Arkansas Youth Development Collaborative Advance Forum Atlanta Georgia September 2006

Arkansas Workforce Investment Board April 27-29, 2005 April 27-29, 2005 Ozark Folk Center State Park Ozark Folk Center State Park Twenty-seven individuals convened to create a strategic plan for “neediest youth” Twenty-seven individuals convened to create a strategic plan for “neediest youth”

AYDC Vision All youth-serving entities freely share information and resources to create and sustain a comprehensive system that provides youth easy access to the services and support that will prepare them to become productive members of society. All youth-serving entities freely share information and resources to create and sustain a comprehensive system that provides youth easy access to the services and support that will prepare them to become productive members of society.

Infrastructure Analysis Infrastructure Analysis Infrastructure Analysis The group next considered whether the necessary Leadership, Planning, and Implementation functions are in place to support the collaboration and achievement of the vision. This discussion produced the following list of functions that need attention: The group next considered whether the necessary Leadership, Planning, and Implementation functions are in place to support the collaboration and achievement of the vision. This discussion produced the following list of functions that need attention: LEADERSHIP: LEADERSHIP: The governor’s support is essential The governor’s support is essential Get his “buy-in” Get his “buy-in” Make sure he communicates it Make sure he communicates it Have a roll-out session Have a roll-out session Agency heads also must support the effort Agency heads also must support the effort Governor’s support will help here Governor’s support will help here Retreat participants must “sell” their leaders Retreat participants must “sell” their leaders Present Retreat results with passion Present Retreat results with passion Link vision to agency mission Link vision to agency mission Emphasize WIIFM Emphasize WIIFM Communication is KEY ingredient Communication is KEY ingredient

WORK TEAM: COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Envisioning Success: Envisioning Success: Regular forums for/with youth and employers to discuss problems, issues, solutions (multimedia, in person,…) Regular forums for/with youth and employers to discuss problems, issues, solutions (multimedia, in person,…) Website set up (primary medium of service providers, recipients,…) Website set up (primary medium of service providers, recipients,…) Confident attitude of what else we can do Confident attitude of what else we can do Model of effective communication that can be used statewide Model of effective communication that can be used statewide Promotes and supports effective dialogue Promotes and supports effective dialogue Adaptable to rural & urban communities Adaptable to rural & urban communities Appropriate for different age groups Appropriate for different age groups

SWAT ANALYSIS Strengths : Strengths : Electronic communication Electronic communication Cross-agency buy-in/support Cross-agency buy-in/support Information available Information available Allies/Resources: Allies/Resources: Everybody at this meeting Everybody at this meeting Other collaborative Other collaborative (e.g. Youth Development Coalition) (e.g. Youth Development Coalition) Local connections Local connections Clients Clients Weaknesses: Weaknesses: Don’t know all youth entities Don’t know all youth entities No central organization of info No central organization of info Threats: Threats: Complacency Complacency “Turfism” “Turfism” Confidentiality issues Confidentiality issues Info system restriction Info system restriction

Strategies: Identify youth service entities Identify youth service entities Develop Website/newsletter Develop Website/newsletter Develop framework to support Website Develop framework to support Website Identify additional contact points Identify additional contact points Identify info content for Website Identify info content for Website Identify Communication Coordinator Identify Communication Coordinator Launch and convene focus groups Launch and convene focus groups Youth/families Youth/families Employers Employers Assess feedback Assess feedback

Action Planning SWAT Analysis for What differences they could see. What differences they could see. What people were saying What people were saying What people were doing differently What people were doing differently How youth were being served differently How youth were being served differently

Envisioning Success: Website set up (primary medium of service providers, recipients,…) Website set up (primary medium of service providers, recipients,…) Every service that is available for youth is on the Internet Every service that is available for youth is on the Internet Quarterly meetings for collaborating members (also posted on Website) Quarterly meetings for collaborating members (also posted on Website)

Research Models Team Champions met to review existing webs-sites Team Champions met to review existing webs-sites Conference call with Wizdom Education Conference call with Wizdom Education C3 Model website (Minnesota) C3 Model website (Minnesota) Communication Team Communication Team Open lines of communication Open lines of communication Regular team meetings Regular team meetings

Website-Design AYDC- recommendations/contributions for links AYDC- recommendations/contributions for links Workforce Investment Board provides: Workforce Investment Board provides: Administrative support Administrative support Server Server Legal review Legal review Job Corp Job Corp Field Test Site Field Test Site

Arkansas Youth Development Collaborative Presents: Arkansas Youth Development Collaborative Presents:

Customized Features Youth driven focus Youth driven focus User-friendly with graphics buttons User-friendly with graphics buttons follow-up within 2 business days follow-up within 2 business days Interactive access for service needs Interactive access for service needs E-sources link for Local Partners E-sources link for Local Partners