Youth Job Connection (YJC) – Technical Questions & Answers for Service Providers

Youth Job Connection (YJC) – Technical Questions & Answers for Service Providers

General

What is the difference between Youth Job Connection’s “broader” stream and summer stream?

  • YJC will offer:
    • A “broader” stream , launching in fall 2015, which will provide intensive employment supports for youth aged 15 to 29 who are not in employment, education or training; and,
    • A summer stream , launching in spring 2016, which will provide summer job opportunities and part-time job placements during the school year to help multi-barriered high school students, aged 15 to 18, make positive educational and career choices.
    • The focus will be on those facing challenging life circumstances and at-risk of experiencing poor transitions between education and work.
  • The summer stream provides a minimum 20 hours of pre-employment services compared to a minimum 60 hours for the broader stream. The maximum allowable period for a job placement in the summer stream is eight weeks for a summer job placement and six months for a part-time placement during the school year. It is expected that participants will have one job placement as part of the summer stream. Placements under the broader stream can be up to 26 weeks long.

Will there be any service gaps resulting from the wind-down of MCYS’ Jobs for Youth program?

  • There are no anticipated service gaps from the wind-down of MCYS’s Jobs for Youth program. MTCU and MCYS are working closely to ensure a smooth transfer of client service as the Jobs for Youth winds down and the new Youth Job Connection launches.

How does MTCU define “multi-barriered” clients?

  • Youth Job Connection is intended to support youth with multiple and/or complex barriers to employment resulting from some combination of challenging life circumstances. This includes, for example, youth living in poverty, those in conflict with the law, or those who have limited labour market experience, low levels of education or literacy, or low motivation. It also includes youth who may be Aboriginal, recent immigrants, socially marginalized or living with disabilities or mental health issues.
  • Service providers delivering the program will be required to assess potential participants using a defined set of suitability criteria.

Eligibility

What are the specific eligibility criteria for the Youth Job Connection program?

  • Youth accessing Youth Job Connection must be a resident of Ontario and eligible to work in Ontario and be either:
  • 15 to 29 years of age, unemployed, not participating in full time training or education; or,
  • 15 to 18 years of age and high school students intending to return to high school or access post-secondary education after summer job placements.
  • In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, service providers delivering the program will be required to assess potential participants using a defined set of suitability criteria.

Can a client who has no address access YJC? No SIN?  No government identification?

  • To be eligible, a client must be able to demonstrate their age, their Ontario residency and eligibility to work in Canada.
  • During the client assessment, and service coordination, the caseworker could refer the client to temporary housing organizations or transitional community services to assist in obtaining government identification and housing.  YJC is designed to help youth overcome such barriers.

Can clients access YJC directly or do the clients have to go through the Employment Service?

  • Clients can access YJC through various ways: directly through the YJC service provider or through referral from an ES service provider, community organization or school board.  

A client may be selected to participate once they’ve met with a YJC service provider to determine eligibility and suitability and assess employment and service needs.

Which date is used to determine age eligibility for youth who are turning 30?

  • A youth is eligible as long as they are under 30 the day the YJC employment service plan is signed by the client.

Suitability

If a client only requires job placement services as they have recently participated in pre-employment workshops, can I exempt my client from the mandatory pre-employment component?

  • No.  Job placement and pre-employment are mandatory components of Youth Job Connection.  Research shows that a minimum of 60 hours is required to support the needs of multi-barriered youth.
  • If pre-employment workshops are not required, it’s likely the client would not meet suitability requirements, and as such the client may access the Employment Service program for job placement services.

How can a person with disabilities be supported through this program? 

  • Youth Job Connection can provide job placement supports for a participant with a disability over the maximum $1,000 to cover costs related to assisted devices and other placement related accommodations.
  • The service provider must have the ability to deliver the contracted service in a facility that is readily accessible to individuals, including persons with disabilities.
  • In addition, the service provider must provide services in a manner that takes into account the youth’s disability (e.g., physical, cognitive or mental disabilities). Service providers are required to coordinate with other relevant human, social, health, housing, legal or education and training service providers as needed to ensure the youth’s full range of needs are being met.  
  • Where services are not fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities, the service provider must have a plan to accommodate these individuals, by serving them in an accessible location or through partnership with another organization, in adherence to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
  • When appropriate, service providers can refer persons with disabilities to the services of the Ontario Disability Support Program - Employment Supports (ODSP-ES). ODSP-ES helps individuals with their unique needs, and provides a range of supports for employment and independence, such as technological aids, supports, devices, and personnel supports such as transcribing and sign language interpretation. 

What evidence should be collected to support the client’s suitability for the program?

  • Suitability indicators help in the selection of appropriate program participants. The justification and documented rationale for service will be recorded in the client’s file.
  • For example, if under 18, a Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) plan must be in place, and the client must be legally excused from school.

Case Assessment

Should a client file remain open while  they are accessing community services in the short term?

  • Yes, based on the client situation, they could participate in community services and Youth Job Connection concurrently.  It is at the discretion of the service provider to determine if the client is prepared to participate immediately, or if it is appropriate to refer to other types of support or assistance before beginning Youth Job Connection.

Is it appropriate to connect with my client’s caseworker for other community or income support programs they receive? 

  • Yes, it is recommended that service providers make those connections to other community services used by the client. As many YJC service providers also deliver ES, these connections will be pre-existing for many service providers.
  • As incentives are provided through YJC, it is important for the service provider to have a discussion with their client on any other income supports they may be receiving  in order to not jeopardize other necessary supports. It is up to the client to inform their caseworker of the additional financial supports they receive.
  • The client must provide written consent prior to any discussion of personal information about the client.

Can the client have more than one service plan?

  • No, a client may only have one open service plan.

When is a client accepted into the program?

  • Once the individual employment service plan is developed based on a comprehensive needs assessment, it is mutually agreed upon between the client and service provider, and signed by both parties, the client is officially accepted into the program. At this point we refer to a client as a program participant.

Mentorship

How should a service provider document the mentoring component of YJC?

  • The participant file should note the expected outcomes of the mentoring relationship, along with the arrangement details (mentor name, phone number), duration and notes on its progress.
  • The service provider should document how the arrangement was established (by the service provider or through an existing mentorship organization), applicable security documents (criminal record check and vulnerable sector check) and scheduled follow up on the arrangement with the client.

Would the service provider monitor the mentoring relationship?

  • Yes. The intention of mentoring in the YJC program is to support the development of “soft skills” and interpersonal and relationship building skills that are the foundation of workplace interactions.  Mentoring can be offered in many facets, by the service provider or through an outside organization. 
  • As the service provider will meet with the youth regularly throughout the participation in the program, it would be under their discretion to see if this support has met its purpose, or needs to be revised.

Could the mentor be another employee where the placement occurs?

  • Yes.  A mentor could be someone at the job placement who provides guidance and support to the client, outside of orientation and regular job duties. 

Pre-Employment Workshops

When is the pre-employment stipend paid to the participant?

  • Issuing stipend payments to participants is under the discretion of the service provider (i.e. daily or weekly).  The pre-employment stipend is intended as an incentive for completing the negotiated pre-employment training workshop. The participant can use these funds to offset costs of participating in the service, such as food, transportation, etc.
  • Service providers must track the attendance of the participant in the workshops and calculate the eligible stipend payment (minus applicable taxes) based upon their participation. 

How are the pre-employment workshops chosen for the participant?

  • Service providers must negotiate a schedule for completing the required 60 hours of pre-employment services with the participant, based on their needs and as part of their employment service plan.

Can YJC participants access ES Resources and Information (RI) workshops as part of their pre-employment hours?

  • A service provider could schedule a YJC client into an ES RI workshop if the workshop was designed to achieve the same results. However, ES RI workshops alone will not meet the needs of the client group served by YJC. Service providers will be expected to develop additional workshops to meet the needs of YJC’s highly barriered youth clients.  

What if the participant can’t receive the stipend?

  • There may be situations where the participant may not be able to receive the stipend as it may interfere with benefits received through other income support programs.  The service provider should speak to the participant’s caseworker to determine if the receipt of a stipend would disqualify them from continuing to receive benefits from their current income support (or from the same level of income support).
  • If their current income support program provides a greater amount of financial support than receiving the stipend, the participant may  access the program without receiving the stipend, and must complete the required 60 hours of workshops.
  • It is up to the client to inform their caseworker of the additional financial supports they receive. The client must provide written consent prior to any discussion of personal information.

What happens if a participant only attends three hours of pre-employment training on one day?  

  • The participant would receive a stipend for those three hours. The date of payment of the stipend is to be decided by the service provider. 

Job Placement

If the employer participates in a job trial and then a placement with the participant, are they still held to the $7,500 maximum?

  • Yes. The maximum per individual client is $7,500. This includes the individual supports and stipend received by the participant and any employer incentives spent for job trials and job placements.

Is there a minimum duration for a work placement? 

  • There is no minimum duration.  Placement duration is based on the mutual needs of the client and the employer.  

Is there a maximum duration for a work placement?

  • The maximum allowable period in any one job placement is 26 weeks.

Can job placement supports be used for items others than placement related costs e.g. child care during pre-employment services etc.?

  • No, job placement support costs can only be accessed during the job placement period. 
  • Participants will receive a pre-employment stipend while attending their workshops. The pre-employment stipend is intended both as an incentive for participation and to offset costs related to participating in the service, such as food, transportation, etc.
  • If a participant requires assistance with childcare expenditures, the service provider should coordinate and refer to applicable community services for assistance.

Post Placement

If a client requires longer term career supports, would I keep their case file open?

  • No, the client will be exited after the placement has ended (service impact is captured three months post-exit). Youth requiring ongoing career supports post-placement can continue to receive service through YJC’s Education and Work Transitions Support component, which is only available to clients after they have completed the program.

What if the participant becomes unemployed shortly after exiting the program? What options are available to assist them?

  • The service provider will be able to assist the client through the education and work transition supports for job or career guidance, general support or referral to another employment program with placement components.

YJC Budget and Financial Supports

Are there any exceptions on the $7,500 maximum for incentives and supports? 

  • It is the service provider’s responsibility to manage their budget for the delivery of YJC.  There are no exceptions for $7,500 maximum per individual.

How does the $7,500 per client compare with the current youth employment programs?

  • YJC funding supports and incentives available per client are consistent with other current youth employment programs offered such as the Youth Employment Fund and MCYS’ Jobs for Youth program.

Performance Management

When do we count intake?

  • An intake target is counted once a participant completes a minimum of 60 hours in pre-employment workshops, successfully completes their placement and the case is closed in CaMS.

Why are the outcomes for YJC not the same as for ES (i.e., employment is not the primary outcome)?

  • YJC is designed for multi-barriered youth to learn about jobs and gain work experience, with the goal to achieve  long term employment, meaningful careers and success in their working lives.  This may require youth to first return to school or pursue further skills training before seeking long-term employment. As such, positive outcomes include both employed or in education/training (i.e., service impacts). These outcomes will be measured at program exit, three, six and twelve month post program exit.

Why is the requirement for service coordination so much higher for YJC?  I don’t think we can provide 50 per cent of our clients with coordinated community services.

  • YJC provides employment services to youth with multiple and/or complex barriers to employment. Building strong relationships with other community organizations is necessary to reach the clients most suitable for the program. Given the client target, the coordination with other community services and supports is also crucial to provide the supports necessary for the client to succeed in the YJC program.
  • Mentorship for instance is a key service component of YJC. It may be directly provided by the YJC service provider or in partnership with another organization. Service providers are expected to utilize the existing resources available in the community to assist and support the YJC participant in the program.

YJC Summer

What are the placement incentives for the YJC summer program?

  • Funding is available to employers to encourage them to offer job placements and train program participants. The need for and amount of the placement incentive will be negotiated by the service provider based on the complexity of job skill level and the length of the on-the-job training required.
  • Incentive levels will vary as not all employers want or need incentives. In addition, not all employers who receive incentives will receive the maximum amount. Job skill levels and complexity as well as the length of training required will also vary.
  • Individual supports, like pre-employment service stipends and job placement support are also available. The maximum amount available for employer placement incentives is $2,500 per participant, minus the total amount allocated to individual supports.