TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Kristin Retherford, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT:
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Update on City Youth Development actions
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance; Safe Community; Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure; Strong and Diverse Economy; Welcoming and Livable Community.
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SUMMARY:
summary
In May 2021, Salem’s City Council took action to further the City’s commitment to positive youth development concentrating on service leadership, workforce development, and equitable opportunities for local youth and young adults (YYA) through approval of the City’s collaborative CAREcorps program expansion. Further investments in the FY22 Budget included a one-time CAREcorps Coordinator position for the express intent to build capacity for current program expansion and new programming. Council directed staff to return with a report on how the City can better support and impact CAREcorps and to report on the number of youths served.
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ISSUE:
Update on CAREcorps program expansion and additional YYA workforce development actions.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information Only.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The City of Salem addresses positive youth development through direction from City Council along with the City’s operations using internal workgroups or leadership directives. The City also considers recommendations from youth focus groups, post-program surveys, community partner feedback and findings, and national best practices and research. This report provides an overview of the work underway, current challenges, and a summary of next steps.
City Council Statements. In May 2021, Salem’s City Council took decisive action to further the City’s commitment to positive youth development, workforce development, and equitable opportunities for local teens and young adults (18-22 years old). The Council approved staff’s CAREcorps expansion recommendation.
2021-2022 Program Expansion Plan. The three-step CAREcorps plan is as follows:
Step 1 involves improvements to the existing CAREcorps program. Current funding levels for the summer program operations continue with an added part-time position (0.5 FTE) to administer both the summer and year-round expansion program with the primary partner, Isaac’s Room, Inc.
Step 2 involves the City’s current partner’s efforts to expand their internship and entry-level job offerings for program participants.
Step 3 allows the Youth Development Coordinator (YDC) to research, develop, and present a new youth and young adult (YYA) jobs placement program for Council review.
Step 1 Progress. YD Services is finalizing the Local Government Grant Agreement with Isaac’s Room, Inc. at time of this report. Grantee will hire the new CAREcorps Coordinator April 2022. YD’s annual funding support level for the summer program will continue at $12,000.00 from the YD Services General Fund budget which has historically funded program operations, and 6-10 teen and college-aged summer staff positions. An additional $2,000.00 of YD Services funding will help jumpstart a new YYA CAREcorps advisory committee stipend program. The YDC will provide significant steering of program components to assist with the program coordination transition. Though local trends show lower enrollment in youth programming in recent years, summer CAREcorps 2022 seeks to serve a minimum of twenty high school-aged participants and hire the same level of YYA program staff as years’ past.
Step 2 Progress. Summer 2021, YD Services provided a $25,000.00 grant (FY21) for Isaac’s Room to pilot a CAREcorps-inspired YYA jobs program, hiring seventeen CAREcorps current members, alumni, and young adult IKE Quest staff. The pilot was not a traditional CAREcorps summer program but applied some of its skill-building trainings and general structure. The work was focused on downtown beautification efforts for local businesses, City Climate Action Plan focus groups, and event coordination for the IKE Box Café block party open to the public. YYA pilot program feedback included asking for a clear delineation between the service-learning component and the jobs program, emphasizing both were important for their individual and collective development. This led Isaac’s to create an expansion plan that continues the collaborative CAREcorps summer program as-is, further transitions program coordination into the organization, integrates a CAREcorps-like component into their three additional IKE Quest apprenticeship training cohorts, and seeks to increase the number of paid apprenticeship and workforce readiness opportunities offered within and outside of the organization, including partnerships with City Parks, YD Services, and Isaac’s Room business partners. New workforce readiness trainings will be offered. Additional high school and college credits and/or certifications will be sought out in addition to offering the .5 community service credit for SKPS high school students. New recruitment and promotional strategies will also be implemented.
Step 3 Progress. Staff conducted a basic SWOT analysis with initial research identifying a variety of existing workforce readiness programs offered by local youth-serving organizations and agencies. These programs have the capacity to enroll more YYA participants but are seeking work experience placements and career exploration opportunities in our community. Funding to cover participant wages or stipends is often the other major need. After feedback from local organizational representatives and City staff, YD Services has determined the best course of action is as follows:
1. Amplify and support existing community YYA workforce readiness programs. City YD will increase the following efforts: community program promotion through its resources and network; City resource-sharing and mini grant awards; filmed, virtual, hybrid, and in-person City staff career exploration presentations; and, collaborative grant writing and other supports. Community programs identified include but are not limited to: ELY, Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Salem Family YMCA, HOME Youth and Resource Center, HOST Youth Programs, Willamette Academy, The Inspire Foundation, Garten, Salem Keizer Public Schools’ Career and College Program, Chemeketa Community College’s Jobs Scholars Program, and Oregon Youth Transition Program-Mid Willamette Valley.
2. Connect and build new & existing City opportunities with new and existing community programs. Beginning May 2022, YD will begin development of internal short-term work experiences and career exploration forums for existing community YYA workforce programs and specifically in partnership with the SKPS Career and College Program. Public Works’ Parks and Climate Action have expressed interest in hosting participants for FY23. Some Youth Development Services work opportunities could begin as early as summer 2022 as a pilot with Salem Keizer students. YD Services is also in discussion with Willamette Workforce Partnership and United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley for further reach and impact. City job opportunities may be funded in part or in whole by partnering organizations, collaborative grants, private donations, and the YD General Fund Budget. The number of YYA served through these efforts cannot be determined this fiscal year but a steady increase in direct and indirect YYA participation and impact is expected and will be reported in future information reports.
BACKGROUND:
As an ongoing initiative, the City has been working - formally and informally - to develop and support equitable opportunities for younger community members to engage in service leadership, workforce development, community improvement, and healthy lifestyle initiatives.
Laurie Shaw Casarez
Youth Development Education and Outreach Coordinator
Attachments:
1. Youth Jobs Program Supplemental Document