Two grant opportunities allowed WCF to bring an additional $400,000 to the Central Florida community. A $297,000 grant will be used on special youth projects, and a $100,000 grant was awarded to enhance job retention and career advancement of previous welfare recipients. WCF will partner with many organizations to provide unique programming under these grants:

CREATION OF EDC ENDOWED CHAIR
Impetus in workforce development legislation on economic development, and the ongoing goal at WCF to utilize partner-based resources effectively has determined that establishing a Workforce Development Endowed Chair would allow WCF to elevate employer involvement. The Chair will be established with the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission for the specific purpose of contacting the central Florida targeted industry sectors.

SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR “AT RISK” HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
High school juniors and seniors identified as “at-risk” youth and enrolled in the EXCEL Alternatives education program will be provided with a one-month summer work experience with local employers to develop workplace skills and behaviors required to gain employment in the world of work after graduation. This project will benefit 70 high school students through the summer work experience component and provide 10 post-secondary scholarships .

DROP OUT PREVENTION CLASSES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH
This project focuses on reducing the school drop out rate and increasing the number of high school graduates. Over 400 middle and high school students will receive Junior Achievement’s “Economics of Staying in School (ESIS)” program for “at-risk” middle and high school students in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, and Sumter counties. Junior Achievement is the WCF partner presenting the program to youth at middle and high schools, alternative education programs, and juvenile detention centers.

HEALTHCARE EDUCATION RECRUITING AND RETENTION
To encourage job placement into healthcare, WCF will partner with Seminole Community College to focus on recruiting 35 youth applicants for enrollment into the practical nurse program. The program will increasing their chance of success by developing individualized prescriptions to overcome mathematic skill gaps, which SCC has identified as a major obstacle to success for practical nursing students.
 
SUMMER YOUTH JOB FAIRS
WCF will market and host two job fairs highlighting: 1) employers targeting youth job seekers for summer and year-round employment opportunities; 2) introducing youth to local job opportunities; 3) job-skill development opportunities for youth, and; 4) opportunities for parents of youth to increase their knowledge of youth job opportunities and employer job skill expectations.

CAREER TRANSCRIPT SYSTEM FOR HIGH SCHOOL YOUTHS
These funds will be used to assist O-Force in expediting the partnership with John Hopkins University to adapt the SCANS based Career Transcript System for use in a pilot project to identify, benchmark and document the workforce skills of individuals.

WELFARE RESEARCH PROJECT
WCF will conduct an in-depth research project of welfare transition customers in order for WCF to better meet their needs. The research project will strive to answer questions such as ‘what worked and what didn’t work’ for these customers.