ORANGE COUNTY CONSERVATION CORPS

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Every year OCCC produces up to 100 high school diploma graduates, provides paid employment and on the job training to nearly 300 at risk- youth and reduces taxpayer burden for these youth to the savings of $5,617,500 annually (estimate 150 youth X $37,450). OCCC enrolls the neediest at -risk youth as designated by the Santa Ana Youth Council, those who need to learn how to work and go to school. The OCCC is a six to twelve month comprehensive program with various components and strategies designed to guide and support youth into being employable, trainable, self-sufficient adults. The program's support services and paid work experience help the youth to stabilize their lives and help them deal with the many issues they face on a daily basis so they can first maintain their employment and education program. Once the youth become stable and are able to maintain employment and education, they continue to be assisted in furthering their education, improving their work skills, and seeking better employment post -corps, leading to a life of self-sufficiency. A. Provide an overview of the program's main objectives. It is the philosophy of OCCC to engage at risk youth in ways that both support educational attainment and job training while recognizing their need to simultaneously earn a living to support themselves and possibly their family as well. We are able to do this by integrating and supporting education and employment as mutually exclusive goals. We integrate the concept of community service into our services to attract young people and to benefit the community. Furthermore OCCC recognizes the value of young adults as contributing to our economy and society and those at risk young adults that need the support in order to build future generations of contributors. WIOA Corpsmembers will be provided or will obtain services necessary to ensure that youth achieve the ultimate goal of employment. Services include, but are not limited to: • Support services; referrals for legal, medical, substance abuse, health, housing, family/personal guidance and counseling; help with tools, books, clothing, other items needed for interviews, job requirements, advanced training, transportation, etc. • OCCC staff members serve as adult mentors and tutors • Access to the OCCC computer lab, fax, voice mail, and printer for resumes, applications, financial aid, job search, job retention, on-line services • Transition assistance such as: job placement / vocational certification / education opportunities / career guidance The OCCC program is a transitional work/school program that combines work and school daily in a structured, supervised program, inclusive of the following program components: EXHIBIT A