This is an update on the Emerging Worker Sub-Committee's progress in implementing its strategic plan, that was approved by the State Workforce Investment Board in January, 2002.

Mission and Priorities

The Sub-committee's mission, broader than required under federal legislation, is "to ensure that all New York's youth, under age 21, are better prepared for employment by:

• enabling them to meet New York State's education Learning standards;
• providing them with the work skills, life skills and supports necessary to succeed in New York's job market; and
• exposing them to a greater array of potential career opportunities, including current demand occupations."

The Sub-committee places a high priority on "at risk youth," including individuals with disabilities and out-of-school youth who are increasingly unable to participate in New York's workforce without skills and support.

Based on extensive discussion and listening (video-conference, survey, workshops with Iocal youth council chairs and stakeholders), the Sub-committee has adopted two priorities to guide its work over the next several years:

• Priority 1: to expand/enhance business involvement in preparing youth for jobs and careers; and

• Priority 2: to support comprehensive year-round programs for all youth.

Accomplishments and Directions

1. June 5, 2003 New York City Business Forum Will Build on the Hudson Valley Regional Business Forum held on November 18, 2002

   The Sub-Committee discussed the status of strategic planning in the mid-Hudson Valley and lessons learned. Assemblywoman Susan John, the new chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, proposed that the next forum be held in New York City on June 5. The forum would bring together the Commissioners of Labor, Education, and the Office of Children and Family Services, other members of the Sub-Committee, business leaders and a broad based New York City team. The New York City youth council has agreed to participate and help plan. Reg Foster, from IBM, who is the youth council chair said that the objectives would be three fold:

   • Build stronger connections between education and workforce development
   • Identify strategies for increasing business involvement
   • Strengthen the youth council.

2. Training for single points of contact for youth services in every local workforce investment area of the State and provide on-going interagency technical assistance: In May 2002, the State Workforce Investment Board adopted a policy proposed by the Sub-committee that requested each local workforce investment area to identify a single point of contact for youth services. All 33 local workforce investment areas have identified a single point of contact.

   The Department of Labor has completed a mini-bid to identify facilitators to hold three training sessions in Utica, New York City and Rochester to train teams from local workforce areas to better connect youth programming with one-stop career centers and to highlight promising strategies and approaches for serving youth with special needs, e.g., high school drop-outs, youth coming from the juvenile justice system, youth with disabilities.

3. Presentations: The Sub-Committee heard two presentations of state and national significance:
   • Monroe County system for serving youth and the certificate of employability developed by the Rochester Business/Education Alliance. The Monroe County youth council has adopted a fully integrated youth systems model that brings together education, business and workforce preparation for all youth, building upon successful individual programs like the Hillside work scholarship program and the certificate of employability.

     The Sub-Committee made a commitment to connect this work with the work of the Skills Standards/Assessment Sub-committee and the national piloting of a work readiness credential.

   • Virtual one-stop system being developed in Cattaraugus-Alleghany by the youth council, schools and BOCES through Challenge grant funding ($159,000) The goal is to provide all youth with access to local, state, and national information, a virtual 360 degree tour of the one-stop centers, and help with career assessment.