Illinois Youth Investment Program

Illinois Youth Investment Program

Illinois Youth Investment Program (CSFA# 444-80-2377)

The Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP) is a multi-faceted approach to youth employment that invests in the future of Illinois' at-risk transition-age youth (16-24). This approach to youth employment accounts for the youth's employment barriers as well as the physical, emotional, social, and mental health needs while helping them to secure and sustain long-term and/or career employment thereby ensuring a greater likelihood of success and self-sufficiency. The Department has identified four program categories designed to take into account various stages of a youth's employment readiness and employment needs. This multi-faceted approach allows providers to consider programming and services best suited to meet the needs of youth. Providers may implement programming under a single program category, or multiple program categories. The four program categories are as follows:

Creating a path forward for youth requires a holistic approach that considers all aspects of the youth's realities and needs and may including addressing an array of basic needs such as housing, healthcare, childcare, transportation, legal support, and connection to the community. Services are developmentally appropriate and tailored to address the unique needs of the youth.

1. Category I - Short-term, Summer Employment
   (Work-based Learning; Career Development Experience; and Pre-Apprenticeship programs)
   • Overview
     This Category is designed to target those youth who are interested in short-term Summer employment with a goal of developing workplace skills and gaining employment experience while exploring potential Career Pathways. Community-based providers will partner with local employers in need of Summer workers. Youth targeted in this category will be placed in age-appropriate, ability-appropriate, and experience-appropriate Work-Based Learning Opportunities, Career Development Experience Opportunities or Pre-Apprenticeship programs targeting a Registered or Non-Registered Apprenticeship. This may be accomplished by placing and supporting youth in unsubsidized employment, or through an agreement with the employer to fully or partially subsidize the youth's wages for a period not to exceed 3 months (13 weeks).
   • Objective
     The primary objective for youth served in Category I is to develop their "Essential Employability Skills" and to earn a minimum of 180 hours of entry-level work experience.
2. Category II - Targeted Long-term Employment
   (Targeted long-term employment and Youth Apprenticeship programs)
   • Overview
     This Category is designed to target those youth who are ready to focus on long-term sustained employment that may or may not yet have an identified career path, sector, or industry. Community-based providers will partner with local employers to place youth in long-term employment opportunities within three months of enrollment. These employment placements may be part-time or full-time based on the needs of the youth. Youth targeted in this category will be placed in age-appropriate, ability-appropriate, and experience-appropriate employment linked to one of the 17 nationally recognized career clusters. Youth will be engaged in either targeted long-term employment or in a Youth Apprenticeship program that targets a Registered or Non-Registered Apprenticeship, admission to other articulated postsecondary education, or sustained employment. This may be accomplished by placing and supporting youth in unsubsidized employment, or through an agreement with the employer to fully or partially subsidize the youth's wages for a period not to exceed 9 months (39 weeks). Fully or partially subsidized wages and may also be paid by the grant for youth participating in a Youth Apprenticeship program for a total period not to exceed 9 months (39 weeks)
   • Objective
     The primary objective for youth served in Category II is long-term unsubsidized employment in a targeted Illinois industry, or competition of a Youth Apprenticeship program and acceptance into a Registered or Non-Registered Apprenticeship program; admission to other articulated postsecondary education; or sustained employment.
3. Category III - Career Development - Industry-linked Long-term Employment
   (Registered Apprenticeship; Non-Registered Apprenticeship; and Recognized Postsecondary Credentials (Industry-Linked Credentials, Certifications, or Licenses))
   • Overview
     This Category is designed to target those youth who are ready to focus on an identified career path, sector, or industry. Community-based providers will develop partnerships with established employer and/or Industry Association training programs to identify, refer and support youth participants in these programs that meet the skill needs of local employers and industry. These training programs will provide immediate job placement opportunities for the youth upon completion. Within three months of enrollment into the program, youth will be placed in age-appropriate, ability-appropriate, and experience-appropriate career development training programs in a youth's identified area of interest that is linked to one of the seventeen career clusters. This will be accomplished by recruiting, referring and supporting youth in these established training programs. With limited exceptions, these will be full time employment positions. Fully or partially subsidized wages may be paid by the grant for youth participating in Apprenticeships and credentialing programs for a total period not to exceed 12 months (52 weeks).
   • Objective
     The primary objective for youth served in Category III is long-term unsubsidized employment in local industry upon completion of established Apprenticeship/Credentialing programs.
4. Category IV - Expansion of Industry-Linked Career Development Opportunities
   (Registered Apprenticeships; Non-Registered Apprenticeships; Youth Apprenticeships; and Recognized Postsecondary Credentials (Industry-Linked Credentials, Certifications, or Licenses))
   • Overview
     Community-based providers will develop partnerships to establish one or more new Industry-Linked Career Development Opportunities for youth. These training programs will meet the skill needs of local employers and industry and be immediately available to at-risk youth. The community-based provider will assess the employment barriers of local young people and work with local economic development organizations to identify the skill shortage needs of local employers and industry. The community-based provider will enter into partnership agreements with local employers and/or Industry Associations to develop a skill curriculum for eligible youth that meets the local employer's needs and establishes job placement opportunities for the youth after training.
     Partnerships at a minimum will include a local or regional Community College, a community-based provider and at least one local industry employer. These partnerships will work together to expand industry-linked training program opportunities for youth. Once the new training program has been developed, the community-based provider will refer and support youth through the program(s). Training programs that will be considered include: Registered Apprenticeships; Non-Registered Apprenticeships; Youth Apprenticeships; and other Recognized Postsecondary Credentials (Industry-Linked Credentials, Certifications, or Licenses) leading to sustainable employment in one of seventeen targeted industries and careers.
   • Objective
     The Primary objectives in Category IV is two-fold:
     1. Newly developed training programs for local industry that teach individual youth participants the necessary skills for that industry, and
     2. Long-term unsubsidized employment in a local industry with an identified skills shortage.
   • Eligible Youth Participants: Provider programs will serve eligible youth participants as defined below. Low income and/or at-risk in-school and out-of-school youth ages 16-24 who can document Illinois residency and are able to provide an I9 prior to employment. Examples of risk factors that will deem a youth qualified for the program include:

   • Youth residing in a household receiving TANF funds

     Youth residing in a household receiving SNAP funds

     Youth is eligible for Free/Reduced lunch

     Youth living in a single-parent household

     Youth experiencing academic difficulties

     Youth is in danger of or has been previously held back to repeat one or more academic years

     Youth experiencing truancy concerns

     Youth is reported to have behavior issues

     Youth is reported to be a victim of bullying

     Youth is reported to be a perpetrator of bullying

     Youth is unsupervised after school

     Youth has an IEP (Individual Education Plan)

     Youth has witnessed or been a victim of family violence

     Youth identifies as LGBTQ

     Youth has current or prior school expulsions or suspensions

     Youth with siblings who dropped out of school

     Youth with siblings who are teen parents

     Youth has current or prior justice system involvement

     Youth with siblings who are involved in the juvenile justice system

     Youth with one or both parents who are incarcerated

     Youth with siblings who are gang involved

     Youth is reported to be gang - involved

     Youth has current or prior DCFS system involvement

     Youth is experiencing homelessness

     Youth is pregnant

     Youth is parenting

     Youth has a disability

     Youth with no work experience

     Youth with a history of employment failure

   • Program Elements: Program elements include, but are not limited to, the following:
     • Employment Readiness Activities
       All programs are designed to ensure that all youth are prepared for employment. This includes for example, how to conduct a job search, write a resume, complete an application, how to dress for an interview, appropriate workplace attire, attitude etc. All youth will complete, through Illinois workNet, the Career Cluster Inventory; the Employment 101 pre-assessment, work readiness activities, and post-assessments as necessary to demonstrate work readiness skills improvement.
     • Essential Employability Skills (EES) Development
       1. Self - Assessment - Each youth in the program will complete an initial skills self-assessment.
       2. Skill Development - Programming, services, education and training will be provided and tailored to meet the individualized needs of each youth based on the results of this assessment. (Additional skills assessments can also be incorporated into this process.)
       3. Worksite Professional Skills Assessment - Employers are required to conduct an assessment on the youth's demonstrated employment skills that at a minimum include Illinois' Essential Employability Skills. This will be conducted at the end of the 2nd week of employment and again anytime within the last 3 weeks of employment. This may also be conducted upon termination if the placement ends prematurely. The first assessment will serve as feedback for the youth and the provider. The second will document skill attainment/improvement.
     • Support Services
       1. Employment Support Services
          Supportive services may include transportation assistance, day care expenses, work clothes, tools and supplies, or other items that are required for youth to participate in the program.
       2. Social Emotional Support Services.
          Individualized, assessment-based case plan services that incorporate goals to address social-emotional barriers to successful employment.
       3. Life Skills Assessment/Development.
          Services arer provided to youth to increase their life skills in the following areas: Daily Living; Relationships & Communications; Housing & Money Management; Self Care; Work & Study Life; and Permanent Connections. The service plan will be assessment-based (Casey Life Skills Assessment (CLSA)) and age appropriate.
     • In addition, for Categories II, III and IV, provide:
       4. Educational Support Services.
          Educational support services may include transportation assistance, day care expenses, clothes, books and supplies, tutoring, academic advising, advocacy, course fees, license and testing fees or other items that are required for youth to participate in education.
       5. Career Plan Development.
          Individualized career plan that incorporates both short and long-term educational and employment goals necessary to achieving sustained employment in a chosen career path. Involves the youth and considers an inventory of the youth's skills, talents and interests.
     • Case Management
       An individualized case plan is be developed with the involvement of the youth (and family where appropriate) that incorporates at a minimum: Employment Skills Development; Employment Support Services; Social-Emotional Support Services and Life-Skills Development.