Youth Advisory Council Seeks New Members

The Workforce Investment Board (WIB) of Santa Barbara County is seeking new membership for the Youth Advisory Council. The Youth Advisory Council has 15 seats available and members are appointed by the WIB Board of Directors in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. The deadline to apply is no later than November 15, 2010.

The Youth Advisory Council needs young people, ages 16 to 21, who are interested in volunteering to serve on the Council to help represent the County’s youth and to help the WIB develop and recommend job and workforce-related policies pertaining to young people, especially low-income or at-risk youth. The YAC meets six times per year, or as needed, and appointees typically serve two-year terms.

In addition, the YAC also needs adult volunteer members who: have expertise in youth policy; are the parents of eligible youth; or individuals, including former participants and representatives of organizations who have experience relating to youth activities; individuals or other representatives from organizations who represent the disabled community; and others who have a strong desire to work with the WIB representing the youth of our community.

The YAC’s mission statement calls for the Council to provide expertise in youth workforce development policy and to assist the local WIB to develop and recommend local youth employment and training policies and practices; broaden employment and training policies to incorporate youth development; establish links with other organizations serving youth; and evaluate a range of issues that impact young people’s success in the local labor market.

Anyone interested in serving on the YAC should contact WIB staffers Ismael Ulloa at (805) 681-4649 or by email to I.Ulloa@sbcsocialserv.org, or Joyce Aldrich at (805) 681-4784, or by email to J.Aldrich@sbcsocialserv.org for more information and/or an application. Applications are also available online at the WIB website, by clicking on the application link on the homepage.

Applications will be screened by WIB staff and forwarded to the WIB Board of Directors, which is expected to confirm appointees during the WIB Board of Directors meeting December 17, 2010. New YAC members would assume their two-year appointments beginning in January 2011.

The Workforce Investment Board is dedicated to serving the workforce needs of businesses, adults, laid-off workers and youth throughout Santa Barbara County. The WIB is a public/private partnership created by the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and is staffed by the County of Santa Barbara.

Job seekers and employers can take advantage of free services at the WIB’s two Workforce Resource Centers (“One-Stops”) to help find work or new employees. Programs include employment services for job seekers, the latest labor market information and regional workforce research for businesses, as well as training that specialize in helping people gain the skills and confidence necessary to find and obtain a job. The One-Stop Shops are at 1410 S. Broadway in Santa Maria, (805) 614-1550, and 130 E. Ortega Street in Santa Barbara, (805) 568-1296. Online information here.