RANCHO SANTIAGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT (21) - 2013

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work experience. Youth participating in the CaIGRIP program are provided with the proper tools to succeed in their careers and encouraged to continue on a successful and productive future. The primary staff members who will oversee the project include Ms. Ruth Cossio- Mimiz, the Director of the Corporate Training Institute. She leads most of the WIB projects at Rancho Santiago CCD and continues to forge additional joint ventures. In this partnership, she will be working with the professional trainers on customizing curriculum for the high school youth, managing schedules of all instructors for the digital technology training, preparing presentations, publishing handout materials, coordinating staff to update student records and transmitting invoices, as well as maintaining communication with all partners involved. (Refer to attachment L for a list of RSCCD staff that will be assisting with this project.) III. State the Problem A significant number of youth in the community of Santa Ana come from economically disadvantaged families. Low socio- economic status often leads to a number of barriers impeding student success such as educational underachievement, higher likelihood of high school dropout, offender, teen parent, and welfare dependency. Latino students comprise a majority of the student population in the Santa Ana Unified School District. Nearly seventy -two percent are reported as dropping out. These students leaving school without a diploma will limit their opportunities for personal and /or professional success by not having the appropriate education or training for the labor force. It is known that high school dropouts earn less wages, are more likely to commit crimes, and are considered less healthy both physically and emotionally than students that graduate. Many jobs in the market require a high school diploma, so that youth who do not graduate contribute to increasing unemployment rates among youth, juvenile arrests, gang affiliation and births to teens, perpetuating the poverty cycle. For students who do earn a high school diploma, many do not enroll in post- secondary institutions. Instead, they enter the workforce to assist their families financially. But with limited education, training, and/or experience it is difficult to find employment with sustainable earnings. As a result many youth become frustrated with their current situation and resort to substance and /or drug abuse for an escape. Students who do enroll in post- secondary education are often first generation students and therefore have difficulties adjusting to the role of college student. Students are often unaware of the resources on campus available to assist them with the completion of their degree. Therefore many students perform poorly and eventually drop out of college. IV. Barriers The "Seeds to Trees" program plans to recruit youth with barriers to employment, educational advancement, and a successful future. To see the complete list of barriers please see attachment F2. For this reason the program will devote particular attention to probation /foster youth and youth with disabilities. Foster Youth: The library has developed a successful association with Orangewood Children's Foundation which serves foster youth in Orange County, and they have agreed to refer foster youth for participation in the program (refer to Letter of Commitment from Orangewood Children's Foundation). WIA youth interns are currently working on producing two videos highlighting the Academy, a Orangewood sponsored Charter High School projected to be opened in August 2013, as well as a video highlighting the Rising Tide Transition Living Program. Further, the Project Director has been attending meetings of the Foster Youth Breakthrough Collaborative since 2009. Since EXHIBIT A