Project Grant 23A60YB000004

PROJECT SUMMARY: THE YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM LOCATED AT OGDEN-WEBER TECHNICAL COLLEGE (OTECH YB) WILL PROVIDE EDUCATION, SKILLS TRAINING, LEADERSHIP, CAREER EXPLORATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES, AND POST-PROGRAM SUPPORT TO OPPORTUNITY YOUTH RESIDING IN OGDEN, UTAH.INTENDED USE OF FUNDS: FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE PERSONNEL, TRAVEL, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, WRAPAROUND SERVICES, TRAINING, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FOR A NET ZERO HOME, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND PARTICIPANT STIPENDS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE OTECH YB PROGRAM.PROJECT SCOPE: THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE A MINIMUM OF 84 YOUTH, AGES 16-24, RESIDING IN OGDEN CITY ZIP CODES 84401 AND 84404. FOLLOWING YOUTHBUILDS 50-40-10 MODEL, PROGRAM TIME WILL BE DEDICATED TO EDUCATION, CONSTRUCTION OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING, LEADERSHIP, CAREER EXPLORATION AND PLANNING, COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND 12-MONTH POST-PROGRAM SUPPORT. STUDENTS WILL BE OFFERED A NURSING ASSISTANT (NA) PROGRAM TRACK AS PART OF A CONSTRUCTION PLUS INITIATIVE. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR A 30-HOUR WEEK: ACADEMICS FOR 15 HOURS (50 ), CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY NA FOR 12 HOURS (40 ), AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR 3 HOURS (10 ). SKILLS WILL BE INTEGRATED THROUGH PROJECT-BASED, PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING WHILE CONSTRUCTING A NET ZERO, ENERGY EFFICIENT, SINGLE-FAMILY HOME FOR A LOW-INCOME FAMILY WITH WEBER HOUSING AUTHORITY. STAFF MEMBERS BUILD A CULTURE OF RETENTION THROUGH PRE-ENROLLMENT CONTACT, TRANSITION SERVICES WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH, AND INDIVIDUALIZED DEVELOPMENT PLANS. A TRANSITION ASSESSMENT HELPS DETERMINE THE BEST PLACEMENT PATHWAY, E.G., EMPLOYMENT, FURTHER POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, OR MILITARY SERVICE. STAFF INCLUDES A YOUTHBUILD PROJECT DIRECTOR, CONSTRUCTION TRAINER, INSTRUCTORS,CASE MANAGER, JOB DEVELOPER PLACEMENT SPECIALIST, SUCCESS COACH, AND TEACHERS AIDE, ALONG WITH EXISTING COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION, STAFF, AND FACULTY. THE OTECH CONSTRUCTION OCCUPATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, COMPRISING LOCAL INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS, PROVIDES ADVICE, EVALUATION, AND CRITICAL JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. OVER 35 COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUPPORT THE OTECH YB PROGRAM, ASSISTING WITH RECRUITMENT AND RESOURCE ACCESS FOR PARTICIPANTS.PROPOSED OUTCOMES: THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO MEET OR EXCEED YOUTHBUILD USA PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL BE TESTED UPON ENTRY TO DETERMINE INDIVIDUAL GRADE LEVELS FOR READING AND MATH. THROUGH RIGOROUS ACADEMICS, PARTICIPANTS WILL EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED BASED ON THE 2014 GED PASSING STANDARDS. YOUTH WILL BE DUAL-ENROLLED IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, EARNING AN INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED 570-HOUR YB CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY DIPLOMA OR A 285-HOUR NURSING ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE. PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE AN OSHA 10-HOUR SAFETY CERTIFICATE, ALONG WITH PORTABLE, STACKABLE CONSTRUCTION CORE CREDENTIALS FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (NCCER), WHICH INCLUDE SAFETY, WORKPLACE LITERACY AND READINESS, CONSTRUCTION MATH, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND GREEN CONSTRUCTION. YOUTHBUILD GRADUATES ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO OVER 30 OTECH TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, ALL WIOA ELIGIBLE. OTECH IS ACCREDITED NATIONALLY BY THE COUNCIL ON OCCUPATION EDUCATION (COE) AND IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF APPRENTICE TRAINING IN THE STATE. THE UTAH DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES HAS IDENTIFIED CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, ELECTRICIANS, CARPENTERS, AND NURSING ASSISTANTS AS HAVING MODERATE-SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYMENT GROWTH THROUGH 2022CREATING MORE THAN 1,900 POSITIONS ANNUALLY IN NORTHERN UTAH.