Population Youth Population Increasingly Minority and ESL

Connecting Systems: 

Connecting Systems Youth Development as a Common Vision A belief system & a set of activities (mentoring, leadership, community service, positive peer engagement, youth voice) Young people are individuals who need opportunities and supports that promote development, not merely “services” Programs should building skills and competencies, not just prevent negative behavior - “problem free is not fully prepared”

Workforce Development and Juvenile Justice: Background: 

Workforce Development and Juvenile Justice: Background U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Labor Convene Task Force on Employment and Training for Court‑ Involved Youth U.S. Department of Labor Launches Youth Offender Demonstration Grants Project Annie E. Casey Foundation Commissions Study, Building on Work of Task Force, focusing on Lessons from Existing Practice & Policy Initiatives US DOL Launches Reintegration of Young Offender Initiative (Reentry Program/Going Home)

Barriers & Promising Approaches for Workforce & Youth Development for Young Offenders: 

Barriers & Promising Approaches for Workforce & Youth Development for Young Offenders

Working in the Juvenile Justice System: 

Working in the Juvenile Justice System Prioritization Security, Mandates & Overcrowding Stigma Employers & Job Training System Reluctant to consider juvenile offenders Geography Facilities Far from Home/Labor Markets Philosophy Punitive Focus Restricts Developmental Efforts Creativity Committed to Rehabilitation

Findings and Implications: 

Findings and Implications Temporary employment programs, devoid of other services and opportunities do little to reduce delinquency or prepare for careers Vocational education, career preparation & workplace readiness initiatives must be linked to comprehensive strategies that address needs & build on strengths Barriers and need to be creatively addressed, including funding Focus of rehabilitation must be retained

Common Elements of Promising Practices: 

Common Elements of Promising Practices Commitment to Rehabilitation (assets vs deficits) Continuum of Care (institutional care thru aftercare) Integrated Education (vocational, academic, workplace competencies & responsive to different learning styles) Collaboration (employers, workforce agencies, CBOs) Support Structures (staffing, caring adults & mentors) Accountability (high expectations for youth) Outcomes (employment and recidivism)

Promising Practices: Examples: 

Promising Practices: Examples Texas RIO‑Y Pre‑Release Work Readiness & Labor Market Information Post‑ Release Links to Local One‑Stop Career Centers Partnerships with WIBs across the Texas Gulf Coast Trades Center – Vocational programs linked to labor market demands Avon Park Academy – Employer Involvement Fresh Start – Entrepreneurship & Incentives

Policy Initiatives: 

Policy Initiatives Funding Ideas System Collaboration Adoption of New and Innovative Approaches

Funding: 

Funding The persistence to locate and attain a variety of traditional and non-traditional funding sources Federal Youth Offender Initiatives (Responsible Reintegration of Young Offenders) Charter Schools and Public Education Funds Workforce Investment Act

Why WIA Agencies Are Open to Partnering with Juvenile Justice: 

Why WIA Agencies Are Open to Partnering with Juvenile Justice Need to recruitment of eligible out‑of‑school youth (enroll institutionalized youth upon intake) Need to leverage other resources to address full range of youth needs (i.e. follow‑up using probation/aftercare/parole) Important impacts on the community (quality of life) Many examples of success Juvenile justice system needs workforce and youth development expertise and information about labor market demands to guide development of vocational programs

Changes in House WIA Bill:HR 1261: 

Changes in House WIA Bill: HR 1261 Requires that no less than 70% of the formula dollars be spent on youth 16-24 and one or more of the following: School dropouts; Recipients of a secondary school diploma or its equivalent (including recognized alternative standards for individuals with disabilities) who are deficient in basic skills; Court-involved youth in an alternative school; Youth in foster care or who have been in foster care (in or out-of-school). A priority in the provision of services is given to individuals who are school drop-outs.

HR 1261: 

HR 1261 Caps at 30 % the portion of formula funds that can be used to serve in-school youth. Eligible in-school youth must be 16-24 years of age, low-income individuals, and one or more of the following: a) Deficient in literacy skills; b) Homeless, runaway, or foster children; c) Pregnant or parents; d) Offenders; or e) Individuals who require additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure employment.

Senate Bill S.1627: 

Senate Bill S.1627 Caps at 60% the portion of formula funds that can be used to serve in-school youth (14-21), who must be one or more of the following: Deficient in basic literacy skills, including limited English proficiency; Homeless, a runaway, eligible for assistance under John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, or in an out-of-home placement; Pregnant or parenting; An offender (other than those in OSY category); or An individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program, or to secure or hold employment.

Senate Bill - S. 1627: 

Senate Bill - S. 1627 Requires spending 40% of funds on out-of-school youth (16-21) who are one or more of the following: School dropouts; Recipients of a secondary school diploma or its equivalent, who is basic skills deficient, low-income, and not attending any school; Subject to the juvenile justice system or court-ordered to attend an alternative school.  Low-income and pregnant or parenting; Within the age for compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school for at least 1 school year calendar quarter; A recipient of a secondary school diploma or equivalent who is homeless, a runaway, or in an out-of-home placement. Not attending school, or attending an alternative school, who is homeless, a runaway, or in an out-of-home placement.

System Collaboration: 

System Collaboration Partnership Examples JustWork, Nebraska (Juvenile Justice & Vocational Rehabilitation Agreement Between Ohio Juvenile Corrections Agency & Ohio Conservation Corps New York State Agreement with Regional Job Corps Office Texas RIO-Y (Workforce & Youth Corrections)

New and Innovative Approaches: 

New and Innovative Approaches Market-Demand Driven Initiatives Oregon Market-Driven Vocational Programs Project Craft – Home Building Industry

ACTION IDEAS:: 

ACTION IDEAS: Forge System-level Partnerships w/other systems & agencies, specifically WIBs & Youth Councils Meaningfully Engage Employers Explore and Adapt Exemplary Practices Expand Community-Based Opportunities Expand or Establish Reentry Programs Look for Funding from Non-Traditional Sources Provide a Voice for Youth Share Vision and Common Language Resist the Status Quo and be Flexible

Resources: 

Resources NYEC Web Site: http://www.nyec.org (info on PEPNet and “Promising Approaches to Workforce and Youth Development for Young Offenders”) Employment & Training for Court‑Involved Youth, Available for the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse: (800) 638‑8736 or askncjrs@ncjrs.org