Todays Youth Tomorrows Workforce

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Todays YouthTomorrows Workforce

• Burlington County Youth Opportunity Program

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The Workforce Investment Board

• The Workforce Investment Board (WIB) sets the
  policy and provides oversight for the Countys
  Workforce Development System, mandated by the
  State and Federal Government, to address the
  needs of youth.
• The WIB is a partnership of local education,
  community-based organizations and business
  leaders working together to ensure the workforce
  readiness of today and tomorrows workforce
  youth.
• The Workforce Investment Board created the Youth
  Council to identify duplication and gaps in
  services, as well as providing valuable guidance
  on the provision of comprehensive services to
  meet the needs of complex youth.

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The Youth Opportunity Program

• Members of the Youth Council were given the
  challenge of designing a program that would
  provide youth with the necessary skills in
  becoming prepared for both academic and
  employment success.
• The Youth Opportunity Program was created using a
  collaborative partnership model, so that all
  youth entering the program would have the
  opportunity to receive a multitude of services
  preparing them for lifelong success.

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A Common Mission

• The Youth Opportunity Programs Mission is to
  provide youth with the opportunity for
  leadership, encourage a sense of personal
  identity, broaden a young persons perspective
  and provide safe surroundings while connecting
  youth with caring adults.

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A Common Vision

• The Youth Opportunity Programs Vision
• Improve the long-term employability of youth
• Enhance educational skills
• Enhance citizenship skills of youth in a
  community service environment
• Encourage school completion or enrollment in an
  alternative setting
• Increase the employment and earnings of youth
• Reduce welfare dependency and
• Assist youth in addressing problems which may
  impair their ability to make successful
  transitions from education to work.

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Services Offered Through the YOP

• Tutoring, Study Skills Training and Basic Skills
  Instruction leading to the completion of
  Secondary Education, including dropout
  prevention
• Alternative Secondary School services or GED
• Summer Work Experience directly linked to
  academic and occupational learning (i.e. Youth
  Job Fair)
• Paid and/or Unpaid Work Experience, including
  internships and job shadowing
• Occupational Skills Training (i.e. Job Search,
  Resume Preparation, Job Referral services, etc)

• Leadership Development Activities, which may
  include community service and peer-centered
  activities encouraging responsibility and other
  positive social behaviors
• Mentoring by a caring adult
• Comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may
  include drug and alcohol abuse counseling
• Support services, such as transportation and
  child care and
• Follow-up services for a minimum of at least
  twelve (12) months after completion of the
  program.

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Workshops and Seminars

• Job Readiness/Life Skills Workshop
• Budget Your Money Seminar
• Handheld PALM Seminar
• Financial Aid Workshop
• Income Tax Assistance Workshop
• First Aide Certification
• CPR Certification
• Swimming Instructions
• Pet First Aide
• Community Service Projects
• Extra Curricular Activities

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Workshops and Seminars Job
Readiness / Life Skills

• Job Readiness / Life Skills Seminars are taught
  by the Youth Development Specialist, once per
  week for nine (9) weeks.
• Job Readiness involves job preparation, career
  pathways, resume writing, interviewing skills,
  job shadowing, on the job training and job
  retention.
• Life Skills incorporates the importance of
  motivation, ethics, stress, conflict resolution,
  time management, team-work and dressing for
  success.

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Workshops and Seminars Budget
Your Money Seminar

• Those that attend Budget Your Money Seminar have
  already secured full-time or part-time
  employment.
• Youth learn how to become financially secure
  through basic money management, investment,
  budgeting funds properly with a checking/savings
  account and how to maintain a checkbook.
• Upon seminar completion a savings account is
  opened for each youth.
• Youth deposit their weekly/monthly earnings into
  their account that is monitored by the Youth
  Opportunity Program until completion of the
  program.

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Workshops and Seminars Handheld
Palm Pilot

• Led by volunteers with the Burlington County
  Board of Social Services, youth who attend the
  Palm Seminar are actively seeking employment.
• The Youth Opportunity Program believes that
  excellent organizational skills are necessary for
  life-long success.
• Using the PALM M130, youth will stay more focused
  and on track to succeed in academics and
  employment.
• In the Palm Seminar, youth learn the importance
  of keeping key addresses, how to write effective
  memos and how to make and remember appointments.
  
• The Youth Opportunity Program began the Palm
  program after receiving feedback from employers
  who believe that proper organization is crucial
  for job retention.
• ALL youth receive a PALM M130 for their
  participation.

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Workshops and Seminars Financial
Aid

• The Financial Aid Seminar is for older youth
  entering post-secondary education, but family
  does not have financial stability.
• Guided by Youth Opportunity Program partner,
  Burlington County Board of Social Services and
  Burlington County College, youth are instructed
  on how to obtain financial aid.

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Workshops and Seminars Career
Exploration

• Career Exploration Workshops, such as CPR
  Certification, Swim Lessons and Community First
  Aid and Safety are necessary preparations for
  youth interested in a career in Aquatics or the
  Medical field.
• Pet First Aid Workshops are typically held for
  youth focused on a career in Veterinary Medicine.
  
• How to Dress for Success and How Much is too Much
  (proper make-up application) are essential for
  all youth active in Job Search.

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Workshops and Seminars Winter and Spring Break

• The ASPIRE Leadership Seminar, lead by ASPIRE
  founder Curtis Myers, provides youth with
  leadership and interpersonal skills that educate
  youth on teamwork and reaching personal
  potential.
• ASPIREs model on How to Foster a Sense of Self
  assists youth through self assessment, reflection
  and problem solving essential in youth
  development.
• All activities and curriculum are directed to
  promote cultural and ethnic awareness. ASPIRE
  utilizes the elements of the Points of Light
  Youth Leadership Institute (PLYI) curriculum,
  which features interactive learning and role play
  exercises.
• Through self-directed learning youth engage in
  activities, showcase their work/skills learned,
  while gaining valuable experience for college,
  employment community involvement and everyday
  life.

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Workshops and Seminars Winter and Spring Break

• The Dress for Success Workshop offered through
  MCM Consulting, instructs youth on the How Tos
  of proper attire.
• Style Classifications, International Sizes and
  Physical Body Types are discussed so that youth
  understand, adopt and maintain an expected
  professional image in order to be successful in
  their career.
• For the male youth, a lesson on How to Tie a Tie
  101 is given on the four (4) different ways to
  tie a tie. The females are given a tutorial on
  how to and how much make-up to apply.

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Community Service Projects

• The Youth Opportunity Program believes that
  community service projects are a way to give
  back while assisting youth foster a sense of
  worth.
• Projects include
• -Winter Gift Bags for Elderly Patients at
  Buttonwood Hospital.
• -Bingo Day for the residents of Alterra
  Sterling House of Willingboro.
• Community Service Projects help youth become
  valued resources and not just a collection of
  problems.

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Extra Curricular Activities

• In the Summer of 2001, the Youth Opportunity
  Program (YOP) held a Logo Design Contest.
• The purpose was to have the youth involved in a
  project that would ultimately brand the
  program.
• The winning YOP logo was designed by one of our
  disabled students.

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Field Trips

• In 2002, 35 youth took a cultural trip to the
  Battleship New Jersey, where youth learned about
  the Ships history.
• Youth participated in an etiquette challenge as
  they dined at the PUB in Maple Shade.
• Other educational trips include, the County
  Animal Shelter, Buttonwood Hospital, Burlington
  County College and the County Court House.

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Job Shadowing

• On Job Shadow Day, youth are given the
  opportunity to follow an employee within a
  place of business that interests them, such as
  Animal Hospitals, the FBI, Cosmetology and
  Jewelry Centers, Salons and Computer Formatting
  and Repair to name a few.
• Youth have job shadowed at Olde World Bakery and
  at ACME Markets Bakery.
• Youth were afforded the opportunity to work
  hands-on with bakers and are now attending
  classes in the Culinary Arts.

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Youth Summit

• The Annual Youth Summit is an educational forum
  for teens between 13 and 17 years old.
• The Summit provides awareness and instruction on
  HIV/AIDS Awareness/At-Risk Behaviors, Alcohol and
  Tobacco, Teen Violence (gangs), Unplanned
  Parenthood/Risks and Responsibilities, as well as
  issues of morality and responsibility.
• The Master of Ceremonies for 2005s
  Be Anyone, Be Anywhere, Be a Survivor was Gervase
  Peterson from the first season of Survivor.

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Youth Job Fair

• The Youth Job Fair is open to all youth in
  Burlington County, 16 years and older.
• Approximately 25 employers, including Shop Rite,
  Wal-Mart, Target, McDonalds and CVS/Pharmacy, etc
  are ready to hire motivated youth.
• Each year, over 350 youth attend the Job Fair.
• Several youth, hired as a direct result of the
  Job Fair are currently employed with the same
  employer.

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Summer Work Experience Program

• The Summer Work Experience Program is typically
  for youth 14 to 15 years old that have
  significant barriers to securing employment, such
  as learning disabilities or other mental health
  challenges.
• In order for youth who wish to participate in the
  Work Experience Program, youth MUST attend the
  nine (9) week Job Readiness/ Life Skills Classes.
• All Youth complete applications and participate
  in interviews with prospective employers.

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Youth Graduates

• Since 2001, over 800 youth have successfully
  completed the Youth Opportunity Program.
• Celebrations are held for youth who
  successfully earn High School Diploma/GED or
  complete Occupational Training, such as Certified
  Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Commercial Drivers
  License (CDL).
• Most youth enter College, the Military or
  Occupational Training upon completion of High
  School.

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Eligibility Requirements

• Youth must be between 14 and 21 years of age,
  Certified as economically disadvantaged with at
  least one or more of the following obstacles in
  order to be eligible for the program
• -High School Dropout
• -Homeless, Runaway, Foster Youth (DYFS)
• -Pregnant or Parenting Teen
• -Involved with the Juvenile Justice System or
• -Needing assistance to complete an
  educational program or to secure
  employment due to a severe disability.

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Youth Certification

• The Youth Development Specialist with the Youth
  Opportunity Program determines economic
  eligibility of youth through parent/guardians
  income (household income/pay stub).
• Parents are required to verify residency (utility
  bill).
• Parent/Guardians are required to provide the
  One-Stop with their childs Birth
  Certificate and Social Security Card.
• If youth are in a group home or in foster care, a
  Letter of Support from the programs director
  will be sufficient.

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Our Commitment
The Burlington County Youth Opportunity Program
is committed to prepare of todays youth for
tomorrows success. With the provision of the
skills necessary to become prepared for academic
and employment success, youth will ultimately be
rewarded with the careers they want for a
successful life.
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Important Contacts

• Youth Opportunity Program
• Liliam Thompson
• [phone]
• Or Barbara Weir
• [phone]
• Office Address 795 Woodlane Road
• Mt. Holly, NJ
• Mailing Address P.O. Box 228
• Mt. Holly, NJ

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Assuring a Bright Future for Todays Youth