Using Intermediary Organizations to Gain Access to Quality Internships Presented by: Deanna Hanson, California Director, NAF

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 2 Panel Members Mark Karapatian, Urban Education Partnership, Los Angeles, CA Randy Wallace, Tulare County Workforce Investment Board Youth Council, Visalia, CA Brenda Gray, New Ways to Work Chris Smith, Boston Private Industry Council

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 3 What is an Intermediary? An independent non-profit agency dedicated to providing resources and building relationships between businesses, schools and community to provide all students with opportunities for success in school, in work and in life

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 4 Intermediaries Typically Are… Involved with – Developing multiple career linked pathways for secondary schools, – Strengthening involvement with and by businesses and employers for workforce preparation – Identifying and aligning with the economically developing sectors within the community which will yield the best employment opportunities; Staffed with resources identified to support intermediary activities and functions; Performing brokering activities and resource development ; Serving more than one program in more than one school or organization; Valuing full participation in a national network of peer organizations for continuous learning and resource development; and Striving to work systematically, performing two and seeking to address all four strategic intermediary functions:

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 5 Convene Convene local, regional and/or state leaders, practitioners and customers across sectors to ensure youth success. Intermediaries: – Identify and engage leaders – Convene a leadership body to address issues and opportunities – Share quality practices among partners – Build and sustain a common vision among key stakeholders – Engage constituents across sectors and communities – Create a forum for building a comprehensive system

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 6 Connect Connect and provide services to youth, workplace and community partners, education, government, social service and community organizations, and families and neighborhoods. Intermediaries: – Create demand and build awareness – Address partner needs and support involvement – Provide training and professional development – Map services and support cross-agency collaboration – Place and support youth in developmental experiences – Promote quality work-based and classroom learning

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 7 Measure Measure results to improve the quality and impact of local efforts. Intermediaries: – Set goals and measure success – Build partner capacity – Use data to improve performance and promote equity – Set quality standards based on promising practices – Conduct regular, formal reviews and external evaluations – Share and apply research, strategies, and results

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 8 Sustain Sustain successful efforts through advocacy, progressive policies and practices. Intermediaries: – Build public awareness and support – Influence national, state, and local policies – Connect and align local youth-serving systems Generate, leverage, and distribute resources Promote the long-term commitment to youth success Align workforce development, economic development and educational improvement efforts

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 9 Intermediary Examples Workforce Investment Boards WIB Youth Councils County/Regional Offices of Education School to Career Agencies Youth Development Agencies School Restructure Technical Assistance Providers Chamber of Commerce Education Committees Regional Foundations What else?

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 10 What’s In It For You? Engaging business partners for: – Internships – Advisory Board members – Classroom speakers – Mentors Helping recruit students for the academy Communicating to parents and community members about your academy Providing various technical assistance and professional development opportunities Providing links to post secondary education, business and other employer partners, community based youth initiatives and government entities Helping identify funding opportunities for academies

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 11 What’s In It for the Intermediary? Strong relationships to allow them to more easily and efficiently provide their services Source of qualified students for future workforce needs Interns and youth employees with positive attitudes, eager to learn, reliable Ability to impact student success in their community Relationship with strong national organization – Increase credibility for future funding

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 12 Panel Questions Introduce yourself and a bit about your intermediary How are you connected to schools now – what do you provide? What are you looking for from school partners and how do we contact you? How do you find business and community partners that can work with us? What roles do we/you play in a strong partnership?

7/10/08Deanna Hanson 13 How Can I Get Connected? Meet with local agencies that may provide these services Check website for intermediary members in your communitywww.intermediarynetwork.org Contact your NAF Regional Manager ( ); Charlie Katz ) or Deanna Hanson 916