New York State Department of Labor
Profiles of Promising Practices
DUTCHESS COUNTY NAVIGATOR INITIATIVE
Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board
November 2001 - Present

Purpose

• To prepare Dutchess County youth for career opportunities by empowering them with academic preparation, work readiness, technical skills, and work experience needed to transition successfully into adulthood, careers, further education, and training.

How It Works

• Directors of the WIB and Youth Bureau created a Youth Navigator position as a first step toward developing a high-quality youth feeder system to local businesses.
• The Youth Navigator began her job by informally surveying primary stakeholders regarding key priorities in the area. Additional responsibilities include:
  • Keeping all stakeholders actively involved in the system and informed of new developments.
  • Reaching out to include new partners in the system.
  • Serve as staff to the Youth Council to translate its strategic planning into action.

Results

• The WIB Executive Director and the Youth Navigator developed six-month outcome measures based on the Youth Council’s strategic plan, with input from the Youth Council Chair and the Youth Bureau Director.
• Developed the Poughkeepsie Business Consortium for Youth Employment to link center-city high school students directly with jobs and appropriate training.
• Developed a joint grant application for NYSDOL’s Business Youth Incentive RFP by a group of service vendors who had not previously coordinated their programming or pooled resources.
• Designed a uniform curriculum for all WIB-involved youth employment and training services.
• In collaboration with local community-based organizations (CBOs), inventoried youth service needs in order to advise on youth service designs and infrastructure.
• Recruited Children’s Media project to employ youth in the media.
• The Eleanor Roosevelt at Valkill organization joined the network and is working with over 50 businesses to place Poughkeepsie High School students in internships.

How They Did It

• Based on the County Executive’s vision, the Youth Council developed a strategic plan for a coordinated, collaborative, informed youth development system that views all youth as "at-risk."
• Directors of the WIB and Youth Bureau brought the Youth Navigator concept from a NYSDOL/NYATEP Youth Academy to the Youth Council, which adopted it.
• A search team representing business, the One-Stop, and youth providers screened résumés and developed and implemented an interview strategy. They determined that a history of building collaborations and developing innovative programs was the most important qualification for the Youth Navigator.
• The search team made the final candidate selection by consensus with the WIB Chair and Vice-Chair.
• The WIB hired the Youth Navigator and two additional positions (Program Management Specialist and a Business Services Broker) as a team.

Operating Costs

• $50,000 covers the salary of the youth navigator.
• $5,000 covers additional expenses such as administrative support, workspace and supplies.

Funding

• WIA Title I
• Plan to have the youth navigator identify additional funding sources to support the initiative.

Lessons Learned

• It is important to have clarity about the nature of the position. Some youth councils would want a direct services position for the youth. In the case of this initiative, there is an emphasis on system building; identifying partners and resources, strengthening the youth council, and making processes more business driven.