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Job City USA - Santa Barbara City College |
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Program Components: Life skills
Foster Care Individuals Title of Practice : Job City USACollege: Santa Barbara City College College Contact: Judy OsterhageFoster Education Coordinator Independent Living Program Director 805-965-0581 Target Population: Economically Disadvantaged Foster YouthGoals: Job City USA was created to provide hands-on fun experiences for the students,especially foster youth, to learn the soft-skills necessary for employment. Description: The Job City USA curriculum is a series of experiences that teaches fosterand disadvantaged youth to be successful in everyday events, from setting an alarm clock to tying a tie. The experiences are typically taught in a one-day format where students can participate in a series of activities by going from table to table. One they master the activity they usually receive a small price or get to keep what they created. Example activities include: Alarms clock – once they can set an alarm clock, they get the alarm clock Sew on a button – They receive a sewing kit Tie tying – receive a tie Personal Color Analysis (Winter, Spring, etc.) Makeovers – learn workforce appropriate make up for interviews and receive makeup Mock interviews, - receive a tape of themselves and a critique from a professional Interview clothes – donated from faculty and staff The program often includes a field trip event that takes place on a different day. Field trips have been taken to: Nordstrom’s – dress for success night, managers’ talk about getting applying for jobs, appropriate attire, etc. Go to the Mall – where students are given the task of obtaining three applications and business cards from managers. Some schools/groups have made the transportation for the field trip part of the lesson – getting bus information, etc. -- while some have used a college or school bus. There have been, to date, three events with approximately 40 students at each event. Staffing: Depends on group size. Most staff members at events are volunteers however; aminimum of one person per activity table or task is required. Several staff members are 135 required to the flow of students. Facilities, equipment, materials: A large room, with one table for each task to be taught.Depending on the activities materials must be gathered to handle the number of students participating. Costs, funding source: The program began as a component for the independent livingprogram – but it was soon evident that there were not enough hands-on experiences for the students. The initial grant was a small collaboration grant awarded via Mt. San Antonio Community College. Outreach and marketing: The idea is marketed on campus to groups servingdisadvantaged youth as well as at conferences and community meetings. Evidence of effectiveness : Assessment is in the event – if they get the tie or the alarmclock they get the skills. There is no follow up in the job-place. However, staff reports that Santa Barbara is “one of top” in the state in terms of youth having jobs. South Coast (6)
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