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• Average age of those enrolled is 20.0 years <br />• 81% have not completed high school at the time of entry <br />• 65% are or have been court -involved, including on probation/parole <br />• 26% are parents <br />• 13% are or have been in foster care <br />• 30% are or have been gang -affiliated <br />• 41% had incarcerated parents during childhood years <br />• 76% of our students tested at two years below ninth grade literacy fluency <br />• 74% of our students tested three years below ninth grade level <br />• 100% qualify for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program <br />F. Specify how your agency will address the barriers that youth encounter. <br />Corpsmembers may remain at the OCCC for up to two years to earn... learn... and <br />serve. This gives Corpsmembers the time necessary to develop the skills to enter <br />the workforce and become self-sufficient. The OCCC program provides an <br />opportunity for Corpsmembers to earn a living through paid work experience, <br />learn job skills and further their education, while they serve their community by <br />completing work projects. <br />These disenfranchised youth need to work—often they need to work to make a <br />living for themselves and in many cases, their families. Too many programs serving <br />youth don't offer a paid work experience component—this negates the acquisition <br />of basic skills for many youth because they don't see the relevancy of instruction. <br />The youth need training that will lead to a career, and they need education that is <br />relevant to their jobs and makes sense to them. The OCCC can help them <br />understand how earning a high school diploma and passing the high school exit <br />exam will benefit their employability and help them achieve their goals. <br />Youth will be enrolled in the OCCC program for academic and vocational <br />assessment and orientation to the OCCC. The timeline of services, as per the <br />attached customer flow chart, will consist of up to 12 month direct services. This <br />entails enrollment, assessments, and service provision with target outcomes for <br />each participant. Each participant will also be eligible for 12 months post exit <br />follow up services. The OCCC's Program Specialist, in conjunction with the WIA <br />participant, will develop the youth's Individual Service Plan (ISP) inclusive of <br />assessment results, work readiness evaluation, and counseling and guidance for <br />personal needs. <br />The needs of these disconnected youth are immense, whether they are <br />pregnant/parenting, children of incarcerated parents, homeless, high school <br />dropouts, offenders, foster/emancipated, or have a poor work history. They are <br />facing financial hardships, drug addiction, lack of self-esteem; lack of basic skills, <br />no employment, no skills, etc. With such a myriad of needs, a coordinated, <br />articulated program, rich with varied approaches and learning opportunities needs <br />to be provided. We will address the following needs: "soft" and "hard" <br />occupational skills training; completion of high school credits to earn a high school <br />diploma; improve basic skills; pass the California High School Exit Exam; develop <br />leadership skills; develop a sense of community service. They will leave the OCCC <br />EXHIBIT A <br />