Campaign launched by the OYC in 2013
Convened by the Alliance for Children’s Rights and UNITE-LA
Foster Youth at Work engages public workforce and child welfare agencies in LA County in devising collaborative, systemic solutions to improve foster youth connection to work readiness training, early work experiences, and pathways to sustainable careers.
“When this campaign was first launched, only 80 foster youth were enrolling in the County’s youth jobs programs each year. This year, 866 foster youth participated in a paid work experience thanks to the collaborative leadership of LA County’s child welfare and workforce systems.”
— David Rattray
Former President & CEO, UNITE-LA
The LA OYC partnered with the Nonprofit Finance Fund to assess the true cost of delivering quality youth workforce development programs in Los Angeles. This initiative examines the financial resources needed to compensate frontline staff with living wages while effectively serving TAY and OY. Key recommendations include advocating for dedicated state funding to increase per-participant budgets and indirect rate coverage, streamlining reporting requirements, offering flexible budget adjustments, and providing up-front payments with adequate transition time for 9 providers.
Through the Youth@ Work program, Dayshanae was connected with Yo! Watts—a Youth Source Center located in Southeast Los Angeles— where she developed both technical skills and valuable work experience that, she shares, have been vital to her success.
Dayshanae reported that her time in the program taught her how to write a resume, scan and send documents, make calls, organize events, and collaborate with others. Through this meaningful work experience, she reported she had the opportunity to meet new colleagues who helped create a supportive environment to learn and grow in. “Many of the staff members often supported a lot of us youth by understanding our busy lives and allowing us to have flexible schedules,” recalls Dayshanae.
She believes that her experience with Yo! Watts opened her eyes to how imperative it is to give back and to be a part of a greater effort to support those who are in need of resources. She has carried this commitment to improving her community through to her own advocacy work with the LAOYC. Over the past year, Dayshanae has advocated for additional support for youth who have not graduated high school and are struggling with employment, and will continue to use her work experience to advance opportunities for other systems-impacted youth.
Young Leader Letzy Brito is a foster youth who was pushed out of her traditional high school in the 11th grade. Despite being disconnected from traditional education, she has been engaged with various workforce development and education programs with the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) since the summer of 2019, including the Los Angeles County Youth@Work program.
Through Youth@Work, also known as HIRE LA Youth in the City of Los Angeles, Letzy received her first paid internship opportunity as a clerical office assistant at the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD). Youth@ Work gave Letzy the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and learn transferable customer service skills while welcoming community members to the center and connecting them to education, job training, and support services.
Letzy’s involvement in Youth@Work also opened additional doors to a continuum of comprehensive education and workforce development programs, such as CRCD’s South LA YouthBuild program. As a South LA YouthBuild member, Letzy has the opportunity to finish her high school diploma at CRCD Academy while receiving industry-recognized construction training and hands-on experience at local affordable housing developments.
In addition, as a YouthBuild AmeriCorps member Letzy has demonstrated tremendous leadership through community service efforts, such as food and PPE distribution and neighborhood beautification, to support the community during COVID-19.
Most recently, building on the work experience she gained in her Youth@Work internship, Letzy joined the City of Los Angeles, LA Mayor’s “Angeleno Corps” where she will be utilizing her professional skills in a year-long supported service placement at a local nonprofit agency. Due to the exposure to various career fields and opportunities initiated by the Youth@Work program, Letzy realized her incredible impact in her South Los Angeles community and is motivated to continue to make a difference in the lives of others.
Campaign launched by the OYC in 2013
Convened by the Alliance for Children’s Rights and UNITE-LA
Foster Youth at Work engages public workforce and child welfare agencies in LA County in devising collaborative, systemic solutions to improve foster youth connection to work readiness training, early work experiences, and pathways to sustainable careers.
“When this campaign was first launched, only 80 foster youth were enrolling in the County’s youth jobs programs each year. This year, 866 foster youth participated in a paid work experience thanks to the collaborative leadership of LA County’s child welfare and workforce systems.”
— David Rattray
President & CEO, UNITE-LA
866 youth in foster care were placed in paid work experience, an increase of over 15% from the previous year.
