Item 10 - Agreements with Orange County Therapeutic Arts Center, Working Wardrobes

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Youth Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Agreements July 1, 2025 Page 2 Since WIOA's enactment, the Santa Ana Workforce Development Board (WDB) and the City's Community Development Agency have been dedicated to delivering high-quality employment workshops, job search assistance, and vocational training opportunities for residents while also assisting local businesses with their workforce needs. The WIOA grant is comprised of three funding streams that serve: low-income adults, recently laid off individuals, and youth between ages 16 - 24. The WDB, in partnership with the City, strategically procures experienced Youth Service Providers to ensure that Santa Ana's most vulnerable youth populations receive comprehensive workforce preparation services. Youth agreements are awarded annually to local non-profit organizations and collectively serve 50 to 60 Santa Ana youth each year. On May 29, 2025, the State released Workforce Services Information Notice (WSIN) 24- 25 announcing Program Year (PY) 2025-2026 WIOA Youth funding allocations, with the city to receive $817,644 in WIOA youth workforce funds. The allocation will support the award of youth agreements with the following three organizations: Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC) has provided WIOA youth services for the city since the law was enacted in 2014. OCCTAC has successfully met enrollment and performance benchmarks, including the federal requirement to expend at least 75% of funds to Out-of-School Youth and meet or exceed the 20% minimum for paid work experience. The organization is progressing toward meeting all WIOA Youth Performance Measures for the current program year. With more than 25 years of experience, OCCTAC has served over 70,000 youth in Santa Ana through culturally competent, trauma-informed programming. Each year, the organization supports approximately 7,000 youth, with targeted services for foster youth, youth with disabilities, high school dropouts, homeless youth, and youth on probation. OCCTAC has been a partner with the city in offering various workforce readiness programs since 2005. For Program Year 2025-2026, OCCTAC will continue offering a comprehensive WIOA youth employment program aligned with the 14 WIOA-required elements. Services include: • Paid work experience in high-demand fields such as health, education, technology, and the arts; • Career counseling, job readiness, and life skills training; • Literacy and numeracy tutoring for basic skills-deficient youth; • Supportive services including mental health counseling, transportation, and academic advising; • Mentoring, leadership development, and post-secondary education preparation.