Innovative Approaches to Engaging HighRisk Youth in Job Training

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Innovative Approaches to Engaging High-Risk Youth
in Job Training
Ruth Nuñez, Director of Residential
Services Martha Mar, Curriculum and Training
Specialist 2008 National Transitional Jobs
Conference
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Larkin Street Continuum of Care
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Hire Up
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Hire Up Funding Composition
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Youth Profile
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Youth Profile
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Youth Profile
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Presenting Issues

• Substance use
• 38 used pot in the previous month
• 15 used hard drugs in the previous month
• 43 have tried to stop using drugs
• Mental health issues past month
• 42 experienced serious depression
• 38 experienced serious anxiety
• 20 thought about suicide

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Presenting Issues

• Foster care history 49
• Education and employment
• 53 do not have a HS diploma or equivalency
• 62 are unemployed and looking for a job

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Workforce Development Programs

• Day Labor
• Job Readiness Class
• Institute for Higher Learning

M
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Day Labor Program

• 167 Day Labor participants
• Each youth worked an average of 8 days
• Stipend earned - 6.75 - 7.25 per hour

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Day Labor Youth

• They are in crisis
• They have multiple service needs
• 81 housed with Larkin Street
• 70 in shelter

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Day Labor Program

• Immediate paid work for homeless youth
• Projects include
• Trash pickups, graffiti clean-up, pressure
  washing, tree watering

• Youth Expectations Day Labor is a test run
• Use of Uniforms
• Wages
• Real consequences

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Day Labor Program

• Development of legitimate work history
• Inclusion of Day Labor on resumes
• Staff available to serve as references

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Day Labor Old Model

• Focus on hard skills
• Limited job types available
• Primarily basic job skills, manual labor
• Not appropriate for youth with richer work history

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Day Labor Program Shift

• Enhancements
• Integration of soft skills
• Expanded job opportunities
• Expanded educational possibilities

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Day Labor Program Enhancements

• Addition of Workshop Series connecting youth to
  other Larkin Street programs
• Addition of field trips outings
• Peer Counselor role
• Greater variety of experiences and modalities
• Increases likelihood of engagement retention

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Engagement Retention

• Client focused services
• Harm reduction principles
• Diversity of work experiences/projects
• Variety of activities

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Community Partnerships

• Building targeted employer relationships
• Building a positive relationship with the larger
  community
• Good Neighbor Project
• Professionalism among the youth
• Building corporate partnerships

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Strategic Planning The Policy Pipeline

• Connection between local issues and federal money
• Knowledge of local policies and funding
  opportunities (current and future)
• San Francisco propositions and implications for
  the job market

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Day Labor in a Nutshell

• Evolution of the program to match our evolving
  understanding of the youth needs
• Program enhancements
• Expectations of the youth
• Day Labor as a valid employment experience

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Day Labor in a Nutshell

• Community relationships
• Community reputation
• Knowledge of policy issues
• Addressing the needs of each youth beyond
  employment education

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Contact Information

• Ruth Nuñez Director of Residential Services
• rnunez_at_larkinstreetyouth.org
• Larkin Street Youth Services
• 1142 Sutter St.
• San Francisco, CA 94109
• 415-673-0911