The ESE TA PY 24-25 grant aims to increase equity and improve outcomes for underserved populations facing significant barriers to employment by providing necessary guidance and support to ESE PY 24-25 program awardees in their pursuit of successful ESE programs and participant outcomes. Applicants are expected to base their overall approach on the Social. Enterprise 2(SE) model and advance the work done in this space. Accordingly, the ESE TA PY 24- 25 grant will fund the assessment, analysis, and improvement of those service delivery approaches currently associated with the SE models utilized by the ESEs in the program. ESE PY 24-25 projects will coordinate efforts throughout the state, across agencies and departments, to increase access to and retention of the transitional employment component of the SE model – supporting recruitment, wrap-around services, case management, and job placement for project participants. In their proposals, applicants must demonstrate experience providing technical assistance to SEs or in support of innovative workforce service programs for underserved Californians, with a focus on learning and sustainability. The ESE TA PY 24-25 provider will work in close coordination with (i) the ESE PY 24-25 program awardees, (ii) the EDD project managers, and (iii) all other relevant stakeholders to: • Help build ESE organizational and leadership capacity. • Help define and prioritize realistic growth, expansion, and impact of the ESE program. • Help build ESE programs to better serve the target populations facing significant barriers to unemployment. • Help develop and implement a comprehensive, data-driven program model supporting high-quality ESE jobs. • Support ESE jobs that demonstrate effective prioritization of long-term employment retention. • Close service gaps by recommending changes to current program service delivery models and helping program awardees implement any actionable items resulting from TA recommendations. • Scale effective program designs to inform SE models statewide and nationally. • Help develop strategic partnerships to provide ESE participants with upskilling opportunities or secure next-step employment. • Help build partnerships that will provide participants with in-demand credentials. The ESE TA PY 24-25 provider will assist program awardees in achieving positive outcomes by providing ongoing guidance, technical assistance, training, and stakeholder coordination support to help projects expand workforce opportunities for the target population. The TA awardee will provide an accessible virtual forum for cross-project communication both during meetings with program awardees and beyond. The TA program's desired outcomes are: (i) to deliver technical assistance in the development and testing of new training models, along with any necessary supportive services; (ii) to support the successful transition of program participants into competitive employment by connecting participants in the “next-phase” and with more competitive employment which align with the focus of each regionally tailored ESE project. The TA provider will host conference calls, webinars, CoPs, and coordinate activities as needed. This will require the TA provider to develop additional means of effective communication, ideasharing, mentoring among program awardees, and individual program consultation. Applicants must demonstrate how they plan to provide an accessible virtual forum for cross-project communication during meetings with program awardees and beyond. The TA provider will develop key questions for learning and evaluation and tools for continuous learning, including critical metrics and milestones to be tracked for immediate course correction and program improvement. The TA provider must have knowledge of, and experience with, the following: • Employment Social Enterprise as a workforce development strategy • Sector-focused industry partnerships and workforce development • Technology-based approaches to education and training • Serving a special population faced with significant barriers to employment, such as the target populations listed in this SFP • Best practices for offering resources to program awardees that are both accessible and relevant, recognized both nationally and at the state level • Supporting organizational learning and ongoing quality and program improvement • Outcome-based program and performance management The TA team should leverage existing best practices and help develop tools to support program awardees in their efforts to provide assistance and achieve positive employment outcomes for the target populations. TA activities must support the following goals and objectives: • Hold virtual CoP meetings to facilitate project development and encourage peer-to-peer engagement and learning. • Develop strategies and expertise in recruitment, employment, supportive services, retention, and career placement for the target populations. • Coordinate technology-enabled training for awardees on topics relevant to their needs. • Assist with the implementation of specific measures to ensure equal access to employment, education and training through the provision of supportive services, including case management. • Assess best practices to develop workforce strategies that connect participants with high-quality jobs and vital wrap-around services.
