I

County of Santa Clara
Foster Youth Employment
r

Task Force

Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Agenda 5/4/06
I.

Introductions & Overview (5 Minutes)

11.

Large Group Identification of Policies and Recommendations(45 Minutes)
A.
Creating a Supportive Environment for both Youth & Employers
B.
Establishing Linkages with Employers Pre, During, and Post Placement
Summary of All Developed Recommendations(15 Minutes)
Clarification, Questions,& Discussion of Recommendations(10 Minutes)

III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VIE

Prioritization by Category (20 Minutes)
Review of Missing Recommendations(5 Minutes)
Closing, Overview of Next Steps (5 Minutes)

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PROCESS OVERVIEW & GOAL

To develop a sustainable program in a collaboration of input between
Supervisor Beall, the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency, and the
community, which creates comprehensive and encompassing foster youth
employment.
I.

Process Overview

A.

FYETF Role Defined

The purpose of the Task Force is to function as a brain trust in collaboration with the

Office of Jim Beall and the Social Services Agency/Department of Family and
Children Services (hereinafter Agency). Per this role, the Task Force will be asked to

develop guiding principles and formulate policy on the issue of a comprehensive
foster youth employment program.
B.

Overview of Process

For informational purposes, a broad overview of the process will follow.

1. April 14, 26, May 3: The Task Force will be asked to provide strategic
information and give input on ideas which will be incorporated into and
be indispensable to the design of the project as a whole.

2. April 15 to May 4: The input of the Task Force will be incorporated with

the directions and feedback from the Agency workgroup. The Agency
will establish the outlines of considerations & recommendations by early
May 2006 to submit to Supervisor Beall to incorporate and take under
consideration by May 11, 2006 for County budgetary decisions.

3. May to August: The Agency will collaborate with the Office of Supervisor
Beall to create a recommendation for the establishment of a program or
systems to address comprehensive foster youth employment.

4. August: Supervisor Beall and County Board of Supervisors to review plan
for implementation of sustainable, encompassing initiatives.
C.

Task Force Work Plan

The Task Force will be asked, particularly in the early phases of this project, to
function as a group of subject educated professionals to provide policy input on the
type of items which must necessarily be incorporated in the design and creation of a
new program(s) whose aim is to provide employment for the most inclusive range of
foster youth. This initial task is therefore primarily:

1. Troubleshooting: (completed 3-21-06) Identify and brainstorm both the
positive factors and the areas of needed improvement vis-a-vis the
creation of a successful foster youth employment program.
2. Issue Spotting: (4-14-06) How do the identified areas of most needed

improvement manifest? In other words,in what specific, functional, dayto-day ways do the areas we identified prevent comprehensive foster
youth employment? What is missing? Who are the indispensable
parties? What are the timelines? What youth skills are necessary? How
do resources impact foster youth employment?
3. Recommendations: (4-26-06, 5-04-06) In the past two sessions, we've
focused on those areas which have served as barriers to a successful,

comprehensive foster youth employment program. In this session, we

will address those areas which, when developed by the Agency from
ideas into programmatic initiatives, will help to ensure sustainability and
the inclusion of the greatest number of youth. The role of the Task Force
is to develop a set of (S.M.A.R.T.) guiding principles in the form of bullet
points which will be integrated as policy by the Agency in the
development of a foster youth employment program. Moreover, during
the second session, the Task Force will invite a speaker on the issue of
foster youth legislation in order to assist in the development of policy
considerations.

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Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Agenda 3-21-06
1.

Introductions(10 Minutes)

II.

Troubleshooting Small Group Work (40 Minutes): Identify and brainstorm both the
positive factors and the areas of needed improvement vis-a-vis the creation of a
successful foster youth employment program.
Gathering and Grouping(30 Minutes):
Closing & Outcome Naming (10 Minutes)

III.
IV.

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Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Outcomes 3-21-06

Page 1 of 2
Brainstorm and identify both the positive factors and the areas of
needed improvement vis-a-vis the creation of "a successful" foster
youth employment program.

AREAS OF NEEDED IMPROVEMENT & FOCUS
SYSTEM APPROACH

RESOURCES

Lack of clarity as to the

The need for

definition of success.

transportation
(discounts to

PRE-EMPLOYMENT
SKILLS

SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT

The need for education or Some youth need a lot The need to ensure

assitance in appearance
with regard to those
ILP/FYEP youth). seeking employment

of support prior to
employment linkage.

Lack of coordination (the

The need for

How to overcome the fact The issue of retention

absence of the

housing.

that employers want at
least one year of
community college (the
new H.S. dipolma).

in the foster

home/THPP (work
experience).

Lack of adequate

Lack of adequate How to instill relevant job The need to create one

competence in relation to

services in the

skills: I.e. technical

foster youth amongst
employment agencies.

sounth County.

training, communication

on one working
relationships vs. a

skills, social skills.

mass based

employment counseling
approach.

The need for better tracking

Difficult access to

The need to instill writing

of emancipated youth.

Chaffee $$ for

skills, specifically vis-a-vis
applications & responding

training CET.

to supplementals.
The need for better

The need to

marketing/communication & improve funding
an apprentice program.
availability for
vocational

education and job
placement of high
risk youth.

There exists no access to

youth by way of ILP
providers for training
services.

The need to create greater
access to meaningful work.

5

job retention
support such as

counseling and re
placement.

(professional, appropriate,
casual).

systemic/wholistic
approach).

FOLLOW UP
SERVICES

AREAS OF POSITIVE PROGRESS

There are employers willing to employ the youth.
It is encouraging to witness kids helping kids to get jobs.
The social worker staff and agencies are well trained.
Resources: SJ One Stop; SV Win; NOVA
The relationship between current ILP providers and the youth.

The prospects for a TEAM approach vs. a case manager (one on one)system.
The Walter Johnson Project with SVWIN.

For emancipated youth there exists EYS funds available (18-21).

GET; Housing, training , counseling and other support service availability.
Kids demonstrate high aspirations for employment.

There is a high focus and political attention being placed on foster youth (political leadership).
There exists a commitment from service providers to prepare foster youth; support/growth/ dev., life skills.
Emancipating foster youth are receiving national and state focus.
The budget with regards to these issues are somewhat protected from cuts.
There exist positive programs.

Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Outcomes 3-21-06

Page 2 of 2

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Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Agenda 4-16-06
I.

Review of Goal,Process, Workplan (Above,10 minutes)

II.

Questions (10 minutes)

III.

Issue Spotting: How do the identified areas of most needed improvement manifest?
In other words, in what specific, functional, day-to-day ways do the areas we
identified prevent comprehensive foster youth employment? NOT "LACK OF," but
rather CONTRADICTIONS.
A.
B.

Handout: explanation of "contradictions" and task.(10 minutes)
(5) Groups: broken by areas of focus; include 1 note taker, 1 presenter, 1
facilitator (25 minutes)

IV.

C.

Group: return and debrief subgroups to whole(40 minutes)

D.

Discussion & Questions(15 minutes)

Closing & Next Steps(10 minutes)

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Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Outcomes 4-16-06

Page 1 of 2
All Group Considerations:

■

Diverse mandates create unique focus with small areas of overlap.

■

Supervisor and line staff staying on specific tasks.

■

Systems don’t lend well to central coordinated role organized around the youth.

■

Connectivity takes extra work and happens on an ad hoc basis rather than institutionalized.

■

Organizations who know about the needs of youth aren’t systemically capable of sharing that

■
■

The need to identify major areas of impact to foster youth employment.
Possible “Director’s Fund” for housing, look at issues impacting mental health.

■

Identify organizations which can provide pre-emancipation internship programs: government,

knowledge.

school, private.

■ In care youth dislike programs that are perceived as labeling of them as somehow in special
“need.”

■

Impacted tutors/educators.

■

The need to assess youth in order to know what the needs are. Community collaborators identified

who can perform the assessments before the youth reaches l''^ grade.
■ Linking in care youth with adult mentoring such as CASA. Succession planning (assess core
capabilities and identify skills and areas of needed development).

■ The need to lend support to in care youth is not completed when the youth finds a job, support to
both the employer and the youth must continue.

Group 5: Follow Up Services

■

Need to ensure job retention support such as counseling and replacement.

■

Connect with mental health and other.

■

Education of community employers about the issues they may face (in order to bridge and

■

Manage Expectations of the youth.

“

Placement is not enough, there needs to be counselors, advocates, support, mentors.

provide mutual linkages and support to youth and employer).

Group 4: Creating a Supportive Environment
■
■

■

Identify a link of existing in care youth.
Level and type of living support must be identified.

Failure to understand the particulars of an employment culture will lead to confusion and
mutual frustration.

Group 3: Pre Employment

■ There is a difficulty finding technical training, apprenticeships that are appropriate for foster
youth.

■

There needs to be opportunity to practice “soft” skills.

■
■
■

Access to tutoring for basic education skills for GED and CHSEE.
Access to professional clothes.
Standardize ILP employment curriculum.
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Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Outcomes 4-16-06

Page 2 of 2
Group 2: Resources & Allocation of Funds

GROUP CONVERSATION: There needs to be a discussion about how decisions are currently made
regarding the resources and whether those decisions can be made differently, i.e. how is the decision
prioritized(what is the criteria) and how can groups be effective about sharing their ideas.
Transportation
■
■

Bus passes.
Caqjooling with adult drivers.

■

Dollar incentive for driver or youth (to own a car).

■

EE shuttles.

Housing

Continuum of housing,from transitional to own apartments.
Unexplored funding resources (non-traditional).
South County

Need more resources allocated there (generally).
There exist fewer providers.
Sporadic services.
Disorganized.
Staff turnover high.
CHAFFEE Funds

Spread thin

Improve Funding
■

The need for quick vocational certification.

Group 1: Systemic Approach
High

Funding streams and mandates discourage agencies serving foster youth from collaborating
and coordinating.
Mid

Uncoordinated efforts to meet each agencies mandate to serve in care youth(MH,WIB,
community college, DECS)
Lower

Staff need to value and be empowered to do collaborative planning.
Unclear awareness of caregivers and youths’ needs and interests.
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Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Agenda 4-26-06
'1 do not go to a committee meeting merely to give my own ideas. If that were all, I might write
my fellow members a letter. But neither do I go to learn other people's ideas. If that were all, I
might ask each to write me a letter. I go to a committee meeting in order that all together we
may create a group idea, an idea which will be better than any of our ideas alone, moreover

which will be better than all of our ideas added together. For this group idea will not be
produced by any process of addition, but by the interpenetration of us all."
-Mary Parker Follett, The New State
I.
II.
III.

Overview of Day,Review of Past Sessions,(5 minutes)
Questions/Proposed Revisions(5 minutes)

Development of Guiding Principles (S.M.A.R.T.) Bullet Points: In the past two
sessions, we've focused on those areas that have served as barriers to a successful,
comprehensive foster youth employment program. In this session, we will formulate

strategic guiding principles which, when developed by the Agency into
programmatic action, will help to ensure sustainability and the inclusion of the
IV.
V.

greatest number of youth in the project.
Explanation of S.M.A.R.T.(5 minutes)

Handout on Strategic Thinking (brainstorm policy/guiding principles)(5 minutes)
A.
B.

C.

Strategies are guiding principles, not actions
They overcome specific contradictions

They act as rudder and catalyst for change and create mutual buy in by
overcoming previously identified contradictions

VI.

Break Out Small Group:3 Groups(30 minutes)
A.

Review the notes from the last session wherein we identified underlying
contradictions. Based upon those notes, and/or your recollection of the past
two sessions, develop S.M.A.R.T. strategic guiding principles for
contradictions 1 and 2.

"Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things...A powerful new idea
can kick around imused in a company for years, not because its merits are not recognized, but
because nobody has assumed the responsibility for converting it from words into action. Ideas
useless unless used. The proof of their value is only in their implementation."
are

-Theodore Leavitt,from 'Inc' Magazine
VII.

Review & Discussion Group Work (30 minutes)

VIII. Close & Next Steps

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Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Outcomes 4-26-06

Page 1 of 3
ff

Recommendations on Developing a "Systemic Approach
■

Funding Streams
1.

Create Consortiums which can pool resources

2.

Create incentives for collaboration

3.

Look at Federal and State waivers

4.

Expand the use of technology such as with case management information
Federal Funds must be maximized and leveraged
Prioritize County general funds that may be maximized and leveraged
Create flexible county fimds spending accounts
There must be a point person in funding management,prioritization, and

5.

6.
7.

8.

coordination

■

Uncoordinated Efforts
1.

There needs to be a decision made about who takes responsibility (i.e."who

2.

owns")emancipated youth
There should be a public health approach

3.

There should be a centralized information system such as a state registry of in care
youth with DECS

■ Structure change should be encouraged which allows staff to value and be empowered to
engage in collaboration

■ There should be an early transition plan for emancipating youth with is clear, specific,
and provided to everyone so as to establish a foundation of understanding amongst all
involved with that transition.

■ There needs to be a study done to identify viable,short term,living wage vocations, and
then to identify major and minor employment agencies and streams within each of those

■ Create supportive centers for youth which provide for the home/parent atmosphere and
a place where youth can get practical, connected, everyday assistance on tasks, questions,
etc.; i.e. Housing Choices, Catholic Charities, others

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Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Outcomes 4-26-06

Page 2 of 3

Recommendations for Examining the "Resources and Allocation of Funds
1. Transportation
Explore arid implement an Eco Pass for Emancipated Youth

Levy a hotel or parking tax to pay for transportation issues for in care youth
Collaborate with cities to ensure transportation

Effective programs MUST provide access to transportation (one way or another)
All children will have bus passes

Reduce the need to be dependent on transportation (by developing distance learning, elearning, telecommuting,free internet access)

Support and design ridesharing and carpooling options with existing agency employees
Develop individual ride planning options
Provide for discormted and subsidized transportation

Develop the willingness to apply creative approaches and application of rules to find
transportation

Develop group collaborations such as those with foundations or partnerships in order to
accomplish tasks normally prevented of government agencies(such as with the VTA bus
pass initiative)

Each child shall have transportation
2.

Housing
There needs to be a centralized transition coordinator

Each child MUST have 24/7 access to safe and sanitary housing (with in and out
privileges)

Each child shall have housing which meets the needs of the average working individual.
Increasing affordable housing ranges and options

Look at Proposition 46 funds.Section 8 Housing,collaborations with Habitat,faith based,
and incentives for development

Use political initiative as a hot current issue to target funding from State, private sources

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Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Outcomes 4-26-06

Page 3 of 3
3.

South County

Develop specific plans for increased collaborations between agencies in the south county
vis-a-vis other parts of the county
Each child must have equal access to ALL services
Allocate resources geographically based on need level
All youth have equal access to funds

Raise the visibility of funding service levels in the South County,including; identifying
south county "leaders," identifying more south county partners, developing the voice of
the south County.

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Foster Youth Employment Task Force
Outcomes 5-04-06

Page 1 of 3

Recommendations for "Creating a Supportive Environment
1.

For Youth

Youth are in need of interpersonal communication skills, such as could be offered by
workshop,or similar method.

The importance of a mentor or coach to help the youth cope,adjust, and deal with

problenas, adjustments, to serve as intermediary and by generally building the youth's
internal capacity.

Foster Parents themselves are in need of training to assist them and educate them on

issues which may arise in relation to in care youth transitioning into employment and
self sufficiency. The training is to foster awareness,issue spotting, and therefore, support
by parents for youth.

Youth treated as a leader, with recognition of the youth's assets, strengths, and skills.
2.

For Employers

Establish a mentor relationship for employers to help in transitions, periods of conflict,
education about foster youth issues, and to serve generally as a point of contact.
The possibility of utilizing a model(such as Catholic Charities or others) which provides
space within the working environment for the mentor.
3.

Systemically

Ensure that programs are established with clearly articulated goals, outcome measures.
definitions of success, etc.

Consider the possibility of a tool,such as an all encompassing reference book and
resource guide which gathers and organizes all the information for all likely and
reasonable participants within a foster youth employment program.

There should be a method and logistics for centralizing, capturing,and organizing all

individuals.

Consider the use of electronic formats for the creation of a repository of information.
Consider making a career assessment" for in care youth who are preparing to seek
employment; not only to help to determine a "minimum standard of skills" so as to help
employers feel more comfortable about the employment of a youth,but also to determine
skill sets of the youth in relation to what kind of work or internship may be most

suitable, or whether work experience should be considered as a means to another end,
such as continuing education.

Ensure employer preparedness by helping to identify likely issues to arise in the course
of the employment relationship, and help by providing information and/or resources.
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