Community Development Agency
www.santa-ana.org/community-development
Item # 16
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
May 21, 2024
TOPIC: Youth Workforce Readiness Programs
AGENDA TITLE
Agreements with Working Wardrobes For a New Start and Orange County Conservation Corps to Provide Workforce Readiness Workshops, Employment, and Educational Programs to Santa Ana Youth
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Working Wardrobes in an amount not to exceed $120,000, for a period from May 21, 2024 to September 30, 2024 (Agreement No. A-2024-XXX).
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Orange County Conservation Corps in an amount not to exceed $250,000, for a period from May 21, 2024 to September 30, 2024 (Agreement No. A-2024-XXX).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
The Californians for All Youth Workforce Program (CA4All) is a Governor’s initiative administered by California Volunteers in partnership with cities across California. The purpose of the initiative is to develop youth interest through work experience in careers in public service and strengthen city capacity to address key areas of climate, food insecurity, and local COVID-19 recovery.
The program targets youth between 16-30 years of age with priority given to youth who meet two or more of the following:
•Have not participated in an AmeriCorps program
•May have difficulty finding employment
•Are low-income, unemployed, or out of school
•Were justice-involved
•Currently or transitioning from foster care
•Engaged with the mental health or substance abuse system The City was a recipient of the first round of CA4All funding which was initially set to expire on May 1, 2024. The State recently amended the agreement extending the
Youth Workforce Readiness Programs
May 21, 2024
4 2
7 2
performance period to September 30, 2024. To date, 420 youth have enrolled and participated in workforce readiness workshops through the City program. Many of the youth have worked up to 700 hours in a supervised work experience environment, gaining invaluable insights into career opportunities within the public section and non- profit sector.
Two organizations, Working Wardrobes and Orange County Conservation Corps (OCCC), have provided valuable and beneficial services through the term of their agreement, which concluded on May 1, 2024. To continue to provide services to the youth and to reflect the extension of the agreement between the City and the State, staff is recommending approval of these agreements to increase services to an additional 100 youth (Exhibit 1). Below is a summary of the services that will be provided:
•Working Wardrobes will conduct a series of workforce readiness workshops with the option of adding professional wardrobe services to prepare the participants to enter the workforce. Participants may attend all or a customized selection of workshops based on their particular needs. Working Wardrobes has over 32 years of experience in delivering comprehensive career development, training, and professional wardrobe fittings to over 115,000 men, women, young adults, and veterans. They have been instrumental in serving our participants in various workforce programs to help prepare them to enter the workforce and feel confident in their appearance.
•Orange County Conservation Corps (OCCC) serves at-risk young adults through employment, training, and education programs that build self-sufficiency and benefit the community through conservation-driven projects. They have a 30-year history of working with at-risk individuals in conservation and community service projects.
Under the agreement, OCCC will continue to serve the remaining 40 youth to allow them time to complete their hours of work experience. Averaging 29 hours per week, the youth will work at local area food banks unloading trucks, packing food boxes, and delivering and distributing goods to locations throughout the county. They may also work on city and county projects in clearing brush from trails, creeks, riverbanks, and other fire fuel reduction removal efforts to promote climate resilience (Exhibit 2).
Approval of the agreements will help the City ensure youth enrolled will have access to work readiness workshops and professional attire, complete work experience hours, and ultimately helping the City meet its expenditure goals under the CA4All grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are budgeted and available for anticipated expenditures as shown below. Any remaining balances not expended at the end of the fiscal year will be presented to City Council for approval of carryovers to FY 2024-2025.
Youth Workforce Readiness Programs
May 21, 2024
4 2
7 2
Fiscal Year Accounting
Unit- Account
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit,
Account Description Amount
FY 23-24
(May-June)
18318763-
69135
CA for All
Grant
CA for All Grant,
Payment to Subagent $111,000
FY 24-25
(July-September)
18318763-
69135
CA for All
Grant
CA for All Grant,
Payment to Subagent $259,000
Total Expenditures $370,000
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Agreement - Working Wardrobes
2. Agreement - Orange County Conservation Corps
Submitted By: Michael L. Garcia, Executive Director of Community Development Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, Acting City Manager