25A - AGMT WIOA FORMULA - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

EXHIBIT 3 9. Mentoring (1 page max) OCCC has provided mentoring services for 25 years. OCCC Program Specialist, OCCC Project Supervisors, all CCYS stall and OCCC adminialrative staff have all taken on mentorship roles. OCCC has built a strong network of community partnerships to address challenges, crisis, and barriers each youth face. OCCC case managers and staff irave helped the most difficult cases, the most challenging, heartbreaking, and tenacious participants at OCCC. We appmuuh each case individually, understanding that life's'struggles will happLn while in the program, yet challenge our youth to give us their best. At OCCC we hold each participant accountable. We seek, and expect the absolute hest out of our youth. We challenge our youth to Cake pride in the work they complete. Homelessness is a signiCeant burden to our youth. We often recognize one's strength of resilience to build on their self-esteem if they are completing a program while living on the streets. It is an incredible accomplishment. To address this need, in 2018 we started partnering with Citynot, in collaboration with the Cily of Anaheim, Mercy Zlouse, and the Heal Ih Care Agency to link our homeless- youth to services. Through the Orange County 211 referral system, a VSPDAT can be completed and we can link them to additional support in the community. We have successfully linked youth to supported housing programs, as well as transitional and emergency housing programs. We rely on due rullcrton and Santa Ana Armory in the cold seasons for emergency shelter. We also re fer to shelters, as a few more have opened in the past b months. We have had housing programs present at all staff meetings as well. Mental health issues and homelessness are often tied closely together. Our staff have received mental health fast aid training, and continue to support youth in connecting: to the Health Clare Agency for mental health services. The health care agency and probation departments also provide referrals to youth in recovery services, as OCCC; is willing to support youth with multiple barriers. OCCC stafThave taken and sat with youth through initial intakes at the mental health clinics, as there can often be significant stigina attached to the initial meeting with a mental health professional. We also bring mental health providers onsile to present and help. OCCC partners with the Department of Child Support Services to assist young men and women with custody issues, child support issues, and other signilicant barriers facing a young adult. Substance ,those is a motor coping strategy among at risk youth. In the past Nve have hosted AA meetings onsile, referred directly to Drug and Alcohol treatment programs, NA meetvigs, and Co-occurring support with the health care ,Agency. Often times youth are in significant denial, not understanding the risk they are in if they continue to use. We provide psychocducatiun using our own lived experiences, as well as the leadership ul'our youth who are in recovery. OC;CC Corpsmember of the Year in 2017 entered the program homeless and drinking dail y. Through his recovery, he was ollen able to speak directly to our youth in crisis about his own recovery. Because youth spend 6-9 hours a day in a healthy program, they o flen become their owu mentors and friends. At times they will also reach out to stafi'to alert when someone may be at risk, and further interventions are provided by OCCC staff Domestic violence and gang violence is another major barrier. We've created a safe haven Ilom that life-style. We offer a large network of community resources. We challenge youth to change. 25A-250