Cleveland Federal Community Leadership Institute
At-Risk Youth Group
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SU T S SUCCESSfor
Kimberly Bennett - Accountant, DFAS
Justin O’Rourke – Contract Specialist, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Katti Sorboro - Counselor, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Beth Thrall – Registered Nurse, Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Chaunda Tolbert – Program Analyst, HHS
Nikki Welch – Program Specialist, NASA
Team Members
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AGENDA
• Target Group Identification - Chaunda
• Needs Assessment - Beth
• Project Selection / Determination - Katti
• Implementation Plan - Justin
• Evaluation – Nikki
• Group Dynamic & Challenges - Kimberly
• Sustainability – Kimberly
S U T S S U C C E S Sfor
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TARGET GROUP IDENTIFICATION
S U T S S U C C E S Sfor
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Initial research identified that this group
faces an elevated vulnerability to:
• Homelessness
• Unemployment
• Poverty
• Single-parenthood
• Involvement with the criminal justice
system
Who are “aged-out” or transitional foster youth ages 16-24
in Cuyahoga County?
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NEEDS ASSESSMENT
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In Cuyahoga County:
• 432 youth housed in homeless shelters
• More than 23,700 children in Ohio are in the
foster care system
• 58% will graduate high school
• At age 24 only half will be employed
• 25% encounter the legal system
• 60% are unmarried parents
• Examined local agencies and programs offered
• Spoke directly with several community organizations that serve this group
• Interview with a member of the target group
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NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Key findings:
• Target group has many needs-little resources
• Long-term mentoring needed
• Employment is a cornerstone for success—creates
sustainable independence
• The Purple Project -6th Annual Foster Youth Conference
• Suits for Success
• Partnership with Ohio Means Jobs and Ohio State Bar Foundation
• Volunteers from local community organizations
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PROJECT SELECTION/ DETERMINATION
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Suits for Success- June 17 & 19Cleveland State University
Objectives:
• Increase awareness of professional dress “best practices”
• Increase likelihood of obtaining professional employment through education; onsite makeup tutorials; etiquette; and guidance on how to tie a tie
• Build youth confidence
• Create a fun and interactive shopping experience
Tasks:
• Pick-up clothing, sorting
• Collection of additional items at two agencies (NASA and VA)
• Create comprehensive staffing plan
• Solicit for volunteers to staff two-day event
• Create “personal shopper” experiences
• Store set-up and tear-down
• Clean, straighten during event
• Evaluation- tallying and collection of surveys
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PLAN
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IMPLEMENTATION
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Thousands of donated items
were made available to the youth
“This is a blessing…the clothes are good quality,
we are all so excited!”~ Kevinee
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IMPLEMENTATION
S U T S S U C C E S Sfor
The implementation of the event and on-time completion of all associated tasks was used to evaluate the success of the event—additional metrics included:
Desired Metrics
• 65% of exhibit visitors complete the evaluation
• 60% of exhibit visitors’ confidence improved
• 60% would recommend event
• Number of individuals in the identified target group that were reached
• Complete 95% of project milestones by target dates
Results
• 100% of visitors completed evaluation
• 72% agree that their confidence for job readiness improved
• 83% would recommend SFS to a friend or family member
• 81% of visitors were within target group
• 90% of project milestones completed by target date
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EVALUATION & RESULTS
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GROUP DYNAMICS & CHALLENGES
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• Initially no storming
• Initial ideas falling through
created challenges
• Personal conflicts/ life
changes
• Differing communication
styles
• Work culture – differs based
on agencies
• Partnered with CFC Young Government Leaders to continue Suits for Success in subsequent years
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SUSTAINABILITY
S U T S S U C C E S Sfor
• Continued support
and partnership
with Ohio Means
Jobs and Ohio
State Bar
Foundation
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QUESTIONS
?
S U T S S U C C E S Sfor