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OCAPICA - YSPN
<br />FY 2014-15
<br />internships. Supportive services, adult mentoring, and follow-up services_are provided by
<br />OCAPICA's WIA Case Managers. As an organization, OCAPICA is able to link participants to
<br />resources such as tutoring through its own HAPIYEP program, which is also able to connect
<br />participants to school opportunities. OCAPICA can refer participants to occupational skill
<br />training through ITA, leadership development activities through OCAPICA's Project FOCUS
<br />program, and comprehensive guidance and counseling from OCAPICA's Well(ness)essity
<br />program
<br />For Nigh School dropouts, it was found by the Orange County Health Care Agency that the 9-
<br />12th grade cohort dropout rate for years 2011-2012 was at 9.1°%0, totaling 3,911 individuals. Of
<br />those, the highest populations to drop out were Black/African-American participants and
<br />Hispanic/Latino participants, with rates of 13.5% and 14.1%, respectively (OCHCA 2012).
<br />OCAPICA's experience working with participants who are high school dropouts has provided
<br />valuable insight as to their needs, which often fall into a recognizable pattern including a need
<br />for financial stability, hard and soft skills development, mentorship and guidance counseling,
<br />educational resource linkage, career exploration, and high school completion programs.
<br />Participants who are high school dropouts usually require supportive services to buy work -
<br />appropriate clothing, and sometimes aid with buying food and other basic necessities.
<br />For Youth Offenders, it was found that in Orange County, for every 1000 youth, 16.2 were
<br />arrested for felonies in 2010. Over a 10 -year period (from 1999-2009), Orange County was
<br />found to have the highest increase in juvenile felony arrests at 18% (KidsData.org), The bulk of
<br />this spike happened from 2009-2010, when the county was under the highest economic
<br />distress (CEDS 2013). While this trend is beginning to fall very gradually, it still leaves a large
<br />number of youth offenders that require direct services for stabilization. OCAPICA's experience
<br />working with youth offenders has provided valuable insight as to their needs, which often fall
<br />into a recognizable pattern, including a need for financial stability (to pay back restitution fees
<br />among basic necessities), hard and soft skills development, mentorship and guidance
<br />counseling, and resource linkage. Youth offenders usually require supportive services to buy
<br />work -appropriate clothing, and sometimes aid with buying food and other basic necessities.
<br />For Youth with Disabilities, it was found that, according to the 2010 US Census, there were
<br />16,887 youth (persons aged <18 years) with a disability, either mental or physical. This number,
<br />given the current trend of population growth in Orange County (CEDS Report 2013), has likely
<br />grown. OCAPICA's experience working with participants with disabilities has provided valuable
<br />insight as to their needs, which often fall into a recognizable pattern. Participants with
<br />learning/mental disabilities generally require insurance navigation, intensive case management,
<br />mentorship and guidance, counseling and mental health and wellness services, and community
<br />involvement. Participant with physical disabilities most often require transportation and access
<br />aid, mentorship and guidance, and referrals to services such as Dayle McIntosh, the Braille
<br />Institute, and the Department of Rehabilitation, depending on the participant's barrier.
<br />For foster youth, it was estimated that there were 2,859 youth in foster care in Orange County,
<br />according to the SSA's Children's services division. Of that number, 41.1% were placed in foster
<br />care due to general neglect, and 46.24% were placed in care due to physical, sexual, emotional,
<br />EXHIBIT A
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