Narrative: c. 2.

Minnesota supports partnerships that help young people — the future workforce — attain the skills, knowledge and aptitudes to become productive workers in the 21st century economy. Minnesota is committed to providing the highest quality programming for youth. Program quality increases participant satisfaction and retention of youth which increases the positive impact that youth workforce programs have on our young people, their families and communities. Investments in quality youth programs reduce future costs of out-of-home placements, public assistance and the juvenile justice system. Minnesota's vision for providing quality services to youth includes:

• Coordinate resources at the state and local level;

• Connect youth with quality educational, experiential learning and work-based learning opportunities;

• Introduce youth to career pathways and in-demand jobs important to regional economies;

• Performance accountability; and

• Targeting the neediest youth.

Outreach and recruitment of out-of-school youth includes outreach to eligible youth ages 18-24 interested in pursuing occupational skill training and/or other postsecondary credentials. Interagency partnerships are established between the title 1, local technical colleges, universities and adult basic education (ABE) to identify and connect with youth who can benefit from case management, education, financial and transitional supports. Youth program staff directly interface with and recruit potential youth candidates from ABE programs and look for co-enrollment opportunities. The WDA’s on-site presence at the technical colleges and ABE Centers promotes communication with Student Disability Specialists and Financial Aid Officers who identify individuals who qualify for and could potentially benefit from WIOA Youth services.

Out of school youth in need of occupational skills training are also recruited from the Disability Employment Initiatives underway in six Minnesota sites and other career pathway programs which serve as a referral source for Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

WIOA Youth service providers maintain regular communication with representatives from county social services foster care units, juvenile corrections, homeless youth service providers and drop-in centers, and other community based organizations serving out of school youth. Enhanced recruitment efforts of Out of school youth include closer ties with local Area Learning Centers (ALCs). ALC’s include WIOA Youth applications in senior student portfolios.

WDA youth counselors receive referrals of out-of-school youth from community-based organizations such as: United Way, Lutheran Social Services, Salvation Army, community action agencies and local libraries. Youth counselors work with these organizations to partner and provide a variety of WIOA Youth services that help the youth re-connect with educational opportunities and move towards economic self-sufficiency and work readiness.

Minnesota’s commitment to improving services to the neediest youth is also reflected in its Shared Vision for Youth (SVY) vision statement: “By age 25, Minnesota’s young people will be ready for the responsibilities and rewards of economic self- sufficiency, health, family and social relationships, community involvement, stable housing and life-long learning.” This vision is supported by an interagency workgroup whose mission is: “State agencies collaborate to assure that Minnesota’s neediest youth acquire the talents, skills, and knowledge necessary to ensure their healthy transition to successful adult roles and responsibilities.”

All Minnesota Workforce Development Boards/Youth Committees developed Shared Vision for Youth Blueprints as part of their Local Plans. To view these blueprints and additional information about the state interagency workgroup and on-going projects, please visit the Shared Vision for Youth webpage: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/office-youth-development/special/shared-vision/

The SVY Blueprints include examples of interagency projects underway at the Local Workforce Development Area (LWDA) level to improve transition outcomes for all at-risk youth with particular emphasis on:

• Homeless youth and runaways;

• Dropouts and potential dropouts;

• Youth with disabilities; and

• Youth aging out of foster care.

Through the leadership of the Local Workforce Development Boards and Youth Committees, Minnesota's WIOA Young Adult Program provides comprehensive services to youth who are experiencing an opportunity gap. Minnesota's youth unemployment rate is 11 percent for all youth, and double that for youth of color, youth with disabilities and economically disadvantaged youth. Minnesota's Workforce Development Areas provide high quality services for youth and young adults beginning with career exploration and guidance, support for educational attainment, opportunities for skills training in in-demand industries and occupations, and a job along a career pathway or enrollment in post-secondary education.

Services for out of school youth involve partnerships with multidisciplinary, integrated resource teams (IRTs) that consist of community action agency staff, school personnel (where appropriate), ABE service providers, probation officers, county social workers, mental health professionals, chemical dependency counselors, rehabilitation workers, interpreters, youth, and youths’ parents or guardians. These teams develop action plans to support the OSY. For example, a community action worker will assist youth with work experience, a probation officer will ensure the youth is getting to work and/or an educational experience, and a chemical dependency counselor will ensure that the youth is going to therapy.

The Guideposts for Success, a best practices framework that was developed by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD) is utilized to ensure that all youth, including those with disabilities are successful when transitioning to adulthood. The Guideposts for Success constitute five tenets that align closely with WIOA goals and outcomes. These five tenets are: school preparation, youth development and leadership, career preparation, connecting activities, and family involvement. When a youth has received services or hash had experiences that align with the Guideposts tenets, the youth is more likely to transition to adulthood successfully. For more information on how the Guideposts are being incorporated into the Round 7 Disability Employment Initiative follow this weblink: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/office-youth-development/special/disability-employment-initiative/

As indicated above, many WIOA Young Adult participants come into the system through one-stop partner programs (such as MFIP, Vocational Rehabilitation and/or ABE) so additional resources and services can be tailored to meet the needs of the participant across these programs. Some participants also find their way into these partnering programs through referrals from their local one-stop, while others learn about available services from friends, family and other acquaintances.

The WIOA Young Adult Program is designed to support the shift under Title I of WIOA to expend at least 75 percent of funds on Out—of—School Youth. The cost per participant under WIOA will increase as many Out—of—School Youth require more intensive and costly services, potentially over a longer period of time. Consequently, fewer participants will be served under the WIOA Young Adult Program due to the more intensive and costly services for the increased emphasis on the Out—of—School Youth population.

In addition to co-enrolling WIOA youth participants in other federally-funded programs outside of the Department of Labor (MFIP, for example), Minnesota’s Workforce Development Boards co-enroll youth in the WIOA Adult program when feasible. Leveraging these additional resources increases the potential for shared positive outcomes in youth and adult programs at the state and local level.