TALLER SAN JOSE (4) - 2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

bills; and, generates revenue for Taller San Jose's nonprofit services. In Fall 2009, through a partnership with the City of Santa Ana and Orange County Community Housing Corporation, Hope Builders completed construction of three single-family homes in Santa Ana's Logan neighborhood. Homes were sold via a lottery to qualifying low-income Santa Ana residents. Currently, Hope Builders employs a crew of 7 Construction Academy graduates and is currently working on capital improvements at Phoenix House and Orange County Conservation Corps. Young people in Santa Ana, who have not completed high school, who have no defined job skills, and who have criminal records face a number of significant obstacles to self-sufficiency. TSJ's Case Managers help students address these barriers to employment through regular mentoring and life skills sessions. Upon arrival in the program, all WIA-enrolled students will be matched to a case manager who conducts an initial assessment and develops goals with the student to help them show up every day and on time to increase their likelihood of remaining enrolled in the program. Case Managers will challenge students to complete the following seven goals: Obtain a high school diploma; Open and use a bank account; Learn basic computer skills; Secure a job with a living wage; Remain crime free and drug free for one year; Register to vote; and, Obtain a valid driver's license. For students experiencing more serious issues, Case Managers either refer them to our on-site counselor who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or connect them to appropriate community resources. Staff provides monthly childcare vouchers and bus passes to help alleviate students' childcare and transportation needs. Case Managers also offer a weekly life skills program based on FuturoNow's Within My Reach® curriculum. Within My Reach is a relationship skills and decision-making program aimed at helping individuals achieve their goals in relationships, family and marriage. The curriculum is especially tailored for those with economic hardships and focuses on two fundamental premises. The first is that virtually all people have aspirations for relationships that are happy, healthy, and stable—and that these aspirations are most often expressed in terms of a desire for success in marriage. The second premise is that the decisions one makes in romantic relationships will affect the possibility of success in every other aspect of life—especially in child rearing and employment. Taller San Jose's Employment and Alumni Services provides 24 -months of comprehensive follow-up services to graduates including links to employment and ongoing coaching that includes resume building, interviewing skills and confidence building that helps students remain employed and focused on career progression. All follow-up services include intensive support for the first 90 days after placement. As graduates acclimate to the workplace, meetings with staff mentors occur on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. Alumni Incentives ($10 gift cards) are given for proof of employment at 30 and 90 days after placement. The career center is open until 7PM every Wednesday to ensure that alumni have adequate access to this resource. Taller produces a quarterly alumni and student newsletter, Standing Taller, which has a circulation of roughly 500 individuals. The publication highlights student success stories, inspirational messages and upcoming events sponsored at Taller. A special Students & Alumni page is featured on Taller's website and includes information outlining career progression, additional training opportunities and employment opportunities. Alumni can also electronically update their contact information and request additional support services via the website. To further help alumni advance in their careers, Taller San Jose also offers supplemental training to Medical Careers and Construction Academy graduates. These short-term training programs in EXHIBIT A 4