ORANGE COUNTY CONSERVATION CORPS (4)

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7. Preparation for Postsecondary Education and Training (3 pages max) Due to COVID-19, OCCC is following the guidelines of the CDC. Please refer to attached OCCC COVID-19 Policies and Procedures which are subject to change. OCCC provides integrated services to "at -risk" or "Opportunity Youth". "Opportunity Youth - sometimes referred to as "disconnected youth" - are defined as people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor working. As of 2015, there are approximately 5.8 million young Americans [l in 6 youth] who meet the definition of Opportunity Youth" (Bridgeland and Milano, 2012). Further, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found adults under age 24 are the fastest growing segment of people experiencing homelessness, and may be at greater risk of homelessness than any other age group. In 2014, 34% of people experiencing homelessness were under age 24, according to Housing and Urban Development (HUD, 2012) report. SAMSHA further reports Opportunity Youth are "failing to build an economic foundation for adult independence". In these 25 years, OCCC has provided paid job training program support to over 8,500 Corpsmembers by instilling a strong work ethic, developing an individual's self-worth, while providing the necessary experience and job skills to ensure that our young adults become successful candidates in the workforce. Corpsmembers receive an education, learn professional job skills, take critical steps forward to become an employed and self-sufficient adult; an asset within their families, as asset within their community, an asset for all of California. The Santa Ana WIOA Participant will have the opportunity to earn several certificates of completion and/or accomplishments such as: California high school diploma/GED, Americorps Educational Award(s), Forklift, Chainsaw, Red Cross CPR/First Aid, Safe Serve Food Handlers, California State Guard Card, OSHA-10 hour (emphasized for Construction), and other job training readiness certifications. Each certification is individualized to advance each Participants progress towards their IEP and ISSP overall goals, The OCCC organizational purpose is to empower young adults to become self-sufficient members of their community. The Corps accomplishes this by offering activities and organized instruction targeted toward the educational, professional, and personal development of youth. Some of the common and additional measures to be utilized to evaluate the success of this program will be as follows: Participants who are unemployed and out of school will become enrolled at the Corps and will successfully complete the OCCC paid work experience assignment, as measured by the Corps Crew Supervisor's work ledger. The work of OCCC's Corpsmembers help mitigate changing climate impacts through fire fuel reduction, flood protection, water quality, reforestation, habitat restoration, wetlands protection/reparation, wildlife and native species protection, homeless encampment cleanups, bottle/can, tire, E-waste, and oil recycling. All activities support reduction of Green House Gas and a lower -carbon footprint. Participants enrolled in the C-CPA school will earn theirbigh school diploma and will successfully co -enroll in post -secondary education as they get close to graduation, as measured by classroom instructors teaching records