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Host Your Own Regional Forums

The Youth Council Institute (YCi) sponsored a series of Regional YCi Forums across the state during the months of June - August. Participants requested that we make available the materials so individual Youth Councils and communities could host their own independent Forums.

The purpose of the Forum is to discuss state and federal direction and legislation affecting workforce programs for youth with youth service leaders and providers within local communities. Participants discuss their needs and strategies towards continuing to build comprehensive youth-serving systems in the current changing environment. Communities can also discuss strategies for partnering across systems with a focus on the “neediest youth.” Among the topics addressed in the Forum are:

DOL’s New Strategic Vision for Youth
WIA Reauthorization
California’s Strategic Two-year Plan

Coordination and supportive materials are available online for those communities interested in hosting your own Forums.

Volume 14 YCi Reporter Summer 2005 issue is now available. Click here to download the latest issue and see YCi Reporter archives.

The YCi Guidebook is now available. click here!
The YCi Guidebook brings together the tools, materials, strategies, approaches and lessons learned by Youth Councils across the state through the first two and a half years of YCi. YCi has prepared this Guidebook to assist and guide Youth Councils across California as they pursue the development of comprehensive, local systems that serve all youth.

The Youth Council Institute (YCi) was established July 2001 by the California Workforce Investment Board (CalWIB) to assist California's 50 Youth Councils in creating comprehensive, local youth-serving systems. YCi is supported by the CalWIB and managed by New Ways to Work and its partner the California Workforce Association (CWA).

THE YCI APPROACH:

Utilizes practitioners and national partners to inform its work;
Provides technical assistance and support to California’s 50 Youth Councils;
Develops and disseminates system-building tools for use by Youth Councils;
Identifies, disseminates and posts effective practices of Youth Councils;
Conducts regular trainings and content conference calls; and
Works with/for the CalWIB and State Youth Council.

YCI ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IMPACTS:

Received the "Architect of Change, Innovation in Customer Service" Award from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies and U.S. Department of Labor.
Developed YCi framework and tools by working with strategic partners and local Youth Council staff and members in regional workshops. The framework includes:
- Elements of a Comprehensive Local Youth-Serving System;
- Functions of a Youth Council in Building the System; and
- Stages of Developing the System.
Hosted YCi meetings, workshops and orientations to YCi and framework, making connections with over 90% of California's Youth Councils.
Convened Youth Practitioner's Network regularly across the state.
Held system-building planning Institutes, engaged teams of council members and staff from Youth Councils to adopt "All Youth-One System."
Launched YCi web site (www.newwaystowork.org/yci).
Researched effective practices, resulting in dissemination of 29 YCideas and two YCinfo Search Reports (1.Youth & One-Stops; 2. Serving Foster Youth).
The State Youth Council formally adopted and supports the YCi framework.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT YCI:

63% of respondents to a statewide survey reported that their Youth Council has formally adopted "All Youth-One System" as their approach.
75% of those responding to the YCi survey reported that the way they think about the role of a Youth Council has changed as a result in their involvement in YCi.
78% said that the work of their Youth Council has changed as a result of the training available through YCi.
87% said that their Youth Councils have used YCi tools and 97% said that the YCi tools helped move the work with the Youth Council forward.
66% said that youth have been increasingly engaged and involved in the direction and decisions of the Youth Council as a result of involvement in YCi.
97% report that YCi is a worthwhile initiative.

YCI HAS IMPACTED LOCAL YOUTH COUNCILS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

"The Comprehensive Youth System model has allowed me to see new possibilities for the Youth Council beyond WIA Youth Program oversight."

" The tools used to strategize and prioritize our needs have assisted us a great deal in developing a Comprehensive Youth Delivery system in our area."

" I have a better understanding of what an effective youth council looks like, and how it can help a community."

" I have a broader concept of youth services and needs. I am now looking at it from a systems point of view vs. compartmental."

" YCi supports my philosophy that youth councils can be for ALL youth NOT just WIA, and provides the tools to move in that direction."

" YCi refocused our vision and inspired me to progress forward with the Youth Council."

" The All Youth - One System model really resonates. Now, more than ever, we understand and embrace the need to address 'all' youth."

" We are devoting as much of our meetings to non-WIA Youth issues as to our WIA oversight role."

" We have created a new strategic plan, and restructured our goals and have become more focused on the overall big picture for the youth in our county."

" We have just merged our local Youth Council and School-to-Career Boards. The resulting improvement is through more effectively coordinated and leveraged resources."

To join the YCi list serve contact: yci@nww.org.

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