12. Management and Governance

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Underlying YouthBuild Values and Philosophy
  3. YouthBuild Program Design Standards
  4. 2008 YouthBuild Program Performance Standards
  5. Honors Graduates
  6. The Process for Changing the YouthBuild Model or Requirements
  7. Working Definitions of Important Terms Related to These Standards
  8. Appendix

2008 YouthBuild Annual Report to the General Assembly (pdf)

2008 YouthBuild Annual Report to the General Assembly (HTML Version)

YouthBuild Program Design Standards

12. Management and Governance

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  • 12 A A full-time YouthBuild director or program manager dedicates his or her time to the leadership of the program. In addition, trained staff are dedicated to the functions of education and construction management.
  • 12 B The program's board of directors is fully informed about and committed to the YouthBuild philosophy and mission. If the sponsoring agency is not a free-standing YouthBuild organization, and it has other programs, the board forms a subcommittee focused on the well-being of the YouthBuild program. If the board does not include a significant number of members reflecting the ethnic background of the students, an advisory committee is formed that does.
  • 12 C At least two YouthBuild graduates serve on the board of directors of the sponsoring organization, or on an advisory committee of the board dedicated to the YouthBuild program. Training and preparation are provided.
  • 12 D The executive director of a multi-service sponsoring agency provides full support to the YouthBuild program and delegates sufficient authority to the YouthBuild director so that he or she can manage the program. The executive director provides full financial reporting to the YouthBuild director.
  • 12 E When YouthBuild is implemented by collaborating organizations, there is a clear locus of control, clear lines of accountability, and centralized records creating a cohesive program with a common philosophy and community of staff and students.
  • 12 F The faculty and staff roughly reflect the ethnic, socioeconomic, or community background of the students.
  • 12 G Staff meetings of the entire YouthBuild staff and appropriate subgroups, including staff of collaborating agencies, are held as needed and on a regular basis.
  • 12 H Financial management meets high standards of planning, accountability, and information for managers.
    • Monthly reports showing expenditures against budget, revenue projections, and cash flow projections are provided to management.
    • Fiscal controls are thorough, according to standard practices, preventing theft, mismanagement, or inappropriate use of funds.
    • All required corporate reports are filed, and taxes paid, to maintain charitable status and good standing with the IRS.
    • Financial obligations are paid on a timely basis.
    • An annual independent financial audit is performed according to legal requirements.
  • 12 I The organization sets a code of conduct for the staff and personnel policies are developed and implemented systematically. The policies include conflict-of-interest policies, sexual harassment policies, and drug-free workplace policies.
  • 12 J The code of conduct includes the guideline that no staff or board member may obtain any personal profit or benefit through the labor of the students being carried out on personal property.
  • 12 K To enable staff development and growth, staff training and development is systematically offered, provided, budgeted, and valued.
  • 12 L Annual written evaluations of staff and director are done and discussed. Comments from students are gathered during the completion of staff and director annual evaluations.
  • 12 M Appropriate insurance is maintained.
  • 12 N The program develops a written plan for sustainability that assesses a range of possible public and private funding sources that may be available to sustain the program for at least two years. The plan is supported by the sponsoring agency.
  • 12 O Programs assess issues of sustainability and economies of scale to determine optimal program size.

Recommended actions

  • 12 P The board of directors evaluates the program annually, using these program standards as a general guide, inviting input from staff and the policy committee, and sharing the results with the YouthBuild USA program advisor. In the case of YouthBuild programs without boards of directors and operating within public agencies, the executive director of that agency or a YouthBuild community advisory board carries out the evaluation.
  • 12 Q The YouthBuild director designates an instructional leader to emphasize a cohesive education program. In YouthBuild diploma-granting schools, leadership teams designate administrators to adequately fulfill two core functions: instructional leadership and executive duties. The team ensures that the infrastructure is sufficient to carry out and sustain all school functions.