CALIFORNIA, STATE OF (VOLUNTEERS YOUTH SERVICE CORPS)

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City of Santa Ana Youth Employment Program Funded by California Volunteers RFA#CV25-YSC04 rounds of California Volunteers-funded Santa Ana Youth (SAY) Employment Program. The program will serve a total of 101 youth through a structured, cohort-based workforce model that balances intensive, long-term engagement with broader exposure to career pathways within City departments. Beginning in April 2026, one 12-month cohort of 12 youth will participate in sustained paid work experience, working 20 hours per week at $20 per hour to support deeper skill development and long-term career exploration. To expand access and maximize impact, the program will also engage an additional 89 youth through four-month cohorts starting in May 2026 and continuing throughout the program year. This approach allows the City to reach a significantly larger number of participants while maintaining consistent supervision, quality programming, and meaningful workforce exposure. City staff will be responsible for participant placement, case management, payroll oversight, and the provision of supportive services, including public transportation assistance, gas cards, work clothing, and support in locating child care. Staff will also facilitate linkages to alternative and career technical education, secondary education, and long-term employment opportunities to support career pathway development. All programming will align with the grant's priority focus areas of public service, food insecurity, and education, which guide the structure of paid work experience placements and workshops across all cohorts. Public service will be the primary focus, representing approximately 50 percent of available worksites, with additional placements supporting food insecurity and education initiatives. Detailed worksite positions and focus areas are provided in Attachment A, which outlines more than 110 paid work experience positions developed across City departments and nonprofit agencies. The program will rely on a combination of internal City departments and carefully selected external partners who will enhance service delivery. The Santa Ana Public Library (SAPL), a City agency, will deliver workshops in digital literacy and the use of online research resources available through the Library. Their involvement supports both education and public service focus areas while introducing youth to internal City career pathways. Working Wardrobes, the City's primary community-based partner, will provide career-readiness workshops drawing on its 34 years of expertise in workforce development. Their services include interview preparation, resume building, harassment prevention, workplace professionalism, and access to professional attire through their career center. Personal shoppers assist each youth in selecting appropriate career attire, including professional clothing, shoes, and accessories. Working Wardrobes offers excellent quality clothing and accessories for both men and women. Participants choose a new "success suit" with the assistance of a trained `Personal Shopper' in an inviting, department store-like setting. This comprehensive "shopping" experience is designed with an emphasis on the dignity and respect of each person they serve. The goal is for all participants to look and feel successful, so they have the confidence to succeed in their interviews and careers. 2