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 The City will also use various media resources, including periodic news releases through its Public Information Officer, posting electronic program announcements/flyers on social media, and posting program information on the City's website. Other outreach strategies will include posting physical program announcements/flyers at all Santa Ana library branches, recreation centers, community and family resource centers, high school and college career counseling centers, and other high-traffic public spaces. Staff have worked hard to establish a presence and the importance of the SAY Employment program since it began in 2022 with our first round of California Volunteer funding. This year alone, we have received over 573 applications and had to close our online application at https://www.santa-ana.org/californianforall-youth-employment- program/to ensure we could enroll as many as possible within our funding and staffing capacity. With each funding cycle, we have surpassed our enrollment goal. Our current enrollment goal was 120, and we have exceeded it by 234, and have had to leverage local funding to serve more youth and address the community's need for our program. To remain competitive and effectively recruit, engage, and retain youth, the program's wraparound services are designed to address the diverse needs of the target population. These supports include a competitive hourly wage, transportation assistance, professional attire, career guidance, work-readiness workshops, housing navigation support, help with accessing needs-based social services, higher education guidance, and onboarding support, such as background checks, TB testing, and required work uniforms when applicable. While not all participants will require every support, trained and knowledgeable staff will conduct assessments to identify participant needs and ensure each youth has the resources necessary to complete the program successfully. For participants who are actively attending school, work schedules will be designed to accommodate academic commitments and prioritize educational success. This individualized, youth-centered approach has proven essential to participant retention and completion. Section 4: Metrics/Outcomes The City of Santa Ana will capture all required Youth Service Corps metrics using established data collection processes through the City's youth workforce programs, including the SAY Employment Program. The City maintains an internal database that tracks applications received, eligibility documentation, demographic characteristics, priority population status, worksite assignments, hours worked, and completion status. This database is updated continuously by program staff and serves as the foundational system for generating the monthly metrics required by California Volunteers. 5