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BACKGROUND/OVERVIEW
Aug 2014 - Literacy Ontario Central South identified an opportunity for a literacy assessment project for “At Risk Youth” (later to be named “STEP AHEAD”).
Target group: youth aged 18-24, falling between the cracks of services/engagement/participation where literacy barriers were suspected.
Designed to assist youth with decision making and goal setting.
Joint training by Robyn Cooke-Ritchie for Boutique programming . Short term programming that can be used to target specific needs of groups /learners.
AGENCY ROLES Literacy Ontario Central South (LOCS): identified
the opportunity, coordinated the initial meetings between agencies, brought together feedback for final report.
Employment Planning and Counselling (EO provider): identified as the primary facilitator and became certified in the CAMERA assessment tool.
Peterborough Social Services, Ontario Works: provided initial funding for pilot, primary referral source, brought the “Bridges out of Poverty” philosophies to the table.
Trent Valley Literacy Association: local literacy provider present throughout the program to engage participants in literacy training upon completion of Step Ahead Program.
• Community Training and Engagement• Client Advisory Group - obtaining informal feedback• Facility Improvements - creating a warm/welcoming environment• Workshop changes based on client feedback – resist being the expert on what the clients need!• Changing the way we communicate via letters, marketing material: informal, friendly, engaging!• Floater Case Manager – deal with issues ‘in the moment’• Acknowledging clients – cards, coffee certificates• Recruitment and Performance management enhancements
Intensive Case Management for 16 & 17 year old applicants
Enhanced Case Management for Student Earn and Learn Program (SEL) for 18 and up
Learning Earning and Parenting Program(LEAP) for 16-25 year old parents pursuing education
Jobs for Youth program, Ministry of Children & Youth Services
Youth Job Connection, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Summer Job Service, Employment Ontario
Youth Employment Initiative funding
• Literacy Ontario Central South attended a staff meeting at our local Social Services office to discuss the initiative
• Ontario Works and Employment Ontario Partnership collaboration and plan to market – OW Student Earn and Learn team, Employment Planning and Counselling, Trent Valley Literacy Association
• Program originally aimed to start in November 2014, the original name was Choose Your Groove! - first try wasn’t successful so as a group we had to reassess
• Looking more closely at marketing material , the name of the program and the referral process we decided to host information sessions in February 2015
• Marketing material shared between our group of agencies for input, everyone worked together
• The program developed a new name - Step Ahead
• New posters, more communication between agencies and program overview presentations at our OW office team meetings to collect referrals
• Youth focused staff shared information with various agencies and clients - Staff making referrals to the program had a good understanding of the specific target group
• Calls and meetings with clients to remind them of information sessions
• Information sessions held at Employment Planning and Counselling with staff from Ontario Works and Trent Valley Literacy there to answer questions and to provide support
• New and improved marketing material + referral process + information sessions = great team effort - The Step Ahead program to start in March 2015
Program was delivered over 4 weeks, 8 sessions
Session 3 hours in length, either 11am-2pm or 2pm-5pm
Focus was on aspects of the Problem Solving Process and concluded with individuals working thru a specific problem or issue
Topic material was related to personal, educational and work situations
Opportunity to gain awareness to learning styles and learning levels
ToolsCAMERA assessment, essential skills, assessment of specific milestones associated with literacy levels and Personality Dimensions
Deliverysocial media, hands-on group exercises, discussions
Materials
IncentivesHot or cold meals, drinks and snacks
The group consisted of 8 males ages 19-23, in receipt of OW, average attendance was 4/7
At the startMost unsure of what they specifically wantedDesire to obtain employment and gain some insight for personal development1 possessed gr.12,seeking employment4 attending or registered in alternative education programs3 were inactive
At the end1 participant registered with EO services and started a training program with work placement included2 registered for summer student program4 received CAMERA assessment and results3 continuing education at local alternative education center
PROGRAM OUTLINE
Session 1 to 8
Identifying ProblemsIdentifying Barriers1:1 SupportPersonality DimensionsGoals and Decision Making
PROGRAM OUTLINE Team Building
Exercises Co-facilitation
with Social Services
Guest Speaker Assessments
review and results with TVLA
Certificates
At 6 months
1 working, part-time
2 in training program with work placement
3 attending alternative schooling
1 reconnected with OW , receiving assistance with lifeskills, interest in self employment
NEXT STEPS Final report has been written to explain youth at risk
STEP AHEAD project and outcomes; pursuing funding to continue with the program on an ongoing basis – optimally up to 3 X per year ,with more extensive follow up.
Social Services continues to host Community Engagement meetings with a variety of partners to discuss Bridges Philosophies and improving the way we offer all offer services, including workshops in the community!
Employment Planning & Counselling launching newest Youth initiative and is attending OW staff meeting Oct 22nd to share information and seek referrals
Next topics being considered for EO/OW to partner again are: “Budgeting for the 21st Century”, “Essential Skills for Parenting” and a technology focused program
ACTIVITY
•Share your partnership challenges•Select one challenge for the table to discuss further to build solutions•Group Discussion & collective sharing of ideas on how to improve EO/OW partnerships (see next 2 slides for flip chart info)
GROUP BRAINSTORMING NOTES Joint monthly meetings Improved referral process – on-line with
outcomes and progress posted to view any time Presentations/learning sessions at each other’s
staff meetings EO present at OW office at least weekly Visit each agency office and get to know staff
ie: put the name to the face of who we are talking to on phone
Share outcomes/successes with each other regarding mutual clients
Joint Christmas parties Share what criteria needs to be met for funding
GROUP BRAINSTORMING NOTES Communicate what each agency needs from
each other Shadow each other’s roles to gain understanding Intakes at each other’s offices – introduction and
warm hand off for vulnerable clients Info sessions for both clients and staff Communication needs to come from leadership
level Ongoing bus passes to support clients Share staff lists/phones #s (and keep updated) Be cautious about giving wrong info about each
other’s agencies – refer when you aren’t sure!
