ORANGEWOOD CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION 3

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(ILC) provide case management to approximately 200 youth per year. In their interactions with their clients they often engage foster parents, social workers, relative care -takes, biological parents, group home staff and employers for client success. ILCs also engage youth after hours and on weekends. Potential employers are often integrated through the Independent Living Program (ILP) as we invite them to present at workshops (workshops take place during the evenings and on weekends to make it easier for client participation), participate at ILP Career Fair and Independent City and post job opportunities in the Orangewood Resource Center (ORC). OCF staff also participate in many community meetings such as the monthly Orange County Mentoring Partnership meetings, DOVIA Volunteer Management Organization meetings, Children's Services Coordination Committee (CSCC), CSCC Emancipation Subcommittee, Foster Youth Services Task Force, Volunteer Coordinator Roundtable, Vital Link meetings, and social worker and foster parent trainings, etc. When needed, the Foster Youth Liaison Project peer mentors will engage parents (if available), foster parents, relative care -takers, group home staff, social workers and employers to help the participants. Peer mentors will also engage and empower the participants by meeting with them regularly, assessing needs and helping them focus on individual tasks for program success. 3. Describe how staff will receive training and ongoing staff development to increase staff capacity and expertise in the field of youth development and employment. In partnership with the Santa Ana WIB, OCF provided services to 12 foster youth in Program Year 2006/2007 and 20 foster youth during Program Year 2007/2008 (still in progress) through The Foster Youth Liaison Project. The peer mentors involved with this program receive valuable training on participant enrollment and exit procedures, client assessment, TABE testing, case recording, VOS data entry, case management strategies and community resources including services at the Santa Ana WORK Center. The peer mentors also participate in six trainings and one weekend retreat per year which focus on topics such as: • Program Values • Working with Adolescents • Effective Listening & • Leadership Communication Skills • Counter -Transference • Boundaries • Identifying & Dealing with • Problem Solving & Conflict Feelings Resolution • Empathy • Dealing with Emotions • 8 Commandments of Peer • Group Facilitation Mentoring • Team Building • Social & Business Etiquette • Public Speaking • Understanding Child Abuse • Resources for Youth & Neglect • Assertiveness • Scenarios & Role Play Three FYLP peer mentors who participated in the 2007/2008 program year will return for 2008/2009, which means trained, and experienced peer mentors will be involved from the beginning of the new program year. OCF/Foster Youth Liaison Project 14