CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: November 15, 2021 Action Required: Report Presenter: Annie Sechrist, Senior Family Specialist, Department of Human Services Staff Contacts: Misty Graves, Interim Director, Department of Human Services Title: End of Summer 2021 Community Attention Youth Internship Program Report Background: The Community Attention Youth Internship Program (CAYIP) began in 2007 as a pilot program initiative through City Council with the intention to support the summer enrichment and work readiness opportunities for youth ages 14 – 21 years old. The Community Attention Youth Internship Program works together with public, private, and non-profit partners to host youth interns in variety of job and career areas that match the interns’ interests. Interns earn a stipend for meeting program expectations that in turn supports the local economy and their individual financial stability. Program goals include:  To teach workplace readiness skills.  To assist youth in career exploration.  To help youth identify their strengths and build resiliency.  To connect youth to positive adults and to resources in the community. In late April 2021, it was determined that the health and safety risk of providing an in-person internship program model during COVID-19 was too high for the summer 2021 session of CAYIP. In response, Community Attention staff worked update the school year model of the program and announced that a 100% virtual model of the program, The CAYIP Virtual Learning Academy, would be offered for the summer session. The attached report encompasses the activities, accomplishments, and progress for Summer 2021 of the Community Attention Youth Internship Program. Discussion: Well-structured internship programs benefit both interns and employers. By participating in these valuable learning opportunities, interns augment their work experience, hone important work skills, develop their career goals, and establish connections that may prove useful throughout the span of their careers. Jobless teens in low-income families and those who live in local labor markets like Charlottesville with fewer legitimate job opportunities for teens are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior and become involved with the criminal justice system. Additionally, teens who work in high school are less likely to drop out of high school before graduation and those who participate in work-based learning programs, like the Community Attention Youth Internship Program (CAYIP), are more likely to see the connection between school, work and their career goals. (Risky Behavior Among Youth: An Economic Analysis, Jonathan Gruber (Editor), University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2001). Applying principals of trauma-informed care, interns meet face-to-face on a weekly basis with their assigned CAYIP Counselor to process the strengths and challenges of their experience. Best-practice suggests that maintaining connections to one positive caring adult increases resiliency factors. CAYIP Counselors serve as mentors, problem-solvers, evaluators, motivators, and coaches. Best-practice indicates that one of the foundations to positive youth development requires blending action with reflection. CAYIP Counselors pair the experience with intentional debriefing so that all participants maximize the impact socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan: The Community Attention Youth Internship Program supports City Council’s “Center for Life Long Learning” vision. It contributes to Goal 1 of the Strategic Plan: an inclusive community of self- sufficient residents specifically objective 1.1 prepare students for academic and vocational success and 1.2 prepare students for the workforce. Community Engagement: Since Community Attention’s creation in 1971, the organization has a long-standing history serving high need and underserved populations including opportunity youth. CAYIP has three social media account to increase populations with youth and residents. Additionally, CAYIP utilizes an online application to diversify access points. Due to COVID-19 closures, CAYIP was unable to hold in-person informational booths for the summer 2021 session. The CAYIP promotional video with footage and interviews from youth participants, parents, and site hosts was shared on the website along with a CAYIP participant and host site slide show. CAYIP staff continued to send updates to several community partners and citizens with updates throughout May and June. Youth voice is uplifted and utilized in the end of program satisfaction survey. This tool is used to improve site selections, garner ideas for new sites or careers that are of interest to youth, and identify sessions, speakers, or activities that need reworking. Budgetary Impact: Funding for the Community Attention Youth Internship Program was included in the Department of Human Services General Fund request that was adopted by Council as part of the FY 2022 budget. The program operating costs are approximately $451,000. Recommendation: Staff recommends continued support of this experience for youth in this community. Alternatives: N/A Attachments:  Community Attention Youth Internship Program End of Summer 2021 Report Community Attention Youth Internship Program CAYIP Summer 2021 1 COMMUNITY ATTENTION YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (CAYIP) SUMMER 2021 SESSION OVERVIEW Empowered Youth. Engaged Community. I. Program Goals:  To teach workplace readiness skills.  To assist youth in career exploration.  To help youth identify their strengths and build resiliency.  To connect youth to positive adults and to resources in the community. II. Program Components: Recruitment & Applications In late April 2021, it was determined that the health and safety risk of providing an in-person internship program model was too high for summer 2021 session of CAYIP. In response, Community Attention staff worked update the school year model of the program and announced that a 100% virtual model of the program, The CAYIP Virtual Learning Academy, would be offered again for the summer session. Beginning April 30, 2021, Community Attention actively and intentionally recruited teens to apply to the summer program. CAYIP utilized social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. CAYIP also utilized the CivicPlus platform with the City of Charlottesville to update the program website, online application and submission process, and to advertise the program. Additionally, 2 information about the program was shared with community partners such as the Boys and Girls Club, Computers4Kids, Abundant Life, CANDYD, Music Resource Center, Live Arts, and Charlottesville City Schools via email, phone, and other remote means such as community Zoom Meetings. Due to COVID-19 closures, CAYIP was unable to hold in-person informational booths for the summer 2021 session. The CAYIP promotional video with footage and interviews from youth participants, parents, and site hosts was shared on the website along with a CAYIP participant and host site slide show. CAYIP staff continued to send updates to several community partners and citizens with updates throughout May and June. Eligible candidates completed an admission packet, an interest survey, and an essay about why they wanted an internship via an online application packet located on the City of Charlottesville website. When requested, a paper copy of the application packet was mailed to the home of the interested applicant. Approximately 87 youth applied to the virtual internship program by the May 28, 2021 deadline. CAYIP staff scheduled virtual interviews with all eligible applicants via Zoom. Applicants were emailed instructions on how to access Zoom links, virtual interview tips and expectations, and staff contact information once interview times were confirmed with internship staff. The majority of the youth were on time, dressed appropriately, and performed well in the interview. Youth received points based on their interview performance, essay, and availability in the summer. Some applicants were not provided opportunities based on funding limitations (county residents) or because they did not meet the minimum age requirement. Intern Selection & Matching Due to limited staffing capacity due to COVID-19 and programmatic limitations with a virtual model, CAYIP operated at a reduced capacity from the previous summer. CAYIP was able to provide opportunities to 53 youth in the 3 summer program. Priority was given to first time program participants. Ninety-four percent of interns completed the program successfully! Site Supervisors & Partners Twenty-one community representatives and partners agreed to participate this summer. Each week, a community member would present to the youth in a virtual Zoom meeting on topics such as public speaking, money management, conflict resolution, phone call and conference call etiquette, interviewing skills and social engagement, creating an inclusive workplace, and career exploration. Youth were also expected to complete a final project that included interviewing a current practitioner in a career field of interest. Program participants completed individual and small group interviews with twelve community partners who reflected career paths such as environmental science, information technology, digital marketing, animal care, medicine (including a physician, doula, and pharmacist), child and family therapy, higher education, armed services, small business, culinary arts, cosmetology, and childcare. These interviews were recorded and uploaded to the Google Classroom platform for all youth participants to view. Youth also had access to recordings from previous sessions which included careers paths in the performing arts, music production, local government, emergency services, science (astrophysicist), education, and law. To help reduce technology barriers, CAYIP partnered with Charlottesville City Schools. They provided Chromebooks for youth who attend Charlottesville City Schools who would otherwise have difficulty participating in the internship experience this summer. III. CAYIP Virtual Learning Academy: 4 Orientation and Curriculum All interns participated in a virtual Zoom orientation meeting the first day of the program on July 6, 2021. Orientation activities for the interns focused on team building, learning program policies and expectations, and getting familiar with the Google Classroom platform. At this time, youth were introduced to their CAYIP counselor. Starting on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, youth participated in their first of five weekly large group meetings. These meetings were held every Wednesday on Zoom. These meetings incorporated the subject content the youth were learning in the Google Classroom modules on Monday and Tuesday. Special topic guest speakers and were where interns were introduced to special topic guest speakers and presentations. Examples of these guest speakers include: UVA Community Credit Union who facilitated a role-play game to teach budgeting skills; The Department of Human Service’s Youth Opportunity Coordinator who facilitated a session on Diversity and Cultural Awareness; and a group from UVA Youth Action Lab lead by Dr. Kimalee Cottrell Dickerson who facilitated a training on interviewing skills and social engagement. Youth completed additional learning modules in the Google Classroom on Thursday and then met in individual and small groups with their CAYIP Counselors on Fridays. In these meetings, youth had the opportunity to learn more about content, ask questions, discuss expectations, aspirations, and goals for the session. Intern Expectations Interns were expected to complete coursework in the Google Classroom platform and attend two virtual meetings per week for five weeks. Interns met virtually on a weekly basis with their assigned CAYIP Counselor to process the strengths and challenges of their experience. CAYIP Counselors served as mentors, problem-solvers, evaluators, motivators, and coaches. CAYIP Counselors updated referring agents and families at two intervals during the program. Best-practice 5 indicates that one of the foundations to positive youth developments is blending action with reflection. CAYIP Counselors paired the Google Classroom and large group meeting experiences with intentional debriefing so that all participants maximize the impact socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Each intern developed SMART goals, created a personal career-planning guide, wrote and practiced their elevator speeches, created a budget, developed a resume and cover letter, and completed a final project during the five week program. Earning Interns received a weekly performance evaluation that correlated to their stipend amount. This year, a decision was made to increase the intern stipend from previous sessions. As a base, interns could earn up to $120 per week for the five-week program (maximum of $600). Evaluations were based on two main categories: assignment completion and meeting attendance. Deductions most frequently included not attending meetings or not turning in materials. Interns described utilizing their stipends for savings as well as purchasing items such as clothing, school supplies, and needs. Banking Community Attention collaborated with the UVA Community Credit Union in order to reduce barriers for youth to open a savings account. UVA Community Credit Union provided a budgeting and financial management presentation for participants and provided additional financial literacy resources. Additionally, youth who were interested in opening an account were able to connect and complete paperwork virtually through this partnership that reduced barriers to opening an account during COVD-19. 6 Celebration The internship program concluded with a virtual celebration event on August 6, 2021. The celebration provided an opportunity to reflect and appreciate the success of the teens and program. Presenters included Misty Graves- Interim Director of Human Services; Tamarius Washington- Charlottesville High School graduate and creator of the “Tamarius Talks Finance” podcast, and Logan Means- Monticello High School graduate and Masters of Counseling Education student from Longwood University. Youth received a commemorative t-shirt and CAYIP certificate of completion after the ceremony. IV. Looking Ahead: The health and safety of our program participants, partners, and community as a whole is top priority. To this end, CAYIP adapted our programmatic structure to provide youth an opportunity to engage in meaningful and supportive activities during the summer. Council’s generous support of this program allowed us to provide this experience at no cost to city participants. Staffing limitations due to COVID-19 and concerns about potential programmatic issues with the virtual impacted the number of youth we were able to accept in the program over the summer. However, Community Attention will continue to offer the virtual session format to community youth throughout the 2021-2022 school year which will allow us to serve those youth were not accepted due to capacity issues in the initial summer session. Several youth withdrew from the program prior to its start or did not attend their interview. This affected the overall number of youth who participated. We believe some factors contributing to withdrawing from the process was uncertainty about summer planning/needs for families during COVID and youth opting out of virtual format after completing virtual school year 2021. 7 Staff will continue explore the interview process with regard to communication and notification steps. Staff did note a decrease in missed interviews from previous years with the virtual format. We believe this may be due to removing barriers such as transportation to the interview location. We will continue to evaluate if virtual interviews will be something the program can offer after community health and safety measures are lifted. In preparation for next summer, the Department of Human Services is exploring outside funding options to allow county youth to participate. V. Outcome Summary (CAYIP):  53 interns were accepted in the CAYIP Virtual Learning Academy.  94% of youth successfully completed CAYIP!  36 City youth; 17 youth from surrounding area.  35 youth were funded by the City of Charlottesville.  6 youth were funded by the Children’s Services Act (CSA), Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), or private pay contribution.  9 youth were funded by an internal scholarship.  Age: 40% - 14 yo ~25% - 15 yo 15% - 16 yo 15% - 17 yo ~5% - 18+ yo  Race and Ethnicity: 15% 4% 34% 8% 9% 2% 28% Ethnicity: Asian Bi-racial Black Multi- Other Prefer not White 8% of racial to answer participants identify as Hispanic or Latino.  Gender: 53% Female 40% Male ~7% Non-Binary  51% of interns reported receiving free and reduced lunch. 8  94% of youth tested scored a B or higher on the workplace readiness post- test with an average score of 92 and median of 93. The range was 45-100.  100% of youth surveyed (37/37) enjoyed their program experience.  95% (35/37) would recommend CAYIP to other youth. 5% (2/37) noted they “maybe” would recommend a friend.  100% of youth surveyed (37/37) found the guest speakers informative and engaging.  68% of youth surveyed (25/37) youth report having a bank account with nine new accounts being opened during CAYIP. VI. Intern Evaluation Survey (CAYIP): ( 37 of 53 youth completed survey) 1. Overall, did you Yes: 37/37 = 100% No: 0 Unanswered: 0 Undecided: 0 enjoy your internship program? 2. What part of the Remembering the Completing the Networking and It wasn’t particularly internship did you meetings/getting to work/ getting work interviews because it challenging. find challenging? * the meetings on done on time/ was new/ I am shy/ time. assignments were no experience in this challenging. area. 3. Do you think and Yes: I learned a lot Yes: I learned about Yes: I learned about Yes: I learned skills feel that completing about budgeting , networking and applying for jobs and that will help me in internship at CAYIP banking, communication. job interviews. the workplace and had helped you credit/debit cards how to resolve learn new and scams. conflict. information? Your answer should be at least two sentences.* 9 4. Did you learn and Communication Team work Problem solving/ Helped prepare me practice workplace skills conflict resolution for the future and readiness in this skills. increased my program? Name understanding of three workplace the workplace. readiness skills you used while in CAYIP.* 5. Do you have a Yes: 25/37 = 68% No: 12/37 = 32% Unanswered: 0 bank account? 6. If so, did you Yes: 9/37 = 24% No: 24/37 = 65% N/A: 4/37 = 11% open an account this session? 7. Did you think that Yes: 37/37= 100% No: 0 Unanswered: 0 quest speakers and professionals who have been interviewed were informative and engaging? 8 What guest Banking and Identity, diversity, Participants “I think they all did a speaker (including budgeting and inclusion in the identified many great job and think the professionals presentation workplace guests who were they all have their who you facilitated by UVA presentation interviewed during own personalities interviewed) or Community Credit facilitated by City of their final project like and way to explain topic you felt was Union Charlottesville child and family things that they can particularly helpful representative Youth Opportunity therapist Marissa plug everybody that and/or meaningful Cassandra Riggin Coordinator Daniel Kent-White and I talk to with their to you? * Fairley. university professor own way to express Dr. Paul Harris. themselves about where they loved to do.” – youth participant 9. If so, please share Banking and Identity, Diversity, Final Projects: All: the name or topic Budgeting: and Inclusion: 10 discussed. * “Cassandra, she “When we were “The interview I did “Like I say I don’t helped me talking about was helpful and have a specific one understand everyone's well interesting to me but I think they all budgeting really being and how they because I got to learn impact on their own well.” – youth felt, that felt more about a job I way.” – youth participant meaningful” – am very interested in. participant youth participant I got to understand a “This was helpful day in the life and because it's good challenges she faced for future and it's and also things she good to know how enjoys about the expensive it is to job.” – Youth have a child.” – participant youth participant 10. Was your CAYIP Yes: 23/37 = 62% No: 0 Sometimes: 1/37 = No response: 13/37 counselor helpful 3% = 35% during this CAYIP session? 11. What are the Overall program: Work/material: Meetings/ Support from CAYIP areas where the Interviews: Counselor: “I didn't expect to “We did things I CAYIP program learn so much and didn't even expect “I think the best part “The counselors and exceeded your be so benefited by to do” – youth was when we get to other people helped expectations?* what I learned participant interview the and gave guidance about work place professionals . . . it more than I thought “The difficulty of skills as I did.” – was just so they would” – youth the assignments youth participant enjoyable.” –Youth participant and how engaging participant they were.”- youth “I thought the participant communication with your counselor was really good because I felt like if I needed help I could reach out and hear back very quickly.” – youth participant 12. What are the Assignments/ No suggestions at Meetings: More information areas where the on personal finance 11 CAYIP program workload this time: “Better meeting and banking: could grow or times” – youth “The workload was “I think the CAYIP “I think they should improve?* participant more than I program is perfect have provided more expected.” – youth the way it is.” – “More group zooms information when it participant youth participant are needed” – Youth comes to personal participant finance.” – youth “ I don't think there participant is a part because everything we did and everything we learned was great and I think you guys should keep it up.” – youth participant 13. What are your I like virtual: It is okay, but I It was hard: feelings about would prefer to be “I like virtual I get to “It's easy to get off virtual learning? * in person: stay home. “ – track.” – youth youth participant “I am personally participant someone who “I think it was great works better in and helpful because person and one on “I am personally not everybody have one but the someone who works a way to get to the internship virtual better in person and person meetings” – was good. “ Youth one on one but the youth participant participant internship virtual was good” – youth participant 14. If CAYIP Yes: 18/37 = 49% No: 1/37 = 3% Undecided: 9/37 = No response: 9/37 returned to an in- 24% = 24% “Yes of course. I “No, because I person internship would be super have a job and its “Maybe I like virtual program, would interested” – youth already hard better” – youth you be interested participant. enough trying to participant in participating? plan around zoom “Yes, sure because “Maybe so but meetings” – youth they teach us so depending on participant many different covid.” – youth participant. 12 things.” – youth participant 15. How do you plan Necessities: Save for an Save for a big Not sure yet. to use your CAYIP unknown purchase: purchase: Back to school stipend? * items, bills, work “Save 70%/80% School/college, car, “Not yet known. uniforms, baby and spend the rest an unknown Most likely supplies. when I want to.” – purchase, a Nintendo something I really youth participant. Switch want in the future.” “Save it and buy – youth participant some things I need.” – youth participant. 16. Would you Yes: 35/37 = 95% No- 0 Maybe: 2/37: 5% recommend CAYIP to another youth? 17. Do you have NO “I want to thank the “I don't think there is “I want to say questions, CAYIP counselors a part because thanks for the comments, especially Jim for everything we did opportunity to suggestions, or giving me the and everything we participate in this concerns?* opportunity to take learned was great program.” – youth part in this amazing and I think you guys participant program.” – youth should keep it up.” participant – youth participant *most popular answers Other General Comments: - “Yes [CAYIP] helped a lot, before I didn’t really know anything about how banking and maintaining money worked. But with CAYIP I learned a lot, like how to fill out a resume, things to do and what not to do in an interview!” - “Yes [CAYIP] has helped me greatly because I feel like this will help me have a better chance for applying for a job in the future. Also I feel like I have 13 learned a lot of good communication skills that will help me make friends in the future.” - I think the amount of information you conveyed in just 5 weeks is astounding.” - “Yes. CAYIP helped me in learning more info on a variety of topics including budgeting, building a resume and applying for jobs, and networking.” - “[It was meaningful to me] when we were talking about people who come from different backgrounds and diversity in the workplace. It helped me realize that you're gonna come across many different people when you're working and in life.” - “[The program exceeded by expectations] because I didn't expect to learn so much and be so benefited by what I learned about work place skills as I did. - “I don’t think I have any other concerns or suggestions I think the [program] is great and really helpful. [I] hope you guys can continue doing this, [it] will impact other peoples life….” - “[No suggestions] just have a blessed life and you are all wonderful amazing people.” - “Are there any other CAYIP programs in the future, and if so when?” 14