February 16, 2019 Listening Session - Strengthening Technical Assistance with DOL YouthBuild Grantees …exploring grantee driven strategies to support staff development and program planning…

Jenn Smith National YouthBuild Director U.S. Department of Labor/ETA/OWI

Consuela Greene James Hills Senior Director, DOL YouthBuild Program Impact YouthBuild USA James Hills Events Manager YouthBuild USA

Share highlights from 2018 and 2019 TA priorities Discuss recommendations and feedback about TA service delivery from grantees and coaches Create an opportunity to share and learn with YouthBuild grantees about technical assistance needs

My Role at My YouthBuild Program Executive Director Program Director Job Developer Case Manager Construction or Construction Plus Instructor Academic Instructor Other

How Do TA Services Support DOL YouthBuild Grantee Success? DOL YouthBuild Technical Assistance Collaborative

Ensure Alignment Between TA and Needs of the Field TA at its best is a combination of growth and need – designed to provide opportunities for innovation and program development, as well as assisting grantees with areas of concern with the basic model. Hearing directly from grantees and their advocates (such as coaches and FPOs) is often the best way to get this information.

Prioritizing TA Needs and Delivery Methods We hear from grantees and others via many methods: TA Assessment Request Evaluation Feedback FPO outreach for P2Ps Different methods of TA delivery are implemented to ensure needs are being addressed: Coaches Trainings FPO monthly calls Virtual Events Community of Practice NGOs and P2Ps

What We Heard From Grantees…

Sources of feedback from Grantees TA Feedback questionnaire Training evaluations TA needs shared with FPOs and TA Coaches

Grant Guidance and Compliance WIOA and National Updates 69.00% YouthBuild Performance Objectives and Outcomes 75.00% Required Partnerships with American Job Centers (One-Stop providers) 40.00% Match/Leverage Resources 46.00% Allowable Costs 44.00% Grant Modifications 47.00% Other  grant guidance and compliance topics 6.00%

YouthBuild Program/Organizational Development Strategies Effective tools and methods of recruiting, engaging (attendance), and retaining participants 64.36% Data management (includes case studies) 54.46% Creating efficient project management systems 50.50% Executive leadership and staff supervision strategies 49.50% Customer-centered design in practice 29.70% Partnership development and management 45.54% Staffing structure and development Recruiting and retaining staff 46.53% Sustainability 63.37%

Reaction and Strategies Do you have anything that you would add based on your program needs? Grant Guidance & Compliance Program/Organizational Development Strategies Ideas and strategies for technical assistance in these areas? What are ways to elevate best practices in these areas?

YouthBuild Program Elements: Education Preparing for and earning of the secondary education credential (HSE or HSD) 38.95% Bridge programming to include post-secondary (PSE) exploration, college success class, etc. which links YouthBuild education services to PSE partners and strengthens participant PSE outcomes 50.53% Teaching and learning - creating a learning environment using Universal Design for Learning as an education program design model 52.63% Integrating occupational training and education curriculum(a) 65.26%

YouthBuild Program Elements: Case Management & Mentoring Case management best practices 68.00% Developing, using, and maintaining Individual Development Plans for participant success 66.00% Engaging students’ family or support network 51.00% Retention and follow-up strategies 84.00% Mentoring Mentor programming basics 49.45% Developing mentor partnerships 59.34% Mentoring as a support for placement and retention 72.53%

YouthBuild Program Elements: Life Skills / Behavioral Health Mental health referral services 52.53% Substance use assessment and treatment options 48.48% Financial literacy and building financial capabilities 44.44% Trauma-informed approaches to programming 68.69% Supportive services to increase participant success 62.63%

Reaction and Strategies Do you have anything that you would add based on your program needs? Education Case Management Mentoring Life Skills/Behavioral Health Ideas and strategies for technical assistance in these areas? What are ways to elevate best practices in these areas?

Occupational Skills Training YouthBuild Program Elements: Occupational Skills Training & Career Pathways Occupational Skills Training Seeking, securing, and maintaining a productive and qualifying work site 45.54% Construction Plus Models in Practice 73.27% Green Building Strategies and Placement 34.65% Connecting to industry associations and apprenticeship sponsors in construction and other industry sectors 64.36% Career Pathways Engaging with your American Job Centers (One Stop Career Centers) 63.53% Career Counseling 71.76%

Construction Plus Coaches’ Feedback Top sticking points for C+ grantees Identifying C+ model that youth will support Securing strong employer placement Lack of meaningful work experience Limitations of partnership Delivery models and staffing Lack of program or partner readiness to implement Employers/partners want youth who are further along than YB students are Lack of integration of full career/work readiness programming in program

Construction Plus Coaches’ Feedback Questions that C+ sites have that, if answered, could move them to next level How do we develop stronger partnerships that will support hands-on training and job placement? How do we have stronger partner management? What is the recommended process in identifying the best suited C+ pathway for participants? Is the C+ credential recognized by DOL? How do we better integrate C+ into overall program model? How do we design C+ track as a pre-apprenticeship track? How do we better implement training in core programming? How do we achieve better employer partners in chosen pathway? How do we create a clear advancement/stackable credential pathway in the C+ field if none currently exists? How do we approach barriers that occur in partnerships? How do we bridge gaps between the pre-apprenticeship YB and the apprenticeship realities of a C+ track?

YouthBuild Program Elements: Placement Post-program employment placements - employer engagement/industry sector strategies 71.29% On-the-Job Training as a preparation and placement tool 55.45% Connecting construction component to placement outcomes 50.50% Connecting with community colleges and other trade schools for post-secondary and continuing training placements 45.54% National Service as a placement opportunity and pathway to employment 38.61%

Reaction and Strategies Do you have anything that you would add based on your program needs? Occupational Skills Training (Construction and Construction Plus) Career Pathways Placement Ideas and strategies for technical assistance in these areas? What are ways to elevate best practices in these areas?

YouthBuild Program Elements: Other Program Design Topics Shared Cultural and religious differences - our students can gain much insight from being introduced to the array of faiths they may encounter in the work place Barrier busting, integrating youth-led program practices Stackable credential/ Best Bets model of career counseling Recruiting Career pathway design within local context Mental Toughness program design (Curriculum, Building Culture, Best Practices)

YouthBuild Program Elements: Other Program Design Topics Shared (Cont YouthBuild Programs as affordable housing developers Trauma-informed approach to behavior management geared towards construction staff Training on the YouthBuild Community of Practice Maintaining a positive work environment amidst adversity How to create a program manual Soft skills and career assessment strategies

Reaction and Strategies Do you have anything that you would add based on your program needs? Other topics not covered Ideas and strategies for technical assistance in these areas? What are ways to elevate best practices in these areas?

Ideas and Strategies for Technical Assistance

TA Collaborative Priorities Enhance YouthBuild’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program Design using the C+ framework Strengthen Construction and Construction Plus training and pathways Build stronger bridges to apprenticeship and industry partnerships Supporting stronger placement strategies and outcomes WIOA performance reporting and new CMS training

Key Roles of the TA Collaborative DOL Federal Project Officer (Regional Directors and staff) DOL National Office Staff YouthBuild USA Technical Assistance Managerial Staff Coach (combination of YouthBuild USA staff and contract consultants)

Technical Assistance Delivery Long-Term Impact Outcomes of TA: Increase the number of high-quality YouthBuild programs among grantees Increase diversity of industry training (C+) Increase the number of youth participants with positive outcomes Short- to Medium-Term Outcomes of TA: Grantees design and implement an effective YB program Grantees establish solid programming foundation to support positive youth outcomes Grantees demonstrate continuous program improvement

Technical Assistance Delivery TA Coaching MIS Help Desk and Data Management Electronic Resource Management Learning Opportunities - Webinars, Regional Trainings, New Grantee Orientation, Construction Credential Trainings Content Innovation and Partnerships

Technical Assistance Delivery Resources developed with YouthBuild Grantees in mind: E-Learning Videos Tip Sheets Monthly MIS Newsletter Monthly Webinars (Live/Archived) Toolkits (i.e. Registered Apprenticeship) Manuals WorkforceGPS Community of Practice Monthly Program Newsletter

Innovative TA Strategies Virtual learning communities & E-learning Courses What would inspire you to participate in a virtual learning community? Examples: C+ Course with JFF (2017) OH Multi-site convening on state education regulations (2017)

Innovative TA Strategies Small cluster pilots How could this be used to develop and implement innovative approaches and partnerships? Examples: Metro Atlanta Apprenticeship Pilot (2017-2018) NRAEF Pilot (2019)

Innovative TA Strategies Using technology to demonstrate best practices How could this be helpful for program staff to improve program practices and strategies? Example: Live or recorded demonstrations from a classroom practice

Innovative TA Strategies In-person trainings Think about a training that you attended that inspired you to go back home and change how you do you work. What was it about the training that helped you to change your practice? Examples: New Grantee Orientation Construction Trainings Peer-to-Peer Trainings

Toolbox for Success: Program Design and WIOA Resource Highlights This resource package contains a wide range of tools and examples of best practices to strengthen your program and participant success, particularly related to program planning, program management, and performance outcomes.

NCCER Construction Certification Training Tampa, FL December 10-14, 2018 Understanding Your Grant Award Pre-NGO Webinar January 23, 2019 Planning and Program Requirements for YouthBuild Under WIOA February 4, 2019 Construction Plus Framework February 12, 2019

Jenn Smith Consuela Greene James Hills National YouthBuild Director U.S. Department of Labor ETA / OWI / DYS smith.jenn@dol.gov 202.693.3597 Consuela Greene Senior Director, Program Impact YouthBuild USA cgreene@youthbuild.org 617.741.1251 James Hills Event Manager jhills@youthbuild.org 617.623.9900