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The Santa Ana Workforce Investment Board/Youth Council 12012 Youth Business Network Project (YBNP) B. Program Description The Youth Business Network Project (YBNP) is designed to offer `work -base learning experiences' to those who are eligible for WIA funding and who have a desire to become business entrepreneurs. There are a total of seven local businesses, privately owned in the City of Santa Ana who have committed their business to having WIA eligible youth participants assigned to as business interns for an interim of 12mths for training opportunities. These local business are defined in the YBNP as the Business Network (BN), they are the core of the `hands- on' or `real-time' training ground designed in this model. Each business will leverage their resources to offer the up -most `on -the job' training available to this population. The goal is that youth participants, through their internship may also find future full-time employment opportunities, career choices and acceptance into post secondary educational schools that will elevate their value and eventually turn around and give back to the community. Eligibility - YBNP will enroll 15 youth participants ranging from the ages of 16yrs to 21yrs old. The YBNP have chosen to target both youth populations - In -School and Out -of -School `at -risk youth'. Our areas of expertise in business/entrepreneurialship combined with our experience in working in the social services, probation and parole and community relations industry, allows the YBNP to create an environment that is conducive to the growth of each at -risk youth. The BN will be able to provide a training ground that is `real' and will be able to assess each youth participant according to the current needs and trends that govern the employment industry today. Recruitment Plan — The YBNP model creates opportunities for at -risk youth to work in a safe and familiar environment. Statistic show that many of our at -risk youth have dropped out of high school and have picked up short-term employment opportunities, some end up in the court system and need the opportunity to learn or re -learn their interpersonal skills. The YBNP will allow for them to gain basic living skills while being involved in `real-time' educational opportunities with business entities in the BN. For those who are in school, yet maybe on the verge of dropping out OR have low grades and a record with significant absences, RPC or suspensions this program will serve as a preventative measure and a means to completing school credit hours. The YBNP will work in tandem with the school district, social services and probation and parole as a means to recruit participants that meet the WIA criteria for eligibility. Upon notification of award, the YBNP will begin to network with Service Navigators, social services and probation and parole to begin initial assessment of cliental. Assessments will primarily indicate the WIA criteria as well as the YBNP assessment regarding interest levels of high growth/high demand industries. This will help staff to identify the best placement for our youth participants in the YBNP. Recruitment for In -School Youth will begin in September and the YBNP will work in tandem with the school district to find out which schools should the YBNP target, although ideally trade schools or magnet schools are ideal given these schools are specialized schools and will be able to fall in line with our program model. 2 1 P a Z e Exhibit A