Community Development Agency
www.santa-ana.org/community-development
Item # 5
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Joint School Collaboration City Council Subcommittee Staff Report December 2, 2024
TOPIC: WORK Center Collaboration with SAUSD High Schools TITLE:
Receive and File the Report from the WORK Center on Collaborative Efforts with the SAUSD
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive and file.
DISCUSSION
The Community Development Agency of the City of Santa Ana (City) focuses on enhancing the well-being of the City, offering services for affordable housing, arts & culture, rent stabilization, support for people experiencing homelessness, economic development, and employment services (the WORK Center). The WORK Center is a one-stop American Job Center that connects job seekers to employment and training opportunities and businesses to a strong workforce. WORK Center staff collaborate with the Employment Development Department and the Orange County Social Service Agency to provide comprehensive workforce services to help train employees or fill current vacancies.
The WORK Center has been vital for helping to prepare SAUSD students for future employment. The following outlines the WORK Center's collaboration efforts with the SAUSD:
SAUSD Wellness Centers
WORK Center staff have been in discussion with key Wellness Center staff, including Elisa Briseno Sandoval (MPA FACE Coordinator), Dr. Cecilia Chavez (McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison), and Lisa Solomon. The outcomes have been highly productive, and staff have identified several opportunities for collaboration with SAUSD's 54 Wellness Centers including:
•Information Sharing: Regular updates on WORK Center recruitment events and workforce-related activities will be shared with the Wellness Centers. •Outreach: WORK Center Program-specific flyers will be distributed to all 54 Wellness Centers in English and Spanish.
WORK Center Collaboration with SAUSD High Schools
December 2, 2024
2 3
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5 •Follow-up Meeting: Will reconvene in January 2025 to assess progress and deepen this partnership.
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
WORK Center staff are collaborating with the CTE Division, specifically with Director Celeste Migliaccio, Steven Long, and Vidalia Resendes. SAUSD and WORK Center teams are working on an MOU that would establish a referral system to connect both current students and soon-to-be CTE graduates with workforce programs. Opportunities being explored include On-the-Job Training (OJT), and other Work-Based Learning programs, such as the Santa Ana Youth Employment Program.
Annual Youth Job Fair
The WORK Center has participated in an annual job fair that focuses on the employment needs of youth. The job fair is a partnership between the City of Santa Ana, the Chamber of Commerce, SAUSD and Saddleback Church. In February 2024, over 70 employers offered more than 5,000 job opportunities to SAUSD students.
Santa Ana Youth Employment Program (SAY)
Over the past year, the SAY Program has successfully employed over 150 SAUSD students. The WORK Center is still accepting applications for the next round, offering flexible, paid work experience to youth aged 16-30. The program is designed to accommodate school schedules. The selection process is first-come, first-served, and spaces are limited. Youth must meet the following criteria:
•Live in Santa Ana,
•Youth must be 16 to 30 years of age,
•Be a citizen of the United States or have legal permission to work in the United States,
•Must complete an application and provide required documents, •Youth under 18 years old must submit a Request for Work Permit on the Santa Ana Unified School District's website, and
•Selected participants must work 15 to 20 hours per week.
These initiatives reflect the WORK Center’s commitment to fostering strong community partnerships and expanding workforce opportunities for SAUSD students and families.
Let me know if you have any questions or require further details.
EXHIBIT(S)
None
Submitted By: Michael L. Garcia, Executive Director of Community Development Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager