• strong linkages between academic and occupational learning that will provide youth the skills • strong linkages between academic and occupational learning that will provide youth the skills necessary in order to receive a credential.

• effective connections and direct involvement to the job market and to local and regional employers • effective connections and direct involvement to the job market and to local and regional employers that will assist youth in gaining the skills necessary for jobs and career pathways in high growth and high demand industries.

• linkages with alternative education programs that will enable youth to ensure academic • linkages with alternative education programs that will enable youth to ensure academic improvement.

Mandated Program Elements

Proposed programs must incorporate current and planned efforts to provide services that support the mandated program elements listed below.

- • study skills training, and instruction, leading to completion of secondary school, including • study skills training, and instruction, leading to completion of secondary school, including dropout prevention strategies;
- • secondary school services, as appropriate; • secondary school services, as appropriate;
- • employment opportunities that are directly linked to academic and occupational learning; • employment opportunities that are directly linked to academic and occupational learning;
- • appropriate, paid and unpaid work experiences, including internships and job shadowing; • appropriate, paid and unpaid work experiences, including internships and job shadowing;
- • skill training, as appropriate; • skill training, as appropriate;
- • development opportunities, which may include community service and peer-centered • development opportunities, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social behaviors during non-school hours, as appropriate;
- • services; • services;
- • mentoring for the period of participation and a subsequent period, for a total of not less than 12 • mentoring for the period of participation and a subsequent period, for a total of not less than 12 months;
- • services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation, as appropriate; • services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation, as appropriate;
- • guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and • guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral, as appropriate.

The program(s) solicited will provide youth with the following:

- 1. All youth served will receive the Mandated Program Components
- 2. Youth served will have each of the mandated program elements available to them. The specific program services that are provided to each youth participant will be based on the participant's objective assessment and individual service strategy. Proposals submitted are not required to provide all the program elements services but they must demonstrate how all the service options will be made available to all youth participants.
- 3. The completion of High School Diplomas or a GED will be a planned goal for all youth. Additional education leading to a High School Diploma/GED will be provided to all clients that have not received a diploma/GED. This educational service will be provided through the schools whenever possible. In order to provide this service to youth in need of these services, providers must link with the appropriate agencies. Youth who have graduated and are basic skills deficient will be provided this service as well. Incentives may be provided to encourage participation. Providers will also link with agencies in order to ensure post secondary education preparation.
- 4. An Individual Service Strategy (ISS) will be developed for all youth. The ISS will be reviewed and updated regularly. The ISS will include an ultimate employment goal and the incremental work readiness and academic steps to achieve the goal.