25A - PY 06-07 WIA YOUTH OPERATORS

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PY 06-07 Contracts with WIA Youth Program Operators September 5, 2006 Page 2 DISCUSSION Under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the Santa Ana Workforce Investment Board and its Youth Council are required to make funding recommendations in order to provide required WIA services to local qualified youth. In April of 2006, $162,099 of unspent funds was identified from previous youth contracts that had been closed out. The WIA requires that unspent funds from the previous year be expended by June 30 of the second year, as long as at least eighty percent of all carry-over funds are obligated each year. On May 1, 2006, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was released to fund new agencies that provide services to youth during non-traditional hours and in non-traditional areas. The RFP requested proposals from program operators that offered one or more of the following components: training in non-traditional occupations, OJT for older youth in a high demand industry such as manufacturing, programs that are available during non- traditional hours, and programs that serve a variety of youth: the disabled, wards of the court, foster/emancipated or youth on probation. Notification was mailed to 124 agencies that provide services to youth and a Public Notice was published in the Orange County Register on April 29 and 30, 2006. Three proposals were received; one was determined to not meet the minimum requirements and was therefore not rated. Based on the selection criteria established in the RFP, a subcommittee of the Youth Council rated the proposals and both were recommended for funding. Both of the program operators meet all the requirements and both offer new and exciting ways to serve Santa Ana's high-risk youth. Christian Latino Association of Music and Arts uses music as its focus and the O.C. Youth Commission uses boxing. Both programs are offered after hours, evenings and weekends. 25A-2