The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Workforce Development Center has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Youth Transitioning Into Adulthood, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

The Workforce Development Center, developed by the Living Classrooms Foundation, provides services to youth ages 16-24 who are currently in the foster/kinship care system, or who have been in the past.

Target Population: Youth ages 16-24 who are currently in foster/kinship care or have been in the past.

For children/adolescents ages: 16 – 24

Employer participation

• Cooperation from employers in order to build partnerships
• Working relationship with the human resources department of partnered employer
• Ability to go to job site and visit youth whenever necessary

Local agency participation

• Cooperation from local agencies serving target population
• Working relationship with youth's retention specialist is imperative
• Ability to meet with youth and retention specialist together as needed

Life-Skills Program

• Hands-on learning experiences

ISA program (Individualized Saving Agreement)

• Assistance with housing and transportation provided
• To receive assistance, youth must maintain goals set into place (to include education, employment and financial goals)

The Workforce Development Center was designed with a child/adolescent component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms for children/adolescents ages 16 – 24:

• In out-of-home living arrangement and transitioning to adulthood.

The Workforce Development Center was not designed with a parent/caregiver component.

The Workforce Development Center was not designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended Intensity:

It is a case-by-case basis. All youth must be seen once a month in order to remain active in the program. During the probation period of employment, they typically meet face-to-face one time a week.

Recommended Duration:

Services are provided for the youth based on the need or desire to stay involved in the program, however the youth is encouraged to remain employed for at least 12 months. The sessions can last in duration from 30 minutes to a few hours depending on tasks assigned.

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Community Agency

The Workforce Development Center includes a homework component:

Budgeting, goal setting, etc. Homework is an assignment that must be completed for next meeting.

The Workforce Development Center does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• Office space
• Cell phones
• Personnel
• Computer to track data

Experience with youth population is required. At least two years of coursework in Social Services is required.

There is not a manual that describes how to implement this program; but there is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Rochelle McGee
  The Living Classrooms Foundation
  phone: (410) 685-0295 x226

Training is obtained:

Onsite.

Number of days/hours:

3 days.

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for The Workforce Development Center.

No reference materials are currently available for The Workforce Development Center.