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Pathways to Success by 21A Collaboration of State and Regional Partners Supporting Youth

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P21 Process (Not a Program!)

Two Prong Approach State Level Steering Committee Tri-Chaired by DWD, DOE, HHS (Youth

Voice) Regional Teams (Youth Voice)

Regional Planning Grants Analysis of Regional Action Plans Creation of Statewide Strategic Action Plan Prioritize Action Steps with Leadership 400+ regional/state partners participated: still

growing!

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What did we hear?Youth

Connections to Adults Holistic Approach - Family and Community Support Systems New Learning Environments – Small, Flexible, “Youth Friendly” Practice Opportunities – Employability and Life Skills Drop Agency Perspective – Partnership, Coordination,

Innovation

Regional Strategic Action Plans “Caring Adults” for at-risk youth (15) Access to key information (15) Focus on drop-out prevention & recovery strategies and

resources - (14) Partnership and coordination (14) Availability of skills/training opportunities for youth (12)

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What are we doing?

Nine Statewide Strategies Identified Action Matrix

Five Prioritized by LeadershipRegional Implementation Pilots

Model coordinated service design, delivery with youth partners in 16 regions

Other agencies considering joint funding models

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Pathways to Success by 21 Statewide Strategic Priorities

Strategy #1Public Awareness

Strategy #3Early

Intervention

Strategy #4Outreach &

Support

Strategy #2Early

Identification

Strategy #8PersistentBarriers

Strategy #9Share Data

Strategy #5Increase Alt. Ed.

& Training

Strategy #6Work-Readiness

Assessment

Strategy #7Unified

StaffDevelopment

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Deliverables

Short-Term: Resource Map

Long-TermYouth Web Portal“Phone Book” for non-internet accessMessaging Campaign (Youth & Families)

Strategy 1: Public Awareness

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Strategies 2 & 3:Early Identification & Intervention

Recognized list of risk indicators and guidelines

Inventory of assessment tools, alignment across agencies

Use of MDOE data to identify high-risk students, graduation/drop out data released Spring 2007

Schools get “credit” for alternative degrees earned (incentive for referrals) - done

Statewide Drop-Out Prevention Conference (successful models)

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Strategy 4: Outreach & Support

Gap analysis of state/federal resources supporting case management

Eligibility analysis across funding streams – reduced barriers to enrollment

Align service connections, case management and referrals for transitioning youth

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Strategy 5: Expand Alternative Pathways for Youth

Resource Map to describe gaps in funding

Build state support for increased funding

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New work readiness assessment tool to improve youth employment outcomesBased on streamlined Work-

Based Learning Plan Expand use of standard tool

beyond MDOE and DWD

Strategy 6: Work Readiness Assessment for Youth

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Cross-agency trainings101 forumCORI, Case Management, etc

Integration of multi-agency focus in professional development

Statewide Calendar of PDLong-term: Core competencies for

youth workers

Strategy 7: Unified Staff Development Strategy

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Strategy 8: Address Persistent Barriers

Work with Lt. Governor’s Council on Homelessness and Housing

Connect with DMH initiative on supports for transitioning youth

CORI trainings across youth workers to address (jointly sponsored)

Long-term: Transportation Issues

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Process Measures for statewide P21Identification of statewide youth

indicators across agencies - discrete projects

Build off of K-16 data warehouse On-line source of informationAdd matching from other agencies

Strategy 9: Share Data

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Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Children Youth & Families ClusterDepartment of Social ServicesDepartment of Transitional AssistanceDepartment of Youth ServicesOffice of Refugees and Immigrants

EOHHS Connection to P21

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CYF Mission

As a Cluster within EOHHS, CYF has as

its goal the continuing improvement of

coordination and collaboration between

its member agencies through the use of

Agency Head Meetings and Interagency

Meetings and shared goals.

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1.Integrating Interagency Systems of care to insure that state dollars are used effectively and efficiently

2. Support Transition Aged Youth/Housing and other Supportive Services

3. Supportive Services to increase Self Sufficiency/Welfare Reform

4. Agency Staff Development

CYF Priorities

Emotional &physical well being

Personal safety

Skilldevelopment

Civic/communityengagement

Adult/peer/family

relationships

FAMILY

Familyconnection to other families, social well-being

Access to formal/informalhealth and mental health resources

Safe family environment

Family member

education & employmentFamily involvement

in civic activities

COMMUNITY

Availability of formal/informal health and mental health supports

Availability of safe places

in the neighborhood

and community

Opportunity for engagement:religion; clubs;

community service opportunities; cultural events, voting etc....

Neighborhood,inter-neighborhood,regionalcohesion.

Schools; jobs;workforce

training

EOHHS Office of Children, Youth and Families: Moving to Self Sufficiency.Developmental Framework

CHILD/YOUTH

Transportation

CYF provides services that:•are strength based •promote self sufficiency & independence•are child focused, family driven and community based

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Department of Transitional Assistance

$12,336

$18,958

$ 10,000

$ 11,000

$ 12,000

$ 13,000

$ 14,000

$ 15,000

$ 16,000

$ 17,000

$ 18,000

$ 19,000

$ 20,000

TAFDC and Food Stamps: 74% FPL

2006 Federal Poverty Level $16,600

Without E ar nings

TAFDC, Food Stamps, 20 hours work at min.wage,

EITC: 114% FPL

With E ar nings

Background: Family Resources—Welfare Vs. Work Relative to the Federal Poverty Level

(Family of Three)

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DYS Mission

The mission of the Department of Youth Services is to:

Protect the public and prevent crime by promoting positive change in the lives of youth committed to our custody, and by partnering with communities, families, and government and provider agencies toward this end. We accomplish this mission through interventions that build knowledge, develop skills and change the behavior of the youth in our care.

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DYS Youth: Cross-Agency Needs

DYS Need Cross-Agency Supports Typically between the ages 14-17; 87% male 80 % report witnessing violence and met criteria for PTSD 79 % self-reported substance abuse 75 % of girls report DSS involvement 55 % of boys report DSS involvement 40 % were receiving DTA assistance 40% received special education services 45% previous out-of-home placement by another agency 87% from non-traditional homes 40% families on public assistance 75% with prior probation 35% self report weekly alcohol use 50% self report weekly marijuana use

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DYS Partnerships

Need for Partnerships: Shared populations dictates need for shared service strategies

Pathways to Success by 21 State & Regional Teams

Children, Youth and Families Cluster Meetings

Vocational School Programming for DYS Youth

Alternative Education & GED Programming

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Reducing DYS Youth Employment Barriers Through P-21 Strategies

Outreach & Support Community Network of Caring Adults – align cross-agency networks (P21

strategy 4) Increase Alternative Education & Training Work Readiness

DYS provides Educational, Medical, Mental Health and Substance Abuse services at it 63 24/7 sites

Improved access to work readiness and employment programs for DYS youth -- work with DOE/P21 team on core “employability competencies” to integrate with DYS educational & vocational programming (P21 Strategy 6)

Staff Development Increase cross –training opportunities to promote consistency among youth

worker staff (P21 Strategy 7) Employment Barriers

Working within the CORI system to maximize each DYS youths’ employment options – working with state partners on joint CORI trainings! (P21 Strategies 7 & 8)

Assist transitioning youth with Medical & Behavioral Healthcare opportunities Promoting success stories among workforce partners

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Jennifer James Deputy Director of Workforce Development, Dep’t. of Workforce

Development 617.626.7124 jennifer.james@state.ma.us

Kathy Betts Deputy Assistant Secretary, Children Youth and Families, EOHHS 617.348.8492 Kathleen.Betts@state.ma.us

Robert M. Turillo Assistant Commissioner for Program Services, Dep’t. of Youth Services 617.960.3306 Robert.M.Turillo@state.ma.us