ABOUT US
2010-2011- OEWD funded program to provide services for 30 hard to employ San Franciscans. We were contracted to work with 15 participants from the Bayview Hunters Point Community and 15 participants from the Western Addition. The program began in June, 2010 and through word of mouth alone, the program enrolled 25 participants by the end of 2010 with an additional five pending intake and assessment. The program had a 70% success rate halfway through the funding cycle.
2010 – RPOS in collaboration with the Southeast Community Development Corporation, Sustainable Futures and Northern California Teamsters Training program offered a hazwopper training program to low-income residents primarily from the Bayview Hunters Point Community. The program enrolled 21 participants and 18 received certificates of completion. This represents an 85% completion rate.
2010- RPOS in collaboration with Up From Darkness, Allen Temple Community Development Corporation, Brothers for Change and CEED Enterprises were contracted to provide outreach and job readiness for residents in the Western Addition. As of December, 2010 the collaborative had outreached and completed surveys to 150 residents, developed a job readiness power point presentation and began developing a comprehensive resource guide for residents. This represents a 50% completion rate for outreach with supporting surveys to assist in determining the needs of the community.
2010 – San Francisco Department of Immigration and Emigrant Affairs provided funding to RPOS to increase participation in the 2010 United States Census particularly in the public housing developments. Our program was instrumental in showing a 50% increase in participation since the 2000 census with Bayview Hunters Point showing the most growth overall.
2009-2010 – (Participants 14 to 21 years of age) Lennar Urban funded RPOS to provide services for 60 at-risk and in-risk residents of the Bayview Hunters Point Community. Of this number, 17 were employed, 5 enrolled in vocational training programs, 4 graduated high school and 19 enrolled in post-secondary education. This represents a 75% success rate. In 2007 we also received funding from Lennar Urban to work with 60 participants ranging in age from 16 to 24 years old. On January 31, 2006 our Lennar Program Evaluator stated “Renaissance Youth Movement Program works with some of the most at-risk, economically disadvantaged and fragile youth in San Francisco. The commitment of the staff in working with these young people is remarkable. Program leadership and staff continue to reflect and challenge themselves to adjust their programming to better meet the needs of these youth.” Through this funding we were able to serve 135 youth and young adults. Of this number, 107 were active participants and placed in paid internship positions where they could learn marketable work skills, 52 were placed in unsubsidized employment and 4 placed in advanced training.
2009-2010 – (Participants 18 to 24 years of age) RPOS in collaboration with TELBON (a for-profit cabling and wiring company) and Glide Foundation program provided a six month cabling and wiring training program with job placement, retention, barrier removal and case management services. This program was so successful that we are currently working with a consultant to secure funding for the program to continue. It is the opinion of the consultant and individuals we have met in the private sector that this training will provide more long term and stable employment opportunities than many of the current training programs.
2004 to Present – (Participants 13 to 17 years of age) Department of Children Youth and Their Families funded program met and exceeded all funder expectations in regard to enrollment and outcomes. Participant’s academic performance, behavior and school attendance improved by 50%, age appropriate employment by 70% and reduction in negative police contacts by 20%.
In 2007 – (Participants 14 to 21 years of age) our Private Industry Council Youth funded program was ranked one of the highest performing city-wide.
In 2005 – (Participants 14 to 24 years of age) RPOS received funding from the San Francisco H.S.A. (Arendt contract) to work specifically with foster and emancipated foster youth. Through this contract we developed positive relationships with employers such as: Safeway, Marshall’s, Kohl’s, Target, Best Buy, Jamba Juice, Starbucks and Foodsco where we successfully placed 60 Foster youth in employment. This is especially difficult when you consider the transient nature of foster youth.
In 2000 – (Participants 18 and above) RPOS secured funding to work specifically with 30 ex-offenders and in collaboration with the San Francisco City College Southeast Campus we were able to train (primarily in computer applications). The program was so successful that many of the participants retain their original employment to date. However, RPOS has long history of providing comprehensive services to ex-offenders and re-entry populations through collaboration that began more than 20 years ago with the Special Police Officers for Excellent Security Services Program. This program provides security training, supportive wrap around services, barrier removal and case management. One participant in the program stated “that without the support of this program I probably would not have my children, a job and self respect.” This program has been instrumental in reducing recidivism and those who have re-offended know that upon release that they have a supportive network to help them transition back into society.
1984 to 1999-(Participants 16 to 18 years of age) RPOS successfully ran a community day school with 85% of the students mainstreamed back into traditional high school settings.
1984 to 2004- (Participants 14 and above) RPOS successfully ran a Mayors Office of Community Development employment program which met and exceeded program expectations in regard to enrollment, participation and job placement.
1984 to 2005- (Participants 18 and above) RPOS in collaboration with the San Francisco City College Southeast Campus and the One Stop Career Link Center – Southeast hosted regular hiring fairs with 300 to 1500 attendees per hiring fair.
Our programs are designed to:
1). Create Job opportunities for youth and young adults. This funding will allow us to hire a .50 Employment Specialist who will recruit 5 employers per week to add to our existing pool of employers who are willing to hire program participants who have completed our job readiness and life skills work shop series and are ready to work. The Employment Specialist will also invite potential employers to our workshops where they can provide participants with information on their company’s hiring policies, qualifications and expectations.
The Employment Specialist will also arrange for field trips to major companies, medical facilities etc. so that youth and young adults can talk to employees, observe appropriate workplace demeanor. All participants will be required to sign a release of information with will enable us to coordinate joint meetings with between staff and employers where placements have been made to ensure the employer is satisfied with the placement and to determine what else the employee can do to improve performance. This staff person’s efforts will be leveraged by RPOS’s current collaborative efforts with OEWD Partners, the Career Link Centers and EDD to hold two hiring and barrier fairs.
In addition, our staff assume the role of “surrogate parents” and provide youth and young adults with wrap-around employment and educational services – specifically employment readiness, placement and youth enrichment. The retention mentor has a designated 24/7 cell phone line for participants, employers and others involved in the positive development of participants' lives as a means to resolve issues.
2. Providing youth and young adults with intensive mentoring and training concerning financial literacy/education.
Many of our program participants have not been shown an example of how to save money and most have parents who do not have bank accounts, cash their checks at corner stores and pay their bills in cash or by money orders. It is our desire to change this culture by working with participants to open checking and savings accounts. We know that when youth are able to build material assets they are more likely to achieve positive outcomes such as higher expectations and confidence about the future, long-term thinking and planning, reduced participation in high-risk behaviors and a higher degree of social connectedness. Therefore, we will invite Wells Fargo Bank to facilitate workshops on financial management and set up checking and savings accounts. Once a participant has secured employment, RPOS staff will work with them to develop a financial budget to help them manage their money.
3). Providing mentoring, case management and barrier removal services:
We are requesting funding to support staff time for (a) intensively working with 40 youth to develop individual goals plans which will clearly define the necessary steps to successful completion, (b) reconnecting youth and young adults who have dropped out of high school to High School Diploma and GED programs, enrolling them in post secondary education and assisting with the completion of financial aid applications and identifying and completing scholarship applications. We will also connect participants to Sector Academy and other vocational training programs.
Staff will meet in group sessions as well as meet with youth and young adults one-on-one as needed to most effectively address their questions and concerns about college and training programs. The Educational/Retention Specialist will help youth to make a successful transition from grade to grade and from high school to college and/or vocational training. We will maintain an open line of communication with Educators, vocational training staff and parents/caregivers to assure that participants are reaching their academic and vocational training goals.
The staff will track each youth and young adult to ensure that they are making progress towards their goals and do not get “stuck” on the path towards self sufficiency through education, training and ultimately employment. If participants need additional academic assistance they will be referred to tutorial programs within their schools, Community Based Organizations and San Francisco City College. The Education/Retention Specialist will interface with tutors to assure that youth are receiving assistance in the areas in which they need the most assistance and © Mandatory weekly Job Readiness and Lifeskills workshops. RPOS in collaboration with Up From Darkness, Brothers for Change, Allen Community Development Corporation and CEED Enterprises have developed a comprehensive job readiness curriculum designed to provide participants with soft and hard skills building and career exploration. The program is designed to keep the interest of young people by interjecting humorous skits within the job readiness curriculum format. Our lifeskills workshops are designed on years of experience working with at-risk populations primarily in the Bayview Hunters Point Community and address such issues as: Leadership, Peer Pressure, Gang Affiliation, Substance Abuse, Teen Pregnancy, STD’s and HIV infections, Domestic Abuse, grief and retaliation, positive socialization, diversity training and community involvement.
Renaissance Parents of Success Program Snapshot
1. Orientation – (Each orientation is 2 hours and will include refreshments) All participants under 18 must attend an orientation with a parent or caregiver where the program is clearly defined and all consent forms explained and signed. In addition, participants must complete a placement indicator test in reading comprehension and mathematics. The orientation staff will schedule an appointment for each participant to meet with the employment, education/retention specialist and case manager.
Young adults will attend a separate orientation in which the program will be clearly defined and all consent forms signed. The orientation staff will schedule an appointment for each participant to meet with the employment, education/retention specialist and case manager.
2. Job Readiness and Lifeskills workshops – (4 weeks per participant): Participants are required to attend a mandatory job readiness and lifeskills workshop weekly. Workshops will be divided into two cohorts to accommodate the difference in age and needs of participants. Each job readiness cohort will include resume and cover letter development, completing job applications (hard copies and on-line) dress for success, career exploration and field trips. Each life skills cohort will address the areas we have identified as the most pertinent within this community but will provide additional lifeskills subject matter as needs arise. We will also utilize a wide range of facilitators for job readiness and lifeskills workshops.
3. Employment: Employment Specialist will designate one day each week to meet with potential employers. Employment Specialists will meet with 5 participants each day to develop individual employment goals plans, be provided with job leads and assisted through the application process. If necessary the Employment Specialist will provide transportation to interviews.
5. Education: Education/Retention Specialist: Will connect with clients once a week and develop individual educational goals plan and will work with applicants to enroll them in school, college, assist with completing financial aid and scholarship information and make referrals to vocational training programs. Thereafter, The Education and Retention Specialist with connect participants with educators, vocational training program staff, probation/parole officers, social services agencies, mental health and substance abuse etc., to assure that participants are meeting their obligations. Education/Retention Specialist will also connect with participants once a week in person or via telephone to assure that participants are on track. If a participant is failing to meet their goals the Education/Retention Specialist will telephone the participant and if this fails a home visit will be made to identify and if possible eliminate the cause for not meeting expectations.
6. Case Management/Barrier Removal services: Case will initially meet face to face with each participant for 30 minutes to 1 hour and weekly thereafter. The length of the contact is dependent on the needs of the client.
7. Job placement assistance: each participant will receive intensive job placement assistance if this is their career path. Once a participant is placed we will provide retention services for six months to one year.
8. Supportive Services: Supportive services provided are tied closely with our initial assessment – their primary function is to provide “wrap around” services that support the educational, employment and positive socialization aspects of the program. Once the assessment identifies a participants needs/strengths and a charts a course of action, the participant is enrolled in relevant enrichment programs and connected to a wide array of resources.
All participants are required to be involved in positive activities five days per week. This can take the form of education, vocational training, employment or job search and mandatory job readiness workshops.
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