The purpose of the job challenge demonstration project ("job challenge project") is to: 1) determine whether the job challenge program is a more effective model for serving at-risk youth when compared…

The Department of Labor's Office of Job Corps awarded a $630,616 cooperative agreement to the Louisiana Department of Military Affairs to fund the Job Challenge Demonstration Project under the Job Corps Experimental Projects and Technical Assistance program (CFDA 17.287). The project aims to determine if the Job Challenge model is more effective and cost-effective than traditional Job Corps for serving at-risk youth. The Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program cadets who complete the initial 22-week residential phase can choose to participate in the five-month Job Challenge Project residential program at the Carville Job Corps Center site. There, they will receive expanded education, training, work-based learning experiences, and job placement services aligned with employer needs to put them on a pathway to employment. Key performance metrics will assess outcomes related to employment, education credentials earned, and earnings to evaluate the model's success relative to traditional Job Corps. The award period is January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.

The purpose of the job challenge demonstration project ("job challenge project") is to: 1) determine whether the job challenge program is a more effective model for serving at-risk youth when compared to the department of labor's traditional job corps program model; and 2) determine whether the job challenge project is a more cost effective model when compared to the department of labor's traditional job corps program model. DOL is funding this demonstration project to test strategies used by the state of louisiana's national guard youth challenge program to improve the workforce outcomes of job corps eligible youth. Activities performed the job challenge project is a five-month residential program that will expand and enhance the education and job training of job corps eligible participants who complete the first 22-week residential phase of the louisiana national guard youth challenge program and who choose to participate in the job challenge project. Cadets in the job challenge project will reside at the carville job corps center site and receive a robust education and training experience over a 5-month period, while concurrently participating in the 12-month mentorship phase of the louisiana national guard youth challenge. The job challenge project education and training experience will place participants on a pathway towards employment. The job challenge project must include the following seven (7) activities: 1) recruitment of job corps eligible youth from the participants of the first phase of the youth challenge program; 2) occupational skills training and educational credentialing; 3) individualized career counseling and academic counseling; 4) work-based learning and exposure to the world of work; 5) leadership development activities that encourage responsibility, employability, and other positive social behaviors; 6) employer engagement to ensure cadets' skills align with employer needs at program completion; and 7) job placement. Deliverables for this experimental project, four of the six youth performance standards at wioa section 116(b)(2)(a)(II) will be used to measure success and are as follows: ? The percentage of program participants who are in education or training activities, or in unsubsidized employment, during the second quarter after exit from the program; ? The percentage of program participants who are in education or training activities, or in unsubsidized employment, during the fourth quarter after exit from the program; ? The median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; and ? The percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, during participation in or within 1 year after exit from the program. In addition to the above identified wioa youth performance measures, performance standards will also include criteria for a qualifying initial placement as well as initial placement average wage of cadets within a twelve month window beginning from the separation/graduation date. The definition of a qualifying placement is outlined in job corps electronic policy and requirements handbook (eprh) exhibit 4-1 (attachment e), and the initial placement verification and documentation requirements are outlined in job corps eprh exhibit 4-2 (attachment e). Intended beneficiary youth who meet all of the eligibility requirements for participation in, and who successfully complete the 22-week residential phase of the louisiana national guard youth challenge program. Subrecipient activities n/a