OCASA supports the implementation of after-school programming through out the OUSD system by working with partners including OUSD, Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY), the Peralta Community College District, Laney College, California School Age Consortium (CalSAC), the Community Network on Youth Development (CNYD), the Oakland Workforce Investment Board, OUSD Adult Education and others to plan and implement three workforce development strategies.
Career/Course Development:
OCASA worked with partners definition of a course ladder at Laney designed to support and train youth workers for employment in before and after-school settings. OCASA led the group in the development of a youth development course outline, which was approved by the Peralta Community College District. OCASA partnered with CalSAC on the successful offering of “Introduction to Youth Development” at Laney College in the fall of 2007. The course is currently offered Laney and is coordinated by CalSAC. Additional work is pending to develop a certificate program for youth workers. For more information about the LEAP program, please see the website here: http://elaney.org/wp/leap/
Career Fairs
Periodically, OCASA organizes After School Career Fairs to bring together multiple employers in order to identify and recruit employees across the range of professional experiences needed.