Webinar Topic: Summer Youth Employment Program
Webinar Date/Time: May 12-14 & June 3, 2010
Webinar Materials: Archived June 3 2010 Webinar (59:47 minutes) 
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Flow Chart (PDF) 
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PowerPoint (PDF) 
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Webinar covered the Illinois workNet SYEP Assessment and Activities to be used in conjunction with youth work experience for those participating in WIA Youth Programs Funded Under the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Policy Letter 08-ARRA-01 and subsequent changes).
The purpose of the webinar was to:
Review updates to the SYEP activities and assessments.
Review enhancements to customer groups and reporting.
Webinar Polling Questions
May 10 - 2 responses
May 17 -2 responses
May 31 - 10 responses
June 7 - 30 responses
June 14- 5 responses
June 21 - 8 responses
June 28 - 2 responses
July 5 - 2 responses
July 26 - 1 response
Youth who did not participate in the SYEP last year - 4 responses
Youth who completed the SYEP last year - 2 responses
Both - 48 responses
June 28 - 1 response
July 12 - 2 responses
July 19- 1 response
July 26- 4 responses
August 2 - 4 responses
August 9 - 5 responses
August 16 - 2 response
August 30 - 5 responses
September 20 - 1 response
September 27 - 24 responses
Instructor led - 41 responses
Self-guided - 4 response
Both - 46 responses
Very Important - 82 responses
Not Important - 10 responses
Yes - 16 responses
No - 82 responses
Answer: True - Both types of participants can be added to a customer group. Within the customer group, click on the participant summary page for individual details.
Answer: False - Returning participants can access the previous year activities, but they complete a new set of activities. The returning participant pre and post-assessment is based on the returning participant activities.
Answer: True - The connection between the Illinois workNet account and IWDS account occurs when the participant is added to a group. If the participant does not include their SSN or they are not in IWDS, then update the information. Once the information is updated you can remove them from the customer group and then add them back into the group.
Answer: Both - (1) Having a message sent to their email account to reset their password (2)Having a workforce professional look up their username, date of birth, and secret answer so the participant can reset their password.
Certificate of Completion Discussion and Updates:
Based on feedback from the webinars, (1) the post-assessment score was removed from the Certificate and (2) the certificate was updated to include more information on workplace skills. See the chat discussion below.
Ryan: I don't think the score should be posted on the certificate, a client could be successful with a 14% or they could be unsuccessful with a 90%
Ryan: They should either get a certificate or not
Katie: I agree with Ryan, I had students pass with low scores last year and they were ashamed of the score, even though they passed.
Illinois workNet: We don't want to overstate the certificate. The score is telling.
Illinois workNet: The only get a certificate if the meet requirements.
Ami: But they can still meet the requirements with a 20% score and that would not be good to say on the certificate.
Ryan: Why bother giving them a certificate if they meet requirements by going from a 14% to a 20%
Eva: If the students are told that the score will be on the certificate though, won't that motivate them to excel--not just increase their test score by 1%
Guest 3: One of my participants completed the post test twice due to second paid work experience. She received a better score the second time, which we indicated in IWDS as an improvement. Could we print a second certificate?
Illinois workNet: They only get one certificate based on the highest score meeting requirements.
Ami: If I were a participant, I wouldn't want a low score on my certificate. Can we manually eliminate that portion?
Illinois workNet: All participants have up to three times to retake the post and it is the best score that is identified as the final
Kristen: It seems that more detail about the workplace skills would mean more to employers than resume writing.
Cindy: I think the Certificate is a great idea, not sure about the Post-Assessment Score being reflected on the certificate though
Ladonna: I agree with Cindy that the score should be reflected on the certificate.
Beverly: I have found that the youth have a great deal of pride upon receiving certificates some have not received many..also it is a great tool for employment seeking
Ladonna: The score should not be on certificate. Like the idea of a certificate
Guest: We agree, we like the certificate but, not sure post assessment score should be on there
Sandra: I agree, no score should be put on the certificate
Beverly: I know I am in the minority but I just feel that it can be a motivator and that the training could surely increase their scores
Participant Activities and Customer Group Questions/Comments:
Guest 3: Are there additional activities available for our returning participants, even after they completed the program?
Illinois workNet: Yes, right now the focus is on SYEP but these activities and more will continue to be available
Ryan: For returning clients, how will Illinois workNet know to send them to the new activities? Will that be automatic?
Illinois workNet: IWDS is the primary means for determining the correct activities. As customers are added to a customer group, the system checks IWDS to see if they participated last year.
Ami: What if I don't have access to IWDS?
Illinois workNet: You do not need to have access to IWDS. The connection is made by matching Social Security Numbers in both accounts. Returning participants will already be in IWDS. For new participants, a report can be printed and the information can be added into IWDS manually (by the person who has access to IWDS)
Mike: Does the participant name need to be exactly the same on IWDS and workNet?
Illinois workNet: The IWDS match is determined by SSN.
Cindy: Do you think the Work Importance Locator would be better for the Youth to take if we are actually talking about Work Readiness?
Illinois workNet: It rates what might be important to them about work. The interest and skills helps them select career based on their interests.
Carol: How long do you estimate all the activities will take?
Illinois workNet: The activities are designed to be an introduction to the information so that it can be completed in two hours. However, you can go into more depth and spend more time on each activity.