sample strategic plan job training...

Sample Strategic Plan –Job Training Program

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OVERVIEW OF THE XYZ PROGRAM

• is a job-readiness, placement and retention program that

helps impoverished adults find and keep jobs.

• works with clients who have multiple barriers to employment.

• takes a holistic approach, addressing the underlying causes of

each client‟s unemployment.

• has almost two decades of experience and has tracked

outcomes for more than a decade.

• has success rates that are among the best in the nation:

approximately 85% of XYZ graduates find jobs.

XYZ:

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MISSION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Mission

To empower individuals living in poverty to achieve economic self-sufficiency and to

inform practices and policy by sharing our research and solutions

Guiding Principles

• Everyone is treated with dignity, respect and compassion.

• Everyone has a right to universal access to the workforce and upward mobility.

• Everyone is held accountable for his/her actions and behaviors.

• XYZ values education and a strong work ethic.

• Openness and good communication are critical to XYZ‟s success.

• XYZ works with the entire individual: mind, body and spirit – to help each person to

rebuild his/her life.

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KEY PROGRAM COMPONENTS

AND CLIENT DEMOGRAPHICS

76% of XYZ‟s clients are African American

16% are Latino

8% percent are White/Asian

81% are female

43% of all clients have childcare needs

80% have mental health issues

57% lack a high school degree or GED

35% are former offenders

71% have a history of substance abuse

Program Components Client Demographics

16-week job-readiness program: Monday-

Friday from 9am-5pm

Self-assessment activities

Life skills classes

GED tutoring

Computer classes

Benefits assistance

Mentorships

Professional clothing

Individual and group counseling

Case management

Work internships mutually selected to meet

students‟ interests

Job placement services

Job retention services

Lifetime of follow-up services

Breakfast, lunch and food pantry

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The XYZ Program

OUTSIDE REFERRALS

ORIENTATION

OUTREACH

RECRUITMENT

ASSESSMENT CLASSROOM TRAINING

INTERNSHIPS

COUNSELING AND

CASE MANAGEMENT

FOLLOW-UP

SERVICES

JOB CLUB

EXTENDED

INTERNSHIPS

JOB

PLACEMENT

JOB

RETENTION

PERMANENT

HOUSING

COMPUTER AND LITERACY CENTER

RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION

GREATER IMPACT PROJECT

ONE-ON ONE

CONTACTS

JOB PLACEMENT

REFERRALS

MENTORSHIPS

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KEY FINDINGS FROM MARKET RESEARCH

1. XYZ‟s 16-week job readiness

program is effective, exceeds clients‟

expectations, and is a model for

others.

2. Emphasis should now be placed on

intensifying the services offered after

the 16-week program (focus on self-

sufficiency and job-retention).

3. XYZ provides an essential voice in

the field and should communicate its

findings on best practices to

practitioners, policy makers and the

media.

4. XYZ should ensure its financial

stability by increasing its government

funding, endowment and individual

donations.

Over 45 interviews were conducted … …with four key findings

• Current students and graduates

• Staff and board members

• Government officials

• Current and potential funders

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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR THE XYZ PROGRAM

1. Complete Planned Program Expansion

2. Move Graduates Towards Economic

Self-Sufficiency

3. Inform and Improve Practices in the Field

4. Secure XYZ’s Financial Stability

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FIVE YEAR VISION FOR THE XYZ PROGRAMOverall vision

Specifics

• XYZ will complete its program expansion, serving 450 clients overall and enrolling 180 students in

its job readiness program each year.

• XYZ will be among New York City‟s most effective job-readiness, placement, and retention

programs working with individuals with multiple barriers to employment, as evidenced by success

rates above the city and national norms.

• XYZ will be recognized nationally by practitioners and policy makers as a highly effective model for

moving individuals from poverty to economic self-sufficiency.

• XYZ will be financially stable with a diversified funding base and an endowment of $1,000,000.

1. XYZ will complete its planned program expansion.

• Serve 50% more people than served in FY‟00.

• Cap enrollment in the job readiness program at 180 and overall clients served at 450 to preserve

the “family-like” community and high staff-to-student ratio.

• Lease and renovate additional space.

• Hire an additional job-readiness teacher and job developer.

2. XYZ will move graduates towards economic self-sufficiency.

• Create and monitor a long-term career plan for each graduate of the job-readiness program.

• Provide additional career counseling and other services to clients beyond the sixteen-week job-

readiness program.

• Increase XYZ‟s relationships with employers, including the development of a business advisory

committee.

• Offer additional evening and/or weekend GED and computer training, or develop cooperative

agreements with organizations that provide these services.

• Add pre-vocational training services to XYZ‟s curriculum to better help clients train for jobs in

specific fields.

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FIVE YEAR VISION: FOR THE XYZ PROGRAM

(CONTINUED)Specifics

3. XYZ will inform and improve practices in the field.

• XYZ will be recognized nationally by practitioners, policy makers and the media as a model

program for moving individuals from poverty to self-sufficiency.

• Policy makers will use the XYZ model when developing new strategies for combating poverty and

unemployment.

• The media will look to XYZ for information on anti-poverty and employment strategies.

• XYZ‟s research will be valued and used by practitioners looking for best practices and by policy

makers for legislative initiatives.

• XYZ will train practitioners who want to replicate our methods.

4. XYZ will be financially secure.

• The percent of government funding will be at least 35%.

• XYZ‟s Board of Directors will have established an effective fund raising committee that will double

the contributions from individual donors.

• XYZ will have an endowment of at least $1,000,000.

• XYZ will be able to track the cost of each service.

Yearly Action Plans

A Step by Step Process for Achieving XYZ‟s Four Goals

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1. COMPLETE PLANNED PROGRAM EXPANSION

FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06

Enroll 25% more clientsthan in FY 01.

Secure and renovateadditional space.

Hire and train a thirdteacher.

Expand Computer Center.

Raise necessary funds.

Improve reportingprocedures forgovernment contracts.

Increase individual donorbase to fund expansion.

Completeexpansiongoals byenrolling 170students ayear. (Cap at180 studentsa year) withoverall clientsserved at450.

Maintainenrollment

Maintainenrollment

Maintainenrollment

Complete the final phase of XYZ‟s Expansion Project, increasing overall enrollment by 50% (compared to

FY „00). In FY ‟03 (Year 2 of the Strategic Plan), the expansion will be completed.

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2. Move Graduates Towards Economic Self-Sufficiency

FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 Move to a four-phase

plan that places equal emphasis on course work, work internship, job placement, job retention and advancement.

Utilize the Benefits Coordinator to help employed graduates to obtain their transitional benefits.

Make therapists available to working graduates.

Implement a system in which we develop an individual employment plan for each graduate and monitor the plan through regular contact between client and employment staff.

Track and evaluate the efficacy of key services offered and use the results to reconfigure XYZ‟s network of follow-up services, offering additional services if necessary and canceling or improving those services, if any, that are not effective.

Look into the feasibility of offering GED or computer classes at XYZ in the evenings or on weekends or arranging for these services to be offered by another organization.

Evaluate the need for an additional job developer/follow-up staff person. If necessary, add to staff.

Add pre-vocational service to XYZ‟s curriculum to help graduates better train for jobs in specific areas.

Continue research on efficacy of key services offered by XYZ; institutionalize this effort.

Continue to implement plan for restructuring services (adding, strengthening, canceling services) to ensure the best allocation of resources.

Research and develop an employer project.

Kick-off an “employer project” to better involve businesses in XYZ‟s job development and job-retention programs, including the development of a business advisory board.

Strengthen XYZ‟s job placement, job-retention, and follow-up support services to better enable clients to achieve economic self-sufficiency

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3. INFORM AND IMPROVE PRACTICES IN THE FIELD

FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06

Increase visibility of the Executive Director and XYZ by the ED attending four conferences.

Circulate and publicize research report

Clarify XYZ‟s message(s).

Develop relationships with Council Members, State Legislators on key committees to XYZ by introducing them to and educating them about the effectiveness of XYZ‟s model.

Participate in coalitions that share XYZ‟s beliefs and that have access to policy makers.

Build relationships with two think-tanks or research organizations and encourage them to use XYZ in case studies.

Develop relationships with Brooklyn legislators; maintain relationships with those on key committees.

Develop materials that illustrate and support XYZ‟s message.

Host one conference for practitioners and policy makers.

Raise funds for the staffing plan.

Hire appropriate staff to allow ED to focus on Research and Policy.

ED should present at two conferences.

Continue research on XYZ‟s client demographics, outcomes, and effectiveness of service provision.

Continue to provide educational materials and briefings to legislators in all branches of government on the real-world issues faced by those in the field and the effectiveness of XYZ‟s model.

Begin an in-depth research paper that can be published in a respected journal.

Develop a training institute for practitioners and policy makers.

Conduct market research to determine the demand areas for technical assistance.

Develop training criteria.

Develop a technical assistance income and expense budget.

Create a 12 month schedule for training practitioners in different components of XYZ‟s model and on relevant policy issues.

Publish research paper and present it at conferences and other arenas. Findings will be shared with the press and other interested parties.

Continue to provide current information on XYZ‟s model, outcomes and best practices to legislators making comparisons to other models.

Raise funds to cover training institute budget.

Provide at least 3 training workshops on components of XYZ‟s model/best practices.

Continue in-depth research, write and publish paper.

Present research paper to policy makers and practitioners.

Obtain print , TV and radio coverage for research paper.

Inform practitioners in the field, policy makers, and general public on XYZ‟s successful strategies and innovations and provide information on the

barriers our clients must overcome

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4. SECURE XYZ’s FINANCIAL STABILITY

FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06

Expand XYZ‟s annual campaign by doubling the number of individual donors and raising 50% more from individuals than in the past year.

Make in-roads into securing line-item support in City and State budget.

Increase funding from churches.

Build individual donor base by an additional 25%.

Put in place systems for better tracking costs of services.

Develop and begin to implement a plan to increase XYZ‟s endowment to $1,000,000.

Continue endowment campaign and make a major, public announcement once $500,000 (50% of the goal) is reached.

Reach $1,000,000 endowment goal.

Secure financial health of organization

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1. COMPLETE PLANNED PROGRAM EXPANSION: YEAR ONE

Key Action Responsibility Target Date

Hire and train a third teacher Recruitment Manager 2/02

Secure and renovate additional space

Executive Director 1/02

Intensify client recruitment efforts

Recruitment Manager on-going

Develop a contract reporting system

Development Director 11/01

Increase employment staff Assistant Director 11/01

Increase individual donor base to help fund expansion

Development Director, Board of Directors

11/01 (ongoing)

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2. MOVE GRADUATES TOWARDS ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY: YEAR ONE


Prepare for a four-phase plan that places equal emphasis on course work, work internship, job placement, and job retention

Executive Director, Assistant Director

6/02

Utilize the Benefits Coordinator to help employed graduates to obtain their transitional benefits

Social Service Coordinator

In progress

Pending research results, make therapists available to working graduates

Social Service Coordinator

3/02

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3. INFORM AND IMPROVE PRACTICES: YEAR ONE


Clarify XYZ‟s message(s) ED/Staff/Board of Directors

3/02

Develop staffing plan to allow ED to devote more time to Research and Policy

ED/staff 5/01

Publish and disseminate Research Report on changes in XYZ population after welfare reform

ED 12/01

Play a leading role in coalitions that share XYZ‟s beliefs

ED ongoing

ED attend two conferences ED 5/01

Publicize and circulate Research Report

ED 2/02

Develop relationships with Council Members, State Legislators on key committees to XYZ (e.g., Human Services, Public Safety) by introducing them to and educating them about the effectiveness of XYZ‟s model

ED 1/02 (on-going)

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4. SECURE XYZ’s FINANCIAL STABILITY: YEAR ONE


Expand XYZ‟s annual campaign by doubling the number of individual donors and raise 50% more from individuals in past year

ED/Development Director/Board

1/02

Make in-roads into securing line-item support in City and State Budget

ED/Development Director

2/02

Increase funding from churches Development Director 2/02

Evaluate the feasibility of developing a Business Advisory Board

ED 4/02

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Expand Program

Maintain Integrity of Program

• 170-180 clients enrolled in job-readiness

program, and overall clients served at

450

• Customer satisfaction surveys

• Program completion, job placement and job

retention rates are maintained or improved

Years 1- 5

Area Metrics

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Area Metrics

Job placement and retention Maintain or increase job placement rates (compare toother programs‟ outcomes, changes in the economyand unemployment rates) Maintain or increase job retention rates (compare to

other programs‟ outcomes, changes in the economy

and unemployment rates) Document clients‟ salary increases

Study the relationship between specific services and

their impact on outcomes and conduct a cost-benefit

analysis for key services

2. MOVE GRADUATES TOWARDS ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Years 1- 5

In this area, XYZ must first:

• Evaluate effectiveness of current services

• Set goals for improving clients‟ outcomes

• Determine which employment and follow-up

services need to be added or strengthened and how

this will be carried out

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Metrics

Years 1-3

Increase awareness and create a

positive attitude about XYZ

• Survey legislators/policy makers and practitioners to measure awareness and

attitudes toward XYZ

• Survey again at 18 months to see if awareness has increased

Area

Educate policy makers,

practitioners and the general

public in the issues facing XYZ

clients and in the XYZ model

• Track legislators‟ requests for information from XYZ

• Monitor voting patterns of legislators on key pieces of legislation concerning

welfare policies

• Determine if new bills or funding initiatives include support for XYZ‟s model of

comprehensive service provision

• Count how often the press contacts XYZ for information

Years 2-3

Impact practices in the field and

solutions to complex problems• Increase the effectiveness of organizations working in areas of poverty, job

readiness, and self-sufficiency

• Survey groups that participate in XYZ‟s training sessions to determine the

effectiveness of the workshops and survey 6 months later to track if they have

made any changes in their organization as a result of XYZ

• Monitor any changes in the number of groups that enroll in training sessions and

if groups attend more than one training

• Monitor if new groups were referred by other XYZ customers

Years 4-5

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Years 1-2

Years 2-3

Years 4-5

Area Metrics

Increase donor base by 100% and revenues from individuals by 50% in Year 1 and by an additional 25% in Year 2

Compare number of donations and number of donors to prior year Track the number of donors brought in by Board

Members to determine if there is buy-in to fundraising program

Increase donations by businesses and churches

Compare donation levels of this group of donors to their prior year giving Understand the cost of each service provided by XYZ

Build an endowment of at least $1 million

Measure level of annual giving and giving to the campaign on a monthly basis

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APPENDIX

MARKET RESEARCH

FINDINGS

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Key Findings Relevant Details

• A funder expressed concern that XYZ

might lose its effectiveness if it expanded

beyond its current expansion goal.

• Staff feels that XYZ‟s strength is in its

small size and high staff to student ratio,

and that enrollment should be capped at

the current expansion goal of

180 students per year.

• Researchers said that for XYZ to be a lab

and to experiment with different program

components, it is important that the client

base be large enough for valid sample

sizes, and that the program be small

enough to manipulate and reconfigure

various components of its model.

• Complete the final phase of the program

expansion – increase clients enrolled by

50% over a two year period – by enrolling

27% more clients (for a total of 180) in

FY‟02 than in FY‟00.

• Program staff, and the Recruitment

Coordinator in particular, should recruit and

assess potential clients to meet but not

exceed the 180 client maximum.

• Research team will design studies based on

enrollment and annual sample sizes of

180 clients.

Findings from

market research

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2. TRAIN XYZ GRADUATES FOR SELF- SUFFICIENCY

• Graduates feel that continuing GED and

computer training after completing the job

readiness phase would be helpful in job

retention and in moving up the career

ladder.

• Graduates feel that continuing mental

health services could be beneficial.

• Funders believe that XYZ has done an

excellent job at keeping track of graduates

two years out.

• Funders are interested in follow-up

services as a means to job retention.

• Funders want to see outcome studies for

various components of follow-up services.

• Current staff is overwhelmed with meeting

needs of clients.

• Follow up services that were provided in the

past but were discontinued due to lack of

graduate interest should be identified,

understood and evaluated.

• Follow up services should be analyzed to

determine which components are effective

in job retention and self sufficiency and

which, if any, are not.

• A funding stream for these services must be

identified.

• Proposed structures must be evaluated for

effectiveness in job retention, self-

sufficiency and costs.

• Organizational structure should be more

clear for these services.

Findings from

market research


25



• Recognize that XYZ‟s ability to provide a missing and

essential voice on job-readiness and job-development

practices is dependent on its comprehensive research

and innovative direct service work.

• XYZ must maintain as its central core perfecting its

model and maintaining program outcomes that far

exceed the national norms.

• Institutionalize and document what XYZ has learned

about running a job training model. That done, it should

take a leadership role in disseminating its findings.

• Showcase its findings on best practices by sharing its

research in a structured and easily translatable way.

• Communicate its message to all relevant policy makers.

• Present its findings in legislative hearings at the federal,

state and city levels.

• Speak at conferences.

• Participate in local and state coalitions.

• Clarify the message(s) it wants to convey.

• Develop materials that support its message(s).

• Identify individuals and institutions to approach with its

message.

• Designate one staff member to be responsible for the

broader policy and practices goal.

• Participate in the debate about vocational models for the

hardest to serve clients.

• Use its findings to inform government officials about the

importance of training, counseling, treatment and case

management in the development of welfare to work policies

and legislation.

• Meet with local Congress people and influential politicians

to explain its welfare to work model and develop strategies

for working together.

• Identify individuals and institutions to approach with its

message.

• Recognize that there is strength in numbers: join coalitions

to share best practices and increase its effectiveness in

conveying its message(s) and findings.

Findings from

market research

26

3. INFORM AND IMPROVE PRACTICES IN THE FIELD (CONTINUED)

• Avoid partisan efforts, focus on

dissemination of information.

• Recognize that the government does not

fund advocacy or partisan activities.

• Do not replicate within New York City. If

XYZ replicates in other cities, it should do

so by training the staff at the other site,

and not by providing XYZ employees to

staff the new site.

• Any consideration of another XYZ

replication should take into consideration

lessons learned from XYZ‟s five previous

replication efforts.

• Recognize that replication is very

expensive, time-consuming and difficult.

Findings from

market research


27


• Demonstrate that XYZ can win and work

with large government contracts.

• Understand the costs of each service that

it provides.

• Recognize that there is a large number of

potential individual donors to XYZ and that

the staff/board must learn to better tap

into these sources.

• Some government officials reported that

less government funding will be available

at the federal level and more at the state

and city levels.

• There will be increased competition for

private dollars due to the implementation of

performance-based government contracts,

which force non-profits that previously relied

exclusively on government funding to apply

for private funding to cover their non

reimbursable expenses.

• XYZ must rise to the challenge of increasing

demand for private funding by developing

effective, compelling materials to convey the

essence of its program and outcomes.

• The trend is for government to fund

programs that are community-based and

focused on specific populations.

Findings from

market research


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