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OCAPICA - YSPN
<br />FY 2014-15
<br />or sibling -perpetrated abuse, As said on KidsData.org, many youth in foster care do not have
<br />adequate support to find either a stable home, or the proper resources so as to find
<br />employment and successfully continue their education, often with some connection to the
<br />trauma experienced prior and during entry into the foster care system. OCAPICA's experience
<br />working with participants in foster care has provided valuable Insight as to their needs, which
<br />often fall into a recognizable pattern including a need for financial stability, hard and soft skills
<br />development, mentorship and guidance counseling, and resource linkage, along with education
<br />on benefits and housing that they may be eligible for being a part of the Foster Care system.
<br />IV. EMPLOYMENT
<br />A. Program Staff will assist participants in attaining employment through a variety of
<br />means. Participants will receive support and assistance for searching, applying, and retaining
<br />employment; this may include one-on-one appointments, workshops, job fairs, training, etc.
<br />Participants may also be able to take part in Work Experience, where they will be placed at
<br />work sites that the program has established with community organizations and businesses.
<br />Through this Work Experience component, participants will be able to explore the specific
<br />position and industry along with putting their foot in the door to show the employer if they are
<br />a good match for the work site. If work site staff see fit, they may offer the participants
<br />unsubsidized employment.
<br />B. OCAPICA will provide career exploration, training, and work experience opportunities in
<br />high demand industries, including Health Care, Green Technologies, and STEAM (Science,
<br />Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Careers. For Health Care, OCAPICA has
<br />developed a Health Careers Pipeline Program (funded by The California Endowment) to
<br />increase the number of allied health and social work professions (such as home health aides,
<br />medical assistants, licensed vocational nurses, therapists, and others) from underrepresented
<br />communities. For Green Technologies and STEAM Careers, OCAPICA has been funded by
<br />Southern California Edison to create a Pipeline program for career exploration and
<br />internshiPAob placement. OCAPICA will partner with Vital Link of Orange County to provide
<br />hands-on exposure and career exploration, as well as Community Action Partnership (CAPOC)
<br />for potential placements in their weatherization program. In addition, OCAPICA continues to
<br />work with groups like The Energy Coalition and The Gas Company to strategize for additional
<br />career training and placement opportunities. Job Placements and Career Explorations will
<br />expose youth to different, emergent career fields and the work environments/team
<br />environments that are commonly found in such fields. Youth, through this exposure, will grow
<br />to learn what skills, abilities, and character attributes that are necessary for success, and will
<br />know what kind of candidate these job fields look for. Through Job Placement and Career
<br />Exploration, youth will also be able to grow their personal networks and find out about
<br />opportunities such as internships, temporary positions, certification programs, and regular
<br />employment, where available.
<br />C. OCAPICA currently works with the following employers to place youth in WEX positions
<br />and permanent employment: Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center, Bassani
<br />Manufacturing, Boys and Girls Clubs of Stanton, Garden Grove, Cypress and Westminster, City
<br />EXHIBIT A
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