YOUTH
SERVICES

Youth Community Planning and Assessment


Overview of SETA/Sacramento Works Youth Programs and Priorities for the Sacramento Works Youth Council.

To address shrinking federal dollars for youth services, several years ago the Sacramento Works Youth Council developed a collaborative approach of service delivery. Following a county-wide assessment of assets, gaps, and needs for youth services, the Youth Council identified policies and priorities to better serve the Sacramento youth focusing on:

  • On-going assessment of assets, gaps and needs for services
  • Targeting resources to challenged communities and populations
  • Critical industries for youth occupational skills training and placement
  • Services to probation, foster and disabled youth
  • Soft Skills focus to enhance training and placement retention
  • Academic achievement - all Out-of-School youth without high school diploma receive GED/High School completion services
  • Occupational Skills Training - all In-School youth participate in Occupational Skills Training
  • Expanding outreach for new partnerships and enhancing current partnerships

Sacramento Works provides funding to school districts, community based organizations and governmental entities to provide approximately 500 youth per year with employment and academic assistance, vocational training, leadership development, work experience and support services. In addition, the Sacramento Works Youth Council has funded Universal Youth Specialists, who work in the Sacramento Works Career Centers connecting youth to educational opportunities, job search assistance, and career and academic counseling. Annually, over 5,000 youth receive services at the Sacramento Works Career Centers.

Youth Council Initiatives


  • Youth Development and Crime Prevention program - provides employment, academic and wrap-around support services to 110 youth at risk of or involved in criminal behavior. The recent funding from the Department of Justice ended March 2007 and the program was originally funded with WIA discretionary funds.
  • Work Scholarship Program provides twenty Luther Burbank High School students with life skills training and academic counseling and tutoring to improve academic performance and graduate.
  • Sponsor of Youth Services Provider Network - SETA is a founding partner of the Youth Services Provider Network which provides youth and staff development training and technical assistance to youth providers.
  • SETA was recently awarded a Department of Corrections - Juvenile Justice Challenge Grant to serve probation and parole youth ages 16 to 25. SETA will partner with Asian Resources, Sacramento Chinese Community Services Center, All Nations Church of God, the Effort, Sacramento City Unified School District, and parole and probation departments to provide life skills; academic, vocational and employment services coupled substance abuse and mental health counseling.

Summer Employment Opportunities


  • Sacramento Works Summer Boot Camp - Three 20-hour boot camps in targeted neighborhoods were conducted to prepare youth for summer employment. Coordinated in partnership with ACT (Area Congregations Together), EDD, City of Sacramento and Assembly member Dave Jones. Of the 128 youth enrolled in the Boot Camp, 95 graduated and will be assisted with job placement.
  • Conducted three half-day pre-employment workshops in targeted neighborhoods to prepare youth for summer employment with 150 youth in attendance.
  • Conducted four youth job fairs throughout the community
  • 180 WIA youth will be placed in subsidized summer employment.

Partnerships/Linkages


  • Coordinating with and out-stationing staff at LINKS, Sacramento County Office of Education’s youth diversion program at Elinor Hickey High School
  • Coordinating with EDD and Youth Employment Opportunity Program
  • Coordinating with each school district to identify a point person to liaison with Youth Council and WIA providers
  • Participating in the Youth Construction Career Awareness Day

After-School, Gang Diversion and Employment Services for Youth


  • Casey Great Start provides emancipating foster youth employment, academic and social services. Staff is located at two SWCC sites and the program is funded by the Casey Family Program. Services are coordinated with local school district’s Independent Living Programs, Sacramento Department of Health and Human Services and other local providers.
  • La Familia Counseling Center - targets employment and mentoring services to South Sacramento youth at risk of gang involvement.
  • Linkages to Education - Emancipated foster youth and formerly incarcerated youth receive assistance to enroll in community college. Three youth who have successfully completed their first year of college have been hired to mentor youth enrolled in the program.
  • Visions Unlimited, in South Sacramento/Meadowview, provides drop-out prevention services to youth.
  • Elk Grove Unified School District - Emancipating foster youth receive employment and social services