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

.

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

S U T S S U C C E S Sfor

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

S U T S S U C C E S Sfor

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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

S U T S S U C C E S Sfor

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IMPLEMENTATION

S U T S S U C C E S Sfor

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

S U T S S U C C E S Sfor

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GROUP DYNAMICS & CHALLENGES

S U T S S U C C E S Sfor

• 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

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THANK YOU