Post on 07-Aug-2020
© 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 1
Bridging the Opportunity Gap Initiative A Career Development Training Program for youth
BOG FY20 Request for Proposals Bidders WebinarMarch 5, 2019 2pm-4pm
An initiative to support the positive development of youththrough community engagement by providing career awareness, career exploration, career
preparation and career retention employment activities.
© 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 2
Welcome and Introductions
Danielle Brazeau: Sr. Program Manger, Commonwealth
Corporation dbrazeau@commcorp.org 413.584.3627 ext. 6803
Kyle Whelan: Program Coordinator, Commonwealth
Corporation kwhelan@commcorp.org 413-584-3627 ext. 6806
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Housekeeping
• Please remember to put your phones on mute
by pressing *6
• Conference call number (for audio portion
of the webinar): 1-888-265-4641
Conference Code: 2846443383
• Location of documents (www.commcorp.org)
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Lets get started…
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Objectives
• To provide an overview of the purpose of the Bridging the Opportunity Gap initiative and the program elements;
• To inform potential grantees of the funding levels and competitiveness of the funding process;
• To review both the program design, and proposal requirements;
• To clarify the relationship between DYS Directors of Community Services and the grantee;
• To answer questions that potential grantees have about Bridging the Opportunity Gap.
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Purpose and Overview
• Target group: youth committed to DYS in the re-entry phase.
• Structured opportunities that help youth gain employability skills and develop pro-social behaviors, personal and social awareness, leadership, advocacy and life skills through high-quality programming
• Focus on innovative techniques from youth serving agencies that deliver a positive youth development approach.
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• All funding is on a cost reimbursement basis from: – Year Round: 7/1/2019 – 6/30/2020
• Funding levels
– 10-15 grants (typical awards range $25,000 – $90,000,
depending on number of youth served)
• Competitive Procurement
Funding levels and Competiveness
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Eligible Youth
Youth: Grant funds must be used exclusively to support youth involved
with the Department of Youth Services as committed youth, committed
Youthful Offenders or youth accepting voluntary services from DYS as YES
(Youth Engaged in Services). Approximate age range is 14- 22 years old.
Pre-Work Documentation: Program staff must collect all relevant
documentation (i.e., birth certificate, SSN, etc.) for prospective program
participants and complete I-9 form in compliance with the Department of
Homeland Security I-9 mandate, and obtain work permits for youth ages
14-17. The work permit applications can be found on the www.mass.gov
website. All supporting documentation must be completed on or before the
orientation day or before youth attend career readiness training. More
information on the I-9 form, and other program tools, can be found in the
Bridging the Opportunity Gap Grantee Handbook available at
www.commcorp.org.
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Overview of Submission ProcessRequest for Proposals Released
February 27, 2019
Webinar Session for GranteesMarch 5, 2019
Submit application to DYS for review and signaturesMarch 22, 2019
Responses (Applications) DueApril 3, 2019
Applicants Notified of Grant AwardJune 14, 2019
Anticipated Contract Start DateJuly 1, 2019
Contract End DateJune 30, 2020
Questions about the DYS Bridging the Opportunity Gap Request for
Proposals will be accepted via email through March 8th, 2018 by noon, and
responded to within 3 days. Q & A will also be posted at
www.commcorp.org.
Questions should be directed to: Danielle Brazeau, Sr. Program Manager
at dbrazeau@commcorp.org.
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How to Approach This Work
Working in conjunction with DYS community staff, CommCorp seeks grantees that are motivated, enthusiastic about working with at-risk youth; also seek culturally relevant/responsive staff as many of our youth are youth of color.
We seek to work with organizations that use a Positive Youth Development Model that is asset-based, and supports the development of the following factors for young people:
A stable sense of identity
Belief in their own abilities
Positive and supportive relationships with adults
Sense of control over future outcomes
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BOG Program Elements
Career Readiness Training
Field Experiences
Soft Skill Development
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Bridging the Opportunity Gap Tiered Approach
Career readiness training – writing a resume, cover letter
and thank you letter.
Job shadow experiences
Mini-subsidized employment opportunities in different
settings
Community engagement days
Volunteer days
Tier Two:
Career Exploration
Career interest inventories
Personality assessments
Bridging the Opportunity Gap orientation
Guest speakers
Workplace tours
Field trips to colleges, training programs, etc.
Career fairs
Researching jobs in the area
Learning about employment resources in the community
Career center visits
Career presentations
Tier One:
Career Awareness
Career readiness training
In-depth goal planning
Longer-term subsidized employment based on career
interest
Internships/apprenticeships
Certification training
Tier Three:
Immersion for Career Preparation
Unsubsidized employment
Up to 6 months of post-employment support: check-ins with
youth and employers
Leadership activities to support other youth in program
Tier Four:Immersion through Retention
Start Here
End Goal!
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BOG Work Readiness Skills
• Perseverance • Communication
• Optimism • Confidence
• Self-Control • Discipline
• Tolerance • Critical Thinking
• Collaboration
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Tier 1
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During tier 2 each youth must have a portfolio (in hard copy and
electronic format) that includes:
A resume;
One cover letter;
One sample thank you note;
Two reference letters (preferably from employers and
program staff);
A completed job application;
And a sample employment e-mail inquiry.
OPTIONAL: Copies of certifications and/or training certificates
youth obtain as a result of programming
Youth Career Portfolio
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Field Exploration Opportunities
• Job Shadows
• Volunteer Days
• Community Engagement Days
• Career Fairs
• Mini-Subsidized Employment (< 60 hours)
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Job Shadow
• Job shadowing is a work experience option where participants learn about a job by walking through the work day as a shadow to a competent worker
• The job shadowing work experience is ideally in an occupational area of interest to the participant
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Volunteer Days
• BOG grantees should encourage their youth participants to volunteer their time and effort –to gain the personal and developmental benefits that come from a quality volunteer experience. Working a shift in a soup kitchen, or a hospital, or an animal shelter can help build transferable skills that have a positive impact on a youth’s employment readiness.
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Community Engagement Days
• Another form of volunteer experience that has developmental value for youth participants are activities that fall into the category of civic or community engagement. Examples might include such activities as a recycle campaign or bottle drive, an effort to clean up trash from a public park, or organizing a ‘midnight basketball league’, etc.
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Past Program Certifications
2
2
4
10
17
27
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Drivers Education
ServSafe
Automotive Technician
Customer Service
CPR, First Aid
OSHA
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Soft-Skill Benchmarks
Tier 1: Benchmarks
75% attendance
75% punctuality
75% engagement
75% professionalism
Tier 2: Benchmarks
85% attendance
85% punctuality
85% engagement
85% professionalism
Tier 3: Benchmarks
90% attendance
90% punctuality
90% engagement
90% professionalism
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Please note that proposals will be stamped with time and date of
receipt
Late proposals will not be considered
All proposals must consist of 3 Parts
Part 1: Project Narrative
Part 2: Signature Page
Part 3: Budget and Budget Narrative
Proposal Requirements
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Lead Applicant
Program Operations and Administration
Staffing and Facilities
Program Design
Coordination with DYS
Recruitment and Retention Strategy
Bridging the Opportunity Gap
Project Narrative
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All proposals must utilize the attached
forms, and provide detailed information
about each line item in the budget narrative.
Please see the RFP for a complete list of
both allowable and non-allowable expenses.
Budget and Budget Narratives
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FY20 RFP Process
February 27 Request for Proposals Released (CommCorp website)
March 5 Webinar Session for Grantees
March 22 Submit draft to DYS for review and signatures
April 3 Responses (applications) due to CommCorp
Submit proposals online athttps://commcorp.tfaforms.net/328757
June 14 Applicants Notified of Grant Award
July 1 Anticipated Contract Start Date
6/30/2020 Contract End Date
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FY20 RFP Submission
What to submit?• Narrative• Budget• Signature Sheet
Where to submit?• Use the CommCorp Bridging the Opportunity Gap
grantee portal –https://commcorp.tfaforms.net/328757
Be aware of electronic grant processing for FY20• Grant execution (signature) via e-mail• Grantee portal to find contract attachments
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Expectations for Grant Administration
– Program staff who will have contact with any DYS youth are required to adhere to all applicable DYS policies and procedures including, for example, those regarding safety and security, codes of conduct, dress codes, confidentiality, reporting of incidents, and photographs of DYS youth. The full range of current DYS policies is accessible on-line at http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/laws-regs/dys/policies/chapter-01-department-policies.htm and should be reviewed by grantee so that its staff will be in full compliance with all guidelines and requirements;
•– Funded organization’s should review organization commercial
insurance policy to ensure that youth participants are covered for any loss or harm that may happen as a result of Bridging the Oopportunity Gap related program activities;
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Expectations for Grant Administration
– regular monthly submission of cash requests during the program;
– regular submission of total enrollment numbers, goals and services on a weekly basis in the BOG database;
– timely contract closeout at the end of the season–submission of final invoices;
– accurate reporting of employer match – full contact information to be reported in database for all employment sites;
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Selection Process
Review and assessment will be based on the following:
Proposals that are submitted before the deadline, fully complete
and contain all required attachments (threshold criteria)
Applications that reflect a creative, collaborative, and community-
centered approach to meeting the career readiness, vocational
and employability needs of eligible youth and reflect strong
collaboration and engagement by DYS regional and district office
staff
The quality and extent to which the project plan states goals and
objectives that are measurable and attainable; the quality and
clarity of the proposed project design
The degree to which the applicant organizations can demonstrate
a successful track record working with youth and in particular
youth in DYS custody
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Selection Process (cont.)
The number of youth who will be directly served through grant activities and who will gain specific job related certifications or competencies as a result of program activities
The degree of support services that will assure the success of participating youth to complete all program activities and be prepared for employment or continued vocational training experiences
A final selection of proposals that provide a geographic balance in DYS regions across the Commonwealth as well as addressing the population areas that host the largest number of DYS clients
For previous BOG grantees the review will also consider the degree to which the applicant successfully met all of the previous requirements under this grant, including retention of youth in programs, successful program outcomes, compliance with fiscal, program, and reporting requirements
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What does success look like for BOG Youth?
Program Inputs:
What do youth achieve during BOG?
• Career Readiness Curriculum
• Pre-employment Activities
• Vocational Training
• Entrepreneurship Training
• Arts Training
• Mentorship
• Subsidized Employment
• Portfolio
• HiSET Services
Short-Term Outcomes:
What do youth take away from BOG?
• Examples:
• Certifications
• Network connecting them to jobs
• Good work habits
• Lower community supervision level
• Ability to set goals and make realistic plans to achieve them
• Make progress in grade level, HiSET, &/or college
Long-Term Outcomes:
What do we hope for youth in the future?
• No adult recidivism
• Attainment of certificates or degrees
• Successful employment
• Personal and family self-sufficiency
• Positive connections to their communities
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How CommCorp ensures success:
We meet youth where they are and build on
their strength
Design programs that meet the regional
workforce demand
Hold youth and the BOG programs to high
standard
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Data Collection
Please note that CommCorp collects data, and monitors
programs from multiple perspectives and sources
including but not limited to:
the web-based database for Bridging the Opportunity
Gap;
surveys, for youth, staff and employers;
fiscal monitoring; and
information gathered at technical assistance meetings,
etc.
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Relationship with DYS & CEP Partners
Successful Bridging the Opportunity Gap programs require consistent contact with DYS and other CEP partners including but not limited to:
Directors of Community Service, District Managers, Caseworkers, Youth Service Coordinators, and Technical Assistance contact person from CommCorp.
Contact with DYS should occur at a minimum on a bi-weekly basis in the form of meetings, conference calls, and sharing of program logs and notes that include information about the name and location of employment and attendance.
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Sample Resources
BOG Grantee Handbook
Empower Your Future BOG Career Readiness
Curriculum Guide
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Next Steps:
Deciding if a BOG Program is a Match
Contact DYS Directors of Community
Services (please see page 11 of RFP)
Please email dbrazeau@commcorp.org or
visit the CommCorp website
http://commcorp.org/available-funding/ to
access the BOG Grantee Handbook to
support program development, and access
more information about the logistics of
delivering BOG programming.
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Reminder
• Submit application to DYS for review and
signatures by March 22, 2019
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Instructions for RFP Submissions
• Submission Deadline: Proposals (with all
three components in Microsoft Word and Excel
format, not PDF) are due on April 3, 2019 by 4:00
p.m.
• Submission Process: Proposals must be submitted
through Commonwealth Corporation’s BOG portal, at
https://commcorp.tfaforms.net/328757.
https://commcorp.tfaforms.net/328707.
• Applicants will be asked to enter certain information about the applicant organization and key personnel who are affiliated with the proposal. ttps://commcorp.tfaforms.net/328707
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Submission Process Continued
• Part 1: Project Narrative: Proposals must include a brief written narrative of no more than ten (10) pages of double-spaced text. Clearly marked headings. Submit it in Microsoft Word format (not PDF). Use the following naming convention: OrganizationName_FY20BOG_Narrative.doc.
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Submission Process Continued
• Part 2: Signature Page: Applicants must submit a separate signature page, using the template provided, that contains the signature of the applicant’s executive director, and the DYS Director of Community Services and local DYS District Manager. Scan original signatures and submit it using the appropriate button on the Bridging the Opportunity Gap portal website using either JPEG or PDF format.
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Submission Process Continued
• Part 3: Budget (3A) and Budget Narrative(3B): Applicants must submit a detailed budget request using the provided forms. Upload your budget using the appropriate button on the BOG portal website. Submit it in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format (not PDF). Use the following naming convention: OrganizationName_FY20BOG_Budget.xls.
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Q & A
Questions from the chat board will now be
answered.
Thanks for your participation!