The recipient entity's physical address:
           300 N Broad Street, Suite 106, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70119

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           300 N Broad Street, Suite 106, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70119

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Not applicable

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  0807

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $205,150

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Rashain Carriere, Executive Director
300 N Broad Street
New Orleans, LA 70119

Euphoria Warren, Treasurer
300 N Broad Street
New Orleans, LA 70119

Alvin Johnson
2601 Gravier St.
Suite B
New Orleans, LA 70119

Cliff Buller
2 Canyon Road
Saint Rose, LA 70087

Therese “Terri” Thibodeaux Stuckey
238 Ridgewood Drive
Metairie, LA 7005

Michael P. Chauvin
1023 Third St. Apt B
New Orleans, La. 70130

Kelsey Bonnaffons
2101 Milan Street
New Orleans, Louisiana

Shyrl Phallon Bagneris
5139 Easterlyn Circle
New Orleans, LA 70128

Chris E. Barrilleaux
639 Loyola Avenue
L-ENT-16
New Orleans, LA 70112

Brenton A. Bowman
701 Poydras St.
New Orleans, LA 70139

AmMarie Sherman
425 Metairie Lawn
Metairie LA, 70001

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Boys Town Louisiana (BTLA) proposes to provide Successful Futures, a workforce development and continuing education program. Successful Futures provides participants with access to career exploration, training, case management, and coaching to develop work readiness skills. Eligible participants are comprised of two cohort groups: vulnerable foster youth, ages 16 to 18, currently involved in Department of Child and Family or Office of Juvenile Justice services and low-income, young parents who have children enrolled in an Early Head Start (EHS) program. These parents must be at least 18 and currently in process or have obtained their high school diploma/ GED. We propose serving up to 50 participants. Successful Futures consists of three program phases delivered by a Successful Futures Specialist (SFS). A Program Manager provides oversight, curriculum development, and assists with training. Depending on age and need, participants may complete one or all phases. Incentives are offered to motivate participants and increase goal achievement. Program incentives include stipends, tuition/financial assistance, etc. Program phases include:

Phase I: Life Skills Training. For youth, Life Skill Training is comprised of ten modules designed to be completed individually or as a group. These 1.5 hour sessions, facilitated by SFS or Program Manager, consist of workshops, training, and skill development activities. Training topics and skill development include social skills (e.g., communication), financial literacy (e.g., budgeting), coping skills (e.g., problem solving), soft skills (e.g., interviewing), workforce readiness training (e.g., work etiquette), and technology/digital presence (e.g., social media).

Life skills training is slightly modified for EHS parents/caregivers. For example, training includes six classes and may be delivered individually or in group format. Topics include healthy relationships, conflict resolution, career opportunities, housing, soft skills (e.g., interview etiquette), time management, and financial literacy.

Phase II: Trade Life. Trade Life Program supports successful transition to independent living and skilled employment or continuing education. Trade Life is available to select youth and EHS parents/guardians. The program includes individualized case management (e.g., weekly focus meetings, ongoing assessment, linkages to internships/trade programs, etc.) facilitated by a SFS, who is available 24/7 to provide coaching and support. The SFS engages participants in career exploration activities (e.g., Career Fair, Speaker Series). SFS also engages in career planning while addressing barriers to finding/maintaining employment (e.g., housing). Once a career path is identified, SFS works with participants to support them in attaining specific skills, training, experience, and/or education needed. SFS educates and helps participants enroll in academic or trade training. They may also match participants with job shadowing, internships, and other opportunities.

Phase III: Employment. Participants continue their work with SFS as they are guided through job application and job placement. Individualized case management allows SFS to support participants through on-the-job mentoring, job matching, etc. A key element in job retention is establishing a good match between employer needs and participant skills. SFS conducts periodic site visits to assist with job retention. SFS maintains ongoing communication with employers and participants to ensure both parties are satisfied with job matching and helps resolve challenges through case closure. BTLA has developed a network of vocational programs, resources, and employers ranging from entry-level to professional positions to aide participants in employment success. Current partnerships include Liberty’s Kitchen, Café Reconcile, Delgado Community College, Job 1, Youth Empowerment Program, New Orleans Career Center, and Job Corps.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $178,186
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $23,768
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $3,196

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The purpose of Successful Futures programming is to empower participants to become contributing, tax-paying members of society through skill building, career exploration, and training. This purpose is aligned with needs of Louisiana employers as they indicate demand for an expanded workforce. Of the 4.6 million Louisiana residents, almost 2.3 million are working age adults and 600,000 of them do not have a high school diploma or any post-secondary education/ training.(1) This finding supports the Bipartisan Policy Center report regarding a current workforce crisis as workers, specifically direct care workers, receive inadequate training.(2) Successful Futures links participants to skill development and training, strengthening New Orleans’ direct care workforce and future economy.

Currently, systems in New Orleans are not easily accessible to youth and young adults. This is evidenced by the fact that New Orleans has one of the largest youth disconnection rates (number of youth ages 16-24 who are not working or in school) of the top 100 metropolitan communities at 15.2%.(3) Disconnected youth and young adults, similar to those targeted by our Successful Futures program, have numerous challenges and need assistance building protective factors. Analysis conducted by the Children’s Bureau indicated a variety of protective factors for at-risk youth/young adults that significantly influence life outcomes.(4) Identified protective factors included development of self-regulation and relational skills, academic skills, relationships with caring adults, access to a stable living environment, economic opportunities, involvement in positive activities, and problem-solving capabilities.

Successful Futures offers a solution and invaluable support for participants by reducing risk factors that can impact future success while building protective factors like those identified by the Children’s Bureau. With this funding, BTLA can support participants by improving social and emotional adjustment, enhancing life and independent living skills, and providing work readiness skills/training. Through career development and case management, BTLA’s Successful Futures programming assists participants in accessing resources, navigating systems, and becoming self-sufficient. Successful Futures offers an array of services that ensures youth and young adults receive the right care, at the right time, and in the right way.

References
1. Workforce Planning (2024). Retrieved from Higher Education Is Essential to Louisiana Workforce Development, Says LCTCS President — Success Labs
2. Addressing the Direct Care Workforce Shortage: A Bipartisan Call to Action (2023). Retrieved from https://bipartisanpolicy.org/download/?file=/wp-
content/uploads/2023/11/BPC-Direct-Care-Workforce-Report-Final.pdf
3. Measure of America: Building Bright Futures for Youth in New Orleans (2022). Retrieved from https://measureofamerica.org/bright-futures-nola/
4. Promoting Protective Factors for In-Risk Families and Youth: A Brief for Researchers Why Focus on Protective Factors? (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.dsgonline.com/acyf/PF_Research_Brief.pdf

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The goal of Successful Futures programming is for participants to develop skills, education, and training needed to positively contribute to Louisiana’s workforce. The SFS conducts initial and ongoing assessment to measure participant progress towards goal attainment. The SFS uses the Skills, Supports and Motivation Model (SSM) to assess youth participant skills along with the level of support they require. Using SSM allows the SFS to identify advanced life and employability skill strengths and deficits for each youth. This SSM Model is based upon completion of Casey Life Skills Assessment, Strengths and Stressors Assessment, and Consultation Rating Form:

- Casey Life Skills. This pre- post- online tool measures independent living skills in a number of functional areas for youth/young adults. Areas include daily living, self-care, maintaining healthy relationships, using community resources, work/study habits, money management, computer literacy and online safety, civic engagement, career/education planning, etc. The tool is comprised of 126 items where participants score items on a scale from one (lowest rating) to five.

- Strengths and Stressors. This assessment presents participant strengths and stressors with 25 items organized into critical domains: environment; social support; parental capabilities; family interactions; child well-being; and family safety.

- Consultant Rating Form. This tool assesses participant motivation using seven items: progress towards goals/referral behaviors; level of initiative in extracurricular involvement; level of motivation to follow the rules in independent situations; daily level of initiative to be independent; average number of monthly reportable incidences; average weekly number of unexcused absences and/or tardiness in class; and average weekly number of time management incidences.

In addition to assessments above, youth participants also complete a career aptitude test called Truity. This career personality profiler test measures personality traits, strengths, values, and interests, and uses those scores to match participants with a list of ideal careers. EHS parents/caregivers currently complete a Strengths and Stressors assessment. Assessment results are used to shape individualized case management and coaching. Assessments are completed as a baseline at the beginning of phase I and at the end of every phase to measure ongoing skill development and assess progress.

BTLA documents and records all services provided to participants that receive Successful Futures programming. An individual case record for each participant served is maintained by SFS electronically, via our National Database (NDB). The NDB is a Boys Town operated computer-based information system for tracking and storing program and client data, including demographics, assessments, progress shown through program duration. Individual and aggregate program data helps BTLA provide comparisons on program performance and progress over time and to facilitate program modification if necessary. This data is managed in real-time as a confidential client record available only to authorized staff. Objectives related to this project include:

- 70% of youth participants will demonstrate improvement on pre-and-post Casey Life Skills assessment,
- 85% of phase II participants (youth, EHS parents/caregivers) will be employed or in school as evidenced by participant self-report, and
- 70% of phase III participants (youth, EHS parents/caregivers) will have gainful employment at program completion.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           Program length is individualized to each participant. Some participants (e.g., EHS parents/guardians) may complete all program phases while youth participants may complete one or more phases. On average, all three phases take a total of 18-24 months. However, some participants may be involved in Successful Futures programming for a longer period of time depending on their chosen career path.

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 N/A
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 N/A

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 N/A

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  N/A

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               N/A

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               N/A

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/A

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/A

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 N/A

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               N/A


Contact Information
name:  Rashain Carriere 
                                       address:  300 N Broad Street, Suite 106, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70119
                                       phone:  504-293-7903
                                       fax:  502-293-7959
                                       e-mail:  Rashain.carriere@boystown.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director