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U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration

Webinar Date: June 2, 2015 3:00PM EasternPresenters: Division of Youth ServicesU.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration

IMPLEMENTING INTERNSHIPS FOR YOUTH CAREER CONNECT STUDENTS

Moderator

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Maisha MemingerDivision of Youth ServicesU.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration

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Learning Objectives• Explore details of Internships • List the four keys for implementing effective internships

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Outline

• YCC program requirements for work experience and internships

• Performance measures related to internships• Effective practices for implementing an

internship program• Examples of grantee internship programs• Internship Resources• Questions and Answers

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Presenter

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Evan RosenbergDepartment of LaborDivision of Youth Services

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Evidence Base for Work Experience – What the Research Shows· Paid work experience may improve educational and employment

outcomes for youth, including increased high school graduation rates.

• Greater involvement from the private sector and from employers are aspects of programs that are more successful in connecting youth to work• Employer participation in skill development, career

exploration, and the creation of opportunities for work experience is crucial to producing successful results for youth

• Increased investments in career-related experiences during high school can improve students’ post-secondary and labor market prospects

Work Experience• Required part of the program design;• Must be provided by the employer partner(s), are planned,

structured learning experiences that take place in a workplace for a limited period of time;

• May be paid or unpaid and may be in the private, for-profit sector; the non-profit sector; or the public sector;

• Are designed to enable youth to gain exposure to the working world and its requirements and to be inspired and energized to continue their studies through the practical application of their skills and knowledge.

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Work Experience in the YCC SGA• Work experiences should help youth acquire personal

attributes, knowledge, and skills needed to obtain a job and advance in employment;

• The primary purpose is to provide the youth participant with the opportunities for career exploration and skill development and is not to benefit the employer;

• Work experiences may be subsidized or unsubsidized and may occur during the school year, during the summer, or both. The Department encourages programs to pay for work experiences with matching funds.

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Internships• Internships are a type of work experience that is more

intensive (as opposed to job shadowing, a less intensive type of work experience) and are a required part of the YCC program

• Internships are included under Employer Engagement and Work-Based Learning/Exposure to the World of Work Core Elements in the SGA

• Internships, if paid, may be paid either through the employer match, grant funds, or a combination of grant funds and the employer match and must directly relate to occupations identified in the participant’s career plan within the applicant’s identified H-1B industry

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Internships in the SGAIn grant proposals, applicants discussed:• How internship opportunities will be identified; • Whether internship opportunities will be paid and, if so,

how they will be paid; • How the applicant will address the transportation needs

of participants to access internships; and • How internships taking place at a worksite will be

monitored by the applicant and the type of support the applicant will provide to employers hosting work experience opportunities.

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Internship Performance MeasuresThere are three short-term performance measures that relate to internships:• Internship Placement Rate

• Measures the percentage of participants that start an internship

• Internship Completion Rate• Measures the percentage of participants that complete an

internship, of those that start one• Work Readiness Indicator

• Measures the percentage of participants who are deemed work ready based on an employer evaluation conducted at the end of each internship

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Work Readiness Indicator• The work readiness indicator must be based on an

employer’s assessment of a YCC participant’s work readiness skills during their internship. 

• The assessment must be conducted by the internship employer and based on the participant’s performance in their internship. 

• We recommend you use the DOL work readiness form, found at: https://etagrantees.workforce3one.org/view/2001423443041592604/info but you are not required to use it.  

• Grantees may use another form, but the program should use the same work readiness form for all of their participants  

Presenter

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Charles ModianoSkills for Youth

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“Everybody is a Genius”"Everybody is a genius.

But if you judge a fish by

its ability to climb a tree,

it will live its whole life

believing that it is stupid.”

-- Albert Einstein

Implementing Effective Internships• Internship is a Loooooooooooong Interview!• Immediate Benefit: Can result in actual job

placement, referral, or future job.• Long-term Benefits: Work skills, critical work

experience, resume-builder and reference.• A tangible opportunity for young people to

address education/work youth skills gap.

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11% of

BUSINESS LEADERS

96% of

ACADEMIC OFFICERS

“Could this rift in perception itself be a main cause for our skills gap? -- I think yes” (Julian Alssid, Chief Workforce Strategist at College for America)

strongly agree college grads have the necessary skills to succeed in the workplace. 

believe that they're effectively preparing students for success in the workplace.

The Skills Gap & Internship Opportunity

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Implementing Effective InternshipsFOUR KEYS:

1) Youth Preparation

2) Employer Preparation

3) Ensure Meaningful Work Experience

4) Transition Beyond Internship

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1) Youth Preparation for InternshipA. Youth Orientation(s): • Youth Mindset: Educate youth on value of internships

(possible job, references, experience on resume, skills, etc.), • Set youth expectations, gage commitment, and • Simulate a Group Interview Process where possible

B. Pre-Internship Work Readiness Training (if necessary):

• More intensive multi-day training week before start of internship to prepare young people.

• This should include refresher workshops on key employability skills and updating resumes.

1B) What Employers Want from Young Employees

ESSENTIAL SKILL GROUP Specific Work Readiness Goals

1) PROBLEM- SOLVING

• Problem-Solving is Leadership Development• Critical Thinking and Ability to Learn on job• Creativity & Innovation, Communicate new ideas • Can you adapt to change?

2) ATTITUDE & Professionalism

• Attendance, Punctuality, and Appearance• Demonstrating personal accountability• Accepting constructive criticism• Are You Likeable?

3) COMMUNICATION Skills

• Oral: effectively articulate thoughts & ideas • Non-Verbal Communication• Written Communication• Can you sell yourself?

4) TEAMWORK & Collaboration

• Work with diverse teams, make team better• “My Job Description”• Manage and negotiate conflicts• Can you network and influence others?

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2) Employer Preparation for InternshipsA. Employer Orientation(s)• Seek Quality Internship Work Sites with Career Focus• Educate and sell employers on real value of internships. • Clearly set employer expectations; gage commitment.• Positive job matching; schedule for interviews with youth, and clearly

communicate follow-up strategy. • Develop partnership agreements

B. Individual Internship Interviews: • Simulate real unsubsidized job search experience. • Include a one-on-one interview with an employer. • Use internship as vehicle to update resume, cover letter, mock

interviews, thank you letters, and job search norms.

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3) Ensure Meaningful Work ExperienceA. Worksite Monitoring System:• A system of communication must be in place between

staff and employers to ensure quality performance and needed support. (Weekly or Bi-Weekly)

• Assigned On-site Work site mentor

B. Measurement of Work Readiness Progress: • Use evaluation tool designed/modified for internship • All youth and employers should be educated about use

of simple tool in employer orientation

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3B) Measuring Work Readiness

Rubric

Tool

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3B) Measuring Work Readiness Tips• “Behavioral” Assessment preferable to “Pre-test/posts” that measure

knowledge.

• Modifiable: Criteria in assessment is based off of national research, and can be modified by staff to reflect local employer labor market or job-specific tasks.

• Introduction: Work readiness assessment tool should be introduced in both youth and employer orientations and by employer on first day on Internship.

• Frequency: The very first assessment should take place within the first two week of the program. Frequency will vary depending on length of internship.

• Include Participant in Process: Ask participants to assess themselves to bring to the appointment a completed self-assessment of their work performance.

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4) Transition Beyond Internship

• Opportunity to be hired by employer at company or other company directly after or at later date.

• Improved Skills & potential credential• Reference Letter• Potential Credential• Gateway to Career

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Examples from the FieldWe are highlighting two YCC programs that have an effective internship model in place:• Los Angeles Unified School District

(LAUSD)• Putnam County Board of Education

YCC Grantee Presenter

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Katherine ReidPutnam County Board of EducationYouth Empowerment for Success (YES) Program Manager

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Description of School and Local Demographics• Small School System

• Only 1 high school • Program students comprise ~20% of the school population

• Rural Area• ~10 miles from the city center• ~17 miles from next closest town

• Impoverished Population• Over 70% of our students are economically disadvantaged

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Challenges• Transportation and Location of Opportunities

• Capacity for Employment at Industry Sites

• Insurance, Liability, and Workman’s Compensation

• Minimum Age Requirements

• Employer Engagement

• State Work Based Learning Program Policies

• Lack of Monetary Compensation

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Immediate Solutions • Transportation and Location of Opportunities

• Purchased program vans through grant funding • Capacity at Local Industry Sites

• The ability for transport students to opportunities outside of our immediate area changed the realm of this challenge

• Insurance, Liability, Workman’s Compensation, Minimum Age Requirements• Internship agreements and waivers – signed by student,

parent and employer• MOU with post-secondary partner helped alleviate some

employers’ concerns

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Immediate Solutions • Employer Engagement

• Soft skills training • Strategic marketing to current and potential partners

• State Work Based Learning Program Policies• Depends on student workload associated with internship• Study Skills and Independent Study Courses coupled with

“field trips”• Lack of Monetary Compensation

• Soft Skills Training

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“Flipped” Internship ModelThe flipped internship model is a scenario in which students can complete meaningful work/projects during their school day for an employer partner.

• Students primarily work from school• Program transportation takes students to employer when

necessary; • Interviewing/Hiring Process; Production Supervision; Work

Readiness Evaluations School maintains supervision of students while working at school

• Alleviates many employers’ concerns regarding insurance and liability; and

• Eliminates minimum age requirements in many situations

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“Flipped” Internship Model• Employers can travel to school or remotely contact

student in many cases• Depending upon student’s anticipated workload during an

internship they can participate in state-level work-based learning program or opt for a study skills/independent study course

• Students’ perception about monetary compensation is different if working predominately from school

• Examples in healthcare, information technology, and welding

YCC Grantee Presenter

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William BassProgram and Policy Development Advisor, Los Angeles Unified School District & Los Angeles Coalition for Linked Learning

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The 4 Core Components of Linked Learning are:• Rigorous Academic Experience• Challenging Career-Technical Component• Work-Based Learning Experiences• Strong Support Services

Los Angeles Unified and the Los Angeles Coalition for Linked Learning

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Linked Learning improves student outcomes and provides a basis for systemic high school reform

Los Angeles Unified and the Los Angeles Coalition for Linked Learning

Source: http://irvine.org/linkedlearning2014/evidence/evaluation

Infrastructure to Support Work Based Learning

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Regional Hub of ExcellenceIntermediary Functions

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How Do We Provide Quality Work Experiences?For Students:

• Link academics with the Career & Technical Education (CTE) program through rigorous, interdisciplinary, real-world and Common Core aligned projects

• Team with industry professionals around curriculum development, project development, and feedback/evaluations on projects

• Provide a spectrum of Work-Based Learning (WBL) experiences: professional guest speakers, workplace tours, job shadowing, mentorships

• Offer Work Readiness training (provided by ConnectEd Studios) and certification which leads to summer paid internships

Work Based Learning Continuum

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How Do We Provide Quality Work Experiences?For Faculty:

• Provide externships so teachers can develop lessons aligned to their discipline and industry sector

• Provide Professional Development for pathways across industry sector to share best practices and to interact with professionals

District provides:• All vendors who respond to RFPs in the district must offer WBL

experiences for LAUSD students—receiving a scoring preference for the quality and quantity of experiences offered and

• Intermediaries and other organizations working with WBL coordinators to provide these experiences such as United Way of Greater LA, LA Area Chamber of Commerce

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How do you provide a quality work experience?Los Angeles Unified and the Los Angeles Coalition for Linked Learning A challenging CTE experience aligned to the pathway Industry Sector.With the alignment of Career Technical Education under the LinkedLearning program, the CTE offerings at LAUSD:• Align with the pathway industry sector at the campus,• Provide A-G credit, so students can use them to meet University of

California entry requirements and graduate on time,• Earn dual credit in the Community College system so students get a

head start on post-secondary credits,• Provide progress toward the goal of professional certifications in their

industry sectors that are both marketable and lead to living wage jobs.

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Support ServicesStrong Support Services are key to the increasing success of students in the Linked Learning model. • These Support Services include additional counseling services,

tutoring, Summer Bridge, and information technology.• Key to the success of our students is the individualized attention

that a counselor can provide, when case loads are of reasonable size. Providing additional time for our counselors to work with our students is a key investment.

• Additional tutoring services are available to YCC students, to help recover credits, to keep students on track academically, and to graduate on schedule.

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Support ServicesSupport Services are key to increasing success of students in Linked Learning. Support Services include counseling services, tutoring, Summer Bridge, and information technology.

• The Summer Bridge:• Eases the transition from middle to high school,• Builds peer support networks amongst incoming students, • Immerses students in the pathway industry sector, and • Develops leadership skills in 9th graders and 12th grade Summer

Bridge Leaders. • Supporting students with additional computing equipment allows us

to leverage credit recovery software packages and tutoring programs. This access is critical and creates opportunities to keep students on-track to graduate on time.

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What Our Stakeholders Say

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Considerations for employers and program staff

Out of school youth are harder to reach, so your partnerships need to include organizations already serving this population. • Workforce Investment Boards

• YouthSource Centers• WorkSource/OneSource Centers

• Community & Faith-based Organizations• Educational Options Programs (Options, Continuation, Pregnant Minor,

Opportunity, and other school types)Restorative Justice programs are being implemented across LAUSD, focusing on keeping students on campus and in school. Suspensions and expulsions have dropped on campuses implementing the program.

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For Additional InformationInformation on Linked Learning:

http://linkedlearning.org/

Information on the Linked Learning Program at Los Angeles Unified School District:

http://linkedlearning.lausd.net/

Information on the LAUSD Linked Learning Vendor Program:http://achieve.lausd.net/Page/576

William BassProgram and Policy Development Advisor-Budget

William.Bass@lausd.net(213) 241-2149

Additional ResourcesNational Guidance on Internships

• National Academy Foundation Internship ToolKit:http://naf.org/files/Internship-Toolkit-2006-09.pdf

DOL - Connecting Youth and Business: A Toolkit for Employershttp://opportunitynation.org/app/uploads/2014/06/ON_Youth_Business_Toolkit.pdf

• DOL Summer Youth Employment Program Guidance (TEGL 27-09): General guidance for SYEP. Most relevant pg 5-10. http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/TEGL27-09.pdf

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Additional Resources

Local Guidance on Internships

• Philadelphia Youth Network Worksite ToolKit: Guidance, Forms, Resources https://www.pyninc.org/toolkit

• Metro-Atlanta Chamber Internship Toolkit:http://www.metroatlantachamber.com/docs/resources/internship-toolkit.pdf?sfvrsn=0

• Youth Internship Program Framework, South Dakota, DOE: https://doe.sd.gov/octe/documents/YI_Manual.pdf

• Making Internships Work: Toolkit for Public Health Employers and Their High School and Community College Students, CThttps://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.cpha.info/resource/resmgr/Mentoring/Making_Internships_Work2012.pdf

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Additional ResourcesCareer Readiness Guidance and Curricula

• Department of Labor (ODEP) “Skills to Pay the Bills”:Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Successhttp://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/softskills/softskills.pdf

• Commonwealth Corporation Empower Your Future: Career Readiness Curriculum Guide (Massachusetts)www.commcorp.org/resources/documents/Empower%20Your%20Future%20-%20Career%20Readiness%20Curriculum%20Guide%202010.pdf

• Princeton University Career Planning Guidehttps://careerservices.princeton.edu/sites/career/files/Career-Services-Guide_ENTIRE.pdf

Please enter your questions in the Chat Box!

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CONTACT USU.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-4456Washington, DC 20210Email: ycc@dol.gov

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U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration

NEXT TRAINING:GET READY FOR THE 2015 YCC NATIONAL GRANTEE CONFERENCEMONDAY, JUNE22ND AT 2PM!

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Thank you!54