Glossary
Listings in the glossary are selected terms and names appearing frequently in the text of the toolkit. These definitions are for the purposes of this toolkit, unless otherwise noted by a direct source.
APPRENTICESHIP
An apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of workers of a skill within a specific trade. Apprentices or protégés (or the student/learner) build their careers from apprenticeships. Most of their training is done while working for an employer who helps the apprentices learn their trade, in exchange for their continuing labor for an agreed period after they become skilled. Education may also be involved, informally via the workplace and/or by attending vocational schools while still being paid by the employer. Apprenticeship programs in the United States are regulated by the Smith-Hughes Law (1917), The National Industrial Recovery Act (1933), and National Apprenticeship Act, also known as the “Fitzgerald Act.” (See also: Registered Apprenticeships.)
CAPACITY-BUILDING
Interventions, actions, or supports that improve a nonprofit effectiveness: organizational and financial stability, program quality, and program growth. (Foundation Center)
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION
Private, nonprofit organizations which are representative of a community or significant segments of a community and provide educational or other services to individuals in the community. (US Code)
DISCONNECTED YOUTH
See Opportunity Youth.
DISENGAGED YOUTH
See Opportunity Youth.
EDUCATION PATHWAY
A program, series of activities, or planned experiences designed to steer opportunity youth on a trajectory to advance their education and meet their academic goals.
EMPLOYMENT PATHWAY
A program, series of activities, or planned experiences designed to steer opportunity youth on a trajectory to advance their employment qualifications and ultimately lead to stable, long-term opportunities.
INTERNSHIP
A formal, structured position where a youth works directly with an employer for a defined period of time with the goal of gaining basic job skills and specific expertise related to the field of employment. This learning opportunity is broad in scope and it not focused on a specific trade-skill development (see Apprenticeship). Typically includes some form of compensation (e.g. academic credit, hourly wage, work stipend).
JOB SHADOW DAY
A single-day event (can be as short as a few hours) where opportunity youth spend time on-site with the employees of a single company or profession. The experience is designed to introduce youth to a single career or employer, and should include opportunities for them to learn from professionals in a specific field or function. Youth may also be paired with a single employee for a true “shadowing” experience where they observe day-to-day responsibilities of that professional.
LANE OF ENGAGEMENT
One of three models through which a company might engage youth with a goal of building employment opportunities. Includes: Soft Skills Development, Work-Ready Skills, and Learn & Earn opportunities.
LEARN & EARN PROGRAM
A lane of engagement that allows youth to develop on-the-job skills in a learning environment while receiving compensation for work. Examples include internships, apprenticeships, or other paid, non-permanent employment. (See also: Lane of Engagement, Soft Skills Development, Work-Ready Skills Development.)
OPPORTUNITY YOUTH
Youth that are not currently enrolled in school or are not employed. Described as “disconnected youth” in recent social science literature, these youth are vulnerable to negative outcomes as they transition to adulthood. Opportunity Youth are looking to reconnect to school and work, build strong families, and make a difference but significant barriers, including lack of education or work experience, stand in the way. (Bridgeland, J. & Milano, J. (2012.) Opportunity Road: The Promise and Challenges of America’s Forgotten Youth. Retrieved from http://www.civicenterprises.net/reports/ opportunity_road.pdf.)
OUTCOMES MEASURE MENT
Outcomes refer to the changes that an organization brings about in the behavior, attitudes or condition of its customers or clients. Outcomes measurement is the act of identifying the indicators of a defined set of desired outcomes and tracking overall performance of the program or organization against those outcomes. For Youth Employment Programs, outcomes might include youth becoming more prepared to enter the workforce, for the company to be an employer of choice, or for employees involved with the program to stay with the company for a longer tenure. (TDCorp)
PILOT STAGE
The process of implementing, testing and refining a new program or initiative. This includes an initial small-scale opportunity to gain comfort with programs involving youth before rolling out a larger, scaled effort.
READINESS FACTORS
Characteristics or features of a business that suggest it would be well prepared to be successful in the launch of a new youth employment program. Often includes intangible factors such as a corporate culture that values professional growth and development, or leadership support of new undertaking.
REFINE AND GROW STAGE
The process of expanding on an initial offering; this phase includes evolving the curriculum, model, design, eligibility or overall scale of a program. A key component of this stage is reflecting on your initial program offerings and identifying areas that would benefit from adjustments or revisions to the structure, supporting tools, or method of delivery.
REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS
Registered Apprenticeships are special kinds of learn-and-earn programs that are officially regulated by the Department of Labor. Registered Apprenticeship programs meet the skilled workforce needs of American industry, training millions of qualified individuals for lifelong careers since 1937. Registered Apprenticeship helps mobilize America’s workforce with structured, on-the-job learning in traditional industries such as construction and manufacturing, as well as new emerging industries such as health care, information technology, energy, telecommunications and more. Registered Apprenticeship connects job seekers looking to learn new skills with employers looking for qualified workers, resulting in a workforce with industry-driven training and employers with a competitive edge. (Department of Labor, http://www.doleta.gov/oa/)
SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
A lane of engagement that provides youth with work-relevant skills via course work and/or direct, interactive experiences. Education areas might include communications, problem solving, interpersonal skills, decision making, time management and relationship building. (See also: Lane of Engagement, Work Ready Skills Development, Learn & Earn.)
TALENT PIPELINE
A defined, sustainable process for sourcing and developing qualified talent for an organization or business.
WORK-READY SKILLS
A lane of engagement that provides youth with insight into the world of work to prepare them for employment through training and experiences tailored around exposure to job-related responsibilities. Work ready skills include preparing youth to conduct a job search, understand potential career options, build a resume, interview successfully or apply for post-secondary school. Activities to support this development might include job shadow days, job search coaching, or academic tutoring. (See also: Lane of Engagement, Soft Skills Development, Learn & Earn.)
WORKSHOP
An educational experience (typically lasting a few hours or less) built around a set curriculum, led by one or more instructors, and designed to share specific skills, lessons, or practical trainings with attendees on a focused subject.
WRAPAROUND SUPPORT
Services designed to complement a youth employment program and provide holistic and robust support to participating opportunity youth, effectively increasing the chance for youth success. Examples include housing, transportation, counseling, education, mentoring or other social services.
YOUTH EMPLOY MENT PROGRAM
A series of interactions, trainings, or curriculum designed to enable a company, normally in partnership with a community based organization, to provide supporting services, trainings, or compensated work opportunities to opportunity youth. These programs are driven by the goal of ensuring youth develop the skills needed for long term success in education and the workplace. Can include multiple offerings presented under the same name or umbrella, or might entail a recurring event or opportunity that is replicated. Always includes services provided to multiple youth or clients over time.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
The process which young people, from ages 10 until 24, acquire the cognitive, social, and emotional skills and abilities required to navigate life. Simply put: the development process through which youth transition from adolescence to young adulthood.