Don Spangler, Policy Advisor

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Using TANF Funds to Support Youth Workforce
Development Pennsylvanias Approach
American Public Human Services Association
Arlington, VA September 11, 2007
Don Spangler, Policy Advisor Philadelphia Youth
Network
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Overview of Presentation
1. Background on Philadelphia Youth Network 2.
Pennsylvanias Commitment of TANF funds 3.
Examples of Local and Regional Strategies 4.
In-depth Look at Philadelphia Approaches
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PYNs Major Activities

• Staff the Youth Council
• Manage WIA and TANF youth funds
• Convene and oversee Project U-Turn Collaborative,
  addressing the citys dropout crisis
• Lead WorkReady Philadelphia, the Citys youth
  workforce development system

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Our vision and mission

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A Youth Workforce Development Intermediary
www.intermediarynetwork.org
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Pennsylvanias Commitment of TANF Funds 2000
to the Present

• Providing Early Support for the WIA Youth System
• Stimulating Effective Prevention Strategies
• Focusing on Teens in TANF Households

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Pennsylvanias CommitmentAnnual TANF Allocation

• 15M statewide to WIBs/Youth Councils
• Based on submission of local plan describing
  youth development activity
• Eligibility 5-18/21 years of age, up to 235 of
  poverty
• Funding allocated based on percentage of TANF
  population within local workforce area

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Examples of Programs from across Pennsylvania

• Augment WIA year-round programming
• Summer employment or workplace-related activities
• Mentoring/Truancy Prevention
• Academic Enrichment

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PA Examples (continued)

• Career exposure connected to high priority
  occupations
• Dropout prevention/reduction/re-engagement
  activities
• Support for high school reform efforts
• Work readiness training leading to recognized
  credentials

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An In-Depth Look at Philadelphias Approaches

• Two primary purposes
• Support high-quality summer experiential learning
  activities that prepare youth for college and
  career success and
• Sustain and expand the Citys community-based
  youth centers for disconnected young people.

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Philadelphias Approaches Summer

• High Quality Work Experience
• Summer Youth Service Corps
• Experience-based College Exposure

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Philadelphias Approaches Summer

• Common Elements
• Program Duration 6 weeks 120 hours/week
• Program Requirements
• Multidisciplinary project
• Workplace portfolio
• Programs managed by dozens of youth-serving
  community organizations, with oversight from PYN

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Philadelphias Approaches Summer

• Results
• High-quality programming for gt 3,000 youth
  annually.
• gt 50 of participating youth receive academic
  credit for projects/portfolios.
• Millions of dollars of new funds leveraged
  through broader WorkReady Philadelphia system.

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Philadelphia Approaches E3 Centers

• Community-based youth centers, serving
• out-of-school youth
• young people returning from delinquent placement
• Called E3 Power Centers
• E3 Empowerment, Education, Employment

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Philadelphia Approaches E3 Centers

• Four program strands
• Education (GED prep, GED, access to alternative
  diploma options)
• Life skills (financial literacy social services
  housing)
• Work readiness and/or occupational training
• Supported employment

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Philadelphia Approaches E3 Centers

• Results
• gt 1,200 youth served annually
• Significant reductions in re-arrest and
  re-committal rates for youth participating in E3
  Center programming
• City decision to expand number of E3 Centers from
  3 to 5, to improve access to services for more
  youth

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• Looking Forward
• Increasing focus on teens in TANF households
• Strengthened support for academic achievement,
  including dropout prevention and OSY
  re-enrollment in high-quality alternative options
• Greater connections to Commonwealths
  high-priority occupations

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Using TANF Funds to Support Youth Workforce
Development Pennsylvanias Approach

• For more information, contact
• dspangler_at_pyninc.org
• www.pyninc.org