TALLER SAN JOSE (6) - 2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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San Jose students — about 65% of students are referred by a friend or relative; 3) Referrals from community partners including: the Orange County Probation Department, the Santa Ana WORK Center, Santa Ana Regional Occupation Center (ROP), Centennial Education Center, La Familia, Youth Provider Network, Daisy Wheel Network, as well as nonprofit institutions, including: Jamboree Housing, Orangewood Children's Foundation and Phoenix House; and, 4) Local newsprint publications such as the free PennySaver. 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. To address these barriers to employment, upon program enrollment all WIA- enrolled students are matched to a case manager who conducts an initial assessment and develops goals with the student and who, for a 28 -month period, monitors their progress along Taller San Jose's Steps to Success: Social and Emotional Wellness; Healthy Behaviors; Technological Literacy; Financial Responsibility; Educational Achievement; and Employment Attainment. Within each step, case managers help students achieve tangible goals, such as completing their high school diploma, getting a valid driver's license, opening and using a bank account, setting up a professional email account, avoiding unhealthy relationships and remaining crime and drug free. Taller San Jose attributes its success at reaching and retaining Santa Ana's undereducated and unskilled youth to a holistic, relational approach to education and training. The philosophy of the program calls for high interaction between staff and participants. Staff members focus on making warm and supportive contacts with each participant from the first phone contact/walk -in, through orientation sessions and throughout the first critical weeks of the student's participation. Taller San Jose employs twenty -nine staff who work with youth on a daily basis to provide support services, instruction, and links to employment and post- secondary pathways. IV. Employment Taller San Jose's training simulates the workforce and, from the first interaction, models real - world experiences by requiring prospective students to fill out an application, show valid right -to- work documents, participate in an interview and pass a pre -hire drug screen. Prospective applicants must demonstrate a need for basic skills remediation by testing between 5`h -8th grade on the TABE. Taller San Jose's Enrollment Specialist interviews each candidate to assess their barriers and discern their motivation for enrolling in the program. Youth who fall within the target population, and demonstrate a strong motivation for taking responsibility to turn their lives around, are priority applicants. The program requires trainees to demonstrate that they are responsible and respectful by showing up every day, on time, drug free, dressed professionally and with a good attitude. Taller San Jose's training academies focus on high - growth industry sectors: • Construction and Green Technology Academy: The construction program is accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and is led by a licensed general contractor. The program focuses on construction fundamentals and incorporates: safety awareness and training, construction theory, adherence to attendance policies, mentoring, job coaching, and leadership development. Hands -on training includes EXHIEBIT A