To:
Youth Council
From: Brenda
Marzucco
Director
of Youth Operations
Re: Quarterly Report
Date:
February 2, 2004
Youth Leadership Development and Employability Program:
Thanks to all who commented on the new service strategy for the
program. I will be reporting to the
Board in the near future. The new
program will be called the Youth Employability Program .
We will be hiring a consultant on a one time basis to develop
employability and work maturity curriculum using our software.
Council Status: As you may recall, there was much
discussion in September 2002 as to the role of the Youth Council. When
originally proposed within WIA, there was considerable concern among Board
members, local school systems, and local elected officials that we not create a
new committee. It was felt that there was much redundancy within the
region. One local elected commission felt that all youth issues in their
county should go thru the commission appointed local management board.
The Board felt this the most appropriate course of action and all five
localities agreed. The Youth Council was established for the purpose
of allowing maximum community input in determining direction of training options
for WIA youth. In 2002, due to regional logistics there was much
discussion about telecommunicating rather than physical meetings due to time
constraints and scheduling issues. It was the consensus that the most
efficient means of operating would be quarterly reports and conference calls
when needed. The Council felt that maximum input was allowed for as
each member was given the opportunity to serve as a reader for all
requests for proposals and to make recommendations to the Board. When the
Board requested proposals for the resource mapping project, it was hoped that
the vendor would identify an appropriate direction for the Council and perhaps
suggest a new role. The consensus among the Council last October was that
we continue to operate as usual unless the Board requested a new direction or
means of receiving advisement on youth issues. I will be taking the
recommendation to the Board. Thanks to those that commented on this
issue.
Out of School
Youth Services: Available funding for services has been cut drastically.
It appears there will only be approximately $50,000.
Kent Family Support Center has successfully completed the program with
only three trainees still in training.
All
others have completed service. Pathways
to the Future is still serving a
fair number of trainees. The option
we have for this next fiscal year is to renegotiate with Pathways a grant for
the available amount for the purpose of assisting youth in training with
completion. The limited funding
does not merit going out for bid for a regional program.
Please contact me by March 15 with any comments on this recommendation.