ACTION BULLETINS (PY 2008)

AB - #82 Summer Youth Employment Program 10% Ruling Regarding Worksite Placement Within A Host Agency and/or Agency Departments.

AB - #82
Effective Date: May 1, 2009


ACTION BULLETIN

TO: Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Youth Providers

DATE: June 18, 2009

SUBJECT: Summer Youth Employment Program 10% Ruling Regarding Worksite Placement Within A Host Agency and/or Agency Departments.

Purpose of the Bulletin:

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information and guidance to the definition for suitable placements of Summer Youth Employment (SYEP) youth participants at a Host Agency and/or Agency Departments, using the 10% rule.

Background:

The main activity for all youth enrolled in the SYEP is Work Experience. Work Experience is designed to enable youth to gain exposure to the world of work and its requirements. The SYEP experience should assist youth participants in learning the personal attributes, knowledge and skills necessary to attain employment, retain the position, and to ultimately advance in their career field.

It is important that a variety of worksites be added to the program operator’s list of suitable stations for the placement of youth participants. Because worksite assignments should be matched to vocational interest, and/or career exploration opportunities wherever possible, having a variety of quality worksites will enhance your program and provide youth with a more meaningful summer experience.

Worksites:

Worksites should be evaluated for usefulness and appropriateness in terms of supervision and quality of experience. Certain standards should be maintained to and the selection of good worksites should be:
1. the skills learned;
2. the supervisor’s interest in working with a youth as a mentor;
3. participants interest; and
4. work ethics development.

WIB also considers as a guideline:
1. No more than 10% of participants will be placed in any one Host Agency and/or its departments;
2. The supervisor/participant ratio at a worksite is to be no more than one to five.

Additionally the Program Operator as the Host Agency of the SYEP program must reflect and/or show good intentions to the public that host agency as an employer are not supplanting the availability of paid summer work placements.

It is encouraged that worksites be developed for a number of youth placed within your Agency to provide limited internships; however compliance with the 10% rule would still apply. Please bear in mind that an assignment to a limited worksite should be given strictly to benefit and enhance the employability experience of the participant and not solely a means to benefit the host agency.

Innovative Projects/Community Service Projects

The WIB Department encourages the development of Innovative and/or Community Service Projects. These types of projects have a two-fold purpose: they provide a more specialize work experience for the youth participant, while benefiting the community as a whole.

The guidelines for these special projects are as follows:
· Result in a specific product or accomplishment;
· Benefit the participants in terms of work habits, attainment of basic and/or vocational skills;
· Will have a completed project in the time allotted;
· Teaches youth community service as well as civic responsibility and provides the youth with a sense of pride and accomplishment;
· Benefits the community at large.

It is important that these projects are balanced, relevant and hold interest and validity for the participants. It is therefore, encouraged that subject matter and projects be designed with the age and circumstances of the participants in mind. The recommended guidelines for the Innovative Projects/Community Service Projects are highlighted in program operator 2009 Operators Manual, page 4 Work Readiness/Design.

Once again, the 10% rule comes into effect if any host agency is considering being the self-selected special project; however, the ratio rule of 1 supervisor to 5 participants would not apply. A Special Innovative Project /Community Service Projects may be used as an activity in which to provide academic and vocational enhancement/enrichment. Supervisor for an Interactive or Community Project must be physically present at the assigned project site for the entire duration of the project.

Conditions:

Establishment: A single physical location where business is conducted or services or operations are performed. Where distinctly separate activities are performed as a single physical location, each activity shall be treated as a separate “establishment.” Typically, an “establishment” refers to a field activity. Examples are as follows:

a. Major organizational units with distinct lines of authority shall be counted as separate establishments, i.e., Hospitals, Federal and State agencies, City Governments/Municipalities, Universities, Community Colleges, Social Services Agencies with multiple departments and/or;
b. Private industries with multiple departments within the business would be separate establishments even if they occupied the same building, i.e., Oracle, IBM, Bayer;
c. Smaller organizational units such as Community Based Organizations or small
businesses, i.e., dentists or doctors offices, boutiques, would be considered a single agency not truly having distinct departments within the entity and are not considered separate establishments.

Action:

SYEP Worksite Evaluation: Worksite Non-Financial Agreements are required for all worksites participating in SYEP. The Program Operator must utilize the standardized NCR form developed by ACWIB. The Agreement is to be reviewed by WIB Department staff before youth participants are placed on the worksite. No youth may be placed on a worksite until the Program Operator, the Worksite AND the ACWIB SYEP Coordinator have signed off the Agreement.

Any changes in the status of the worksite should be revised on page two of the Agreement and should be re-submitted to the WIB Department. A job description for each participant at each worksite must be developed and maintained at the program site as well as the worksite.

All SYEP operators will implement the 10% Work Placement Policy retroactive to May 1, 2009.

Information and Inquiries:

For information and inquiries please contact Rosario Flores, Program Financial Specialist at (510) 259-3837 or via email at rflores2@acgov.org.