ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN'S THERAPEUTIC ARTS CENTER (17)

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2020-21 Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center Youth Employment Program - WIOA Proposal C. Describe knowledge of the barriers that youth encounter — OCCTAC has served many youth with different barriers in life throughout our 19 years of community service! The majority of the barriers include youth with disabilities, youth with basic skills deficient, English language learners, low-income youth, homeless youth, youth in foster care or emancipated, pregnant or parenting youth, high school dropouts and other barriers. OCCTAC is very committed to serving all youth with these barriers. The following numbers represent the youth we served during the 2017-18 program year with different barriers. Out of the 20 youth served, 50 % had a disability, 15 % were Parenting Teens, 20% were HS dropouts,10 %were homeless youth and 55 %were foster youth. Currently, we are serving the following youth with the following barriers during the 2018 — 2019 program year: 52% have a disability, 17%are Parenting Teens, 9%are HS dropouts, 4_%are homeless youth and are foster youth. D. Specify how your organization will address the barriers that youth encounter - OCCTAC WIOA staff is very dedicated and committed to all the youth that we enroll in our Youth Employment (WIOA) program at OCCTAC. We have offered this WIOA program for the past 14 years to the Santa Ana youth! Our staff is comprised of a hardworking group of individuals that are passionate about making a difference in the community, and are prepared to address all of the barriers that youth encounter. Our TEAM of dedicated staff guide and mentor the youth, and assist them during the entire program year. The team is comprised of a Case manager, a Literacy/Numeracy Tutor, a Career Counselor, a Job Developer and Work Experience mentors that help youth attain their educational and career goals. All of the youth are also required to attend monthly job skills/life skills workshops, focusing anywhere from employment attainment/retention, to howto improve and change their own personal lives, and the community in which they live. In addition, to aid in academic barriers that youth experience, all participants will be assigned to an Educational counselor who will provide direction and coaching on any academic aspect, such as scholarship writing and enrollment into an institution of their interest. This service is crucial for all youth participating in the program because it will allow them to learn about various academic paths, including vocational training, HS recovery programs and 4-year institutions, while narrowing down a career of interest and actually committing to a program. Furthermore, all participants will be provided with psychological counseling (if needed), and other important support services. OCCTA's environment is very nurturing, fun and supportive, and provides youth opportunities to maintain a high level of involvement in our programs. WIOA youth are supported emotionally throughout the entire year at OCCTAC, and are provided with a positive and welcoming environment that also encourages youth to partake on various leadership roles within the various programs and activities at our agency. These additional activities provide youth with an opportunity to gain self- 0