The Intermediary Network

Snapshots

These brief profiles illustrate high-value intermediary activities and the strategies that local organizations have used for sustaining them. An index sorted by function follows the list of snapshots.

Note that some snapshots illustrate more than one function and that each organization engages in a number of activities in addition to those described in the snapshots.

The Snapshots were prepared between mid-1999 and early 2000 and posted on the Intermediary Project Web site.

Click on the organization name to download a copy of each snapshot.

Organization	State	Community	Highlighted Activity	Intermediary Function(s)
American Federation of Teachers	RI	statewide	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Statewide leadership to involve teacher union members in developing and implementing performance-based credentials for students	Build awareness among educators, Provide services to educators
Applied Information Management Institute	NE	Omaha	WINGS 21: Create pathway programs to help address an anticipated need for skilled information technology workers	Provide services to address workplace needs, Improve the quality of workplace experiences
Area 7 STW Initiative	KY	Elizabethtown	CONNECTING SCHOOL-TO-CAREER WITH STANDARDS-BASED REFORMS: Fostering and sustaining school-to-career through establishing connections with mandated state educational standards	Convene local leadership, Encourage policies that promote effective practice, Build awareness among educators
Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation	IL	Chicago	THE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE: A standards-based industry partnership to creating a career pathway for high school students combining up-to-date technical training with honors-level academics	Improve the quality of workplace experiences
Boston PIC	MA	Boston	MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL-TO-WORK CONNECTING ACTIVITIES FUND: Generating stable funding for intermediary activities through state legislation	Provide services to address workplace needs
Boy Scouts of America, Southern New Jersey Council	NJ	Millville	EXPLORING PROGRAM: Survey students about career interests and collaborate with community partners to link students with appropriate work-based learning activities	Convene local leadership, Ensure quality and impact, Improve the quality of workplace experiences
Business-Education Compact	OR	Portland	C³ FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: Organizing work-based experiences for teachers	Provide services to educators
Business/Education Expectations: School-to-Career Partnership	MO	Kansas City	EDUCATOR EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM: Providing teachers and school counselors with work-site experiences as a basis for developing classroom curricula	Improve the quality of workplace experiences, Build awareness and buy-in, provide services to educators
Cabrini Connections	IL	Chicago	TUTOR/MENTOR CONNECTION: Marketing and communications that link tutor/mentor programs together and draw resources to them	Improve the quality of workplace experiences for youth; Connect youth to appropriate, high-quality learning experiences
Campbell County STC Partnership	WY	Gillette	MARKETING MATERIALS: Easy-to-use outreach materials for involving potential partners from all sectors in school-to-career transitions	Build awareness and buy-in among educators and community partners
Career Resource Division, Kern High School District	CA	Bakersfield	SUMMER WORKS!: Summer work-based experiences to connect disadvantaged youth to a variety of educational and career options	Improve the quality of workplace experiences, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Connecticut Business and Industry Associations Education Foundation	CT	Hartford	EMPLOYER INCENTIVE GRANTS: Financial and other supports that enable local chambers of commerce and employer associations to recruit and involve employers in school-to-career activities	Encourage policies that promote effective practice, Create and strengthen employer demand, Provide services to address workplace needs
Corporation for Business, Work, and Learning	MA	statewide	DIPLOMA PLUS: A competency-based, school-to-career initiative specifically designed for high-risk youth to connect them to postsecondary learning opportunities	Improve the quality of workplace experiences, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Corporation for Business, Work, and Learning	MA	statewide	CONNECTIONS FOR LEARNING: Using telementoring to connect school staff and students to the workplace and employers to the classroom	Ensure quality and impact, Improve the quality of workplace experiences, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Durham Workforce Partnership	NC	Durham	C'S THE FUTURE: Bringing together staff from various schools, based on high school feeder patterns, to develop a shared vision of academic and school success	Convene local leadership, Build awareness among educators
El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence	TX	El Paso	COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TO ACHIEVE HIGH STANDARDS: Involving all community members in a school-based, data-driven, systems change initiative to achieve high standards.	Convene local leadership, Encourage policies that promote effective practice, Provide communications link, Create system focused on quality
Executive Internship Program	FL	Pinellas County	EXECUTIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: Structured internships for students to gain experience about professional careers	Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce	TX	Fort Worth	JOBS SKILLS SURVEY: Using a survey of the skills required in local jobs to organize employer guidance and support for schools	Convene local leadership, Ensure quality and impact, Create and strengthen employer demand, Provide services to address workplace needs
Greater Houston Partnership	TX	Houston	MUNICIPAL BOND ADVOCACY: Generate resources to support school improvement through a municipal bond issue	Encourage policies that promote effective practice
Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce	MN	Minneapolis	VOYAGER: Improving the skills of entry-level workers through enhanced postsecondary connections	Ensure quality and impact, Create and strengthen employer demand, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Industry Initiatives for Science & Math	CA	Santa Clara	SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: Enriching classroom instruction by offering teachers the opportunity to obtain work experience at high-tech companies	Provide services to educators
Lancaster County Academy	PA	Lancaster	LANCASTER COUNTY ACADEMY: A school that provides opportunities for out-of-school youth and adults to complete their high school diploma while obtaining work skills and experience	Improve the quality of workplace experiences, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Loudon County Education Foundation	TN	Loudon	RURAL SCHOOL-TO-CAREER PROGRAMMING: Generate high-quality programs and financial support for school-to-career programs in a rural region	Provide communications link
Maine Technical College System	ME	Portland	MAINE CAREER ADVANTAGE :Two-year internship program with postsecondary academic credit and tuition assistance for work-based learning experiences	Encourage policies that promote effective practice, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Marriot Foundation for People with Disabilities	DC	National	BRIDGES . . . FROM SCHOOL TO WORK: Facilitating competitive work opportunities for young people with disabilities who are exiting high school	Create and strengthen employer demand; provide services to address employer needs; Improve the quality of workplace experiences; Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Maury County Education/Community/ Business Partnership	TN	Columbia	TEACHER THINK TANK: Bringing together business people and teachers from several local schools to discuss issues of mutual concern	Convene local leadership, Provide communications link
Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce	OK	Tulsa	CAREER PARTNERS, INC.: Providing supports and programs that encourage and facilitate business participation in school-to-career	Create and strengthen employer demand, Provide services to address workplace needs
Milwaukee Area Technical College	WI	Milwaukee	COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS COMMUNICATIONS LINK: Providing structure and staffing for effective communication among the regionØs school-to-career stakeholders	Build awareness and buy-in among educators and community partners; Create and provide the communications link between all parties
Montana State AFL-CIO	MT	Helena	LABOR-BUSINESS-EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP: Mentoring and apprenticeship activities that partner labor organizations with secondary and postsecondary schools	Create and strengthen employer demand, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Morris/Sussex/Warren School-to-Career Consortium and the Education Center	NJ	Parsippany	ESCUCHA YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM: Working with Latino college students and professionals, the business community, and higher education institutions to create school-to-career programs for Latino youth	Improve the quality of workplace experiences, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
MY TURN, Inc.	MA	Brockton	CHAMPION HIGH SCHOOL: Mobilizing community partners and resources to create and support a high school to engage out-of-school youth and help them achieve at a high level	Convene local leadership, Improve the quality of workplace experiences, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
National Center for Construction Education and Research	FL	Gainesville	NATIONAL CERTIFICATION SYSTEM: Developing training programs leading to skills credentials that are recognized nationally in the construction industry	Encourage policies that promote effective practice, Ensure quality and impact, Provide services to address workplace needs, Improve the quality of workplace experiences
New Ways Workers-Sonoma County	CA	Sebastopol	CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH WORK EXPERIENCES: Arranging, supporting, and aligning youth employment and work-based learning programs and placements	Convene local leadership, Encourage policies that promote effective practice, Ensure quality and impact
New York Citywide STW Alliance	NY	New York City	THE WORKPLACE AND EDUCATION STANDARDS: A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATORS: Fostering the ability of teachers to incorporate workplace and academic standards into classrooms	Provide services to educators
North Clackamas School District	OR	Milwaukie	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN PROJECT-BASED LEARNING: Providing cadres of teachers with tools and training for connecting classroom experiences with the community and with content standards	Build awareness and buy-in among educators and community partners; Provide services to support the involvement of educational and training institutions
Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Board of Cooperative Education Services (OCM/BOCES) Transition Services	NY	Cortland	JOB COACHES FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS: Job coaches to improve the quality of workplace experiences for youth, define roles and expectations, and ensure readiness for the workplace	Improve the quality of workplace experiences, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Oregon Business Council	OR	Statewide	STATEWIDE ASSISTANCE TO EMPLOYERS: Providing support services to employers across Oregon to develop, maintain, and advocate for partnerships with education	Encourage policies that promote effective practice, Create and strengthen employer demand, Provide services to address workplace needs
Potomac KnowledgeWay Project	VA	Herndon	REGIONAL JOBS INITIATIVE: Regional jobs initiative training city youth for entry level information technology positions	Provide communications link, Create system focused on quality
Potomac Regional Education Partnership	DC	Washington	REGIONAL COLLABORATION: Establishing a regional school-to-career partnership to coordinate information, resources, and activities	Convene local leadership, Encourage policies that promote effective practice, Ensure quality and impact
Rochester Labor Council, AFL-CIO	NY	Rochester	ROCHESTER EDUCATION ALLIANCE OF LABOR: Teacher-worker teams to develop work-based curriculum materials that use the school as a workplace	Build awareness among educators
Salem County School-to-Careers Initiative	NJ	Pennsville	COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS:Convene a five-community partnership in a sustainable school-to-career program for all youth, ages 16-25	Improve the quality of workplace experiences for all youth; Connect youth to appropriate high-quality learning experiences
School District of Philadelphia, Office of Education for Employment (EfE)	PA	Philadelphia	CLUSTER RESOURCE BOARDS: Coordinate resources to support school improvement and community development	Convene local leadership, Encourage policies that promote effective practice, Ensure quality and impact, Provide communications link, Create system focused on quality
School-to-Work LLMA #16	KY	Mt. Vernon	STUDENT PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL: Involve students in the planning, implementation, and oversight of the school-to-career system	Connect youth to appropriate, high-quality learning experiences; Improve the quality of workplace experiences for all youth; Build awareness and buy-in among educators and community partners
South Central Iowa Fed. of Labor	IO	Des Moines	ENGAGE UNION MEMBERS IN PARTNERSHIPS: Training workplace mentors for students and facilitating apprenticeships that partner labor organizations with secondary and postsecondary schools	Create and strengthen employer demand
Southern Calif. Edison/Utility Workers Union/IBEW Local 246	CA	San Dimas	JOB SKILLS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM: Employer-union-school partnerships to help at-risk youth finish high school, attend college, and/or successfully enter the workforce	Provide services to address workplace needs, Improve the quality of workplace experiences, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Southwest Idaho School-to-Work	ID	Boise	ENGAGING A CRITICAL MASS OF TEACHERS: Using teacher professional development to promote school-based and work-based learning, business engagement, and other school-to-career elements	Ensure quality and impact, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences, Build awareness among educators
Target	IL	Chicago	READY: A sectoral approach to linking employers and schools by providing a communication link among students, schools, and employers in the retail industry	Convene local leadership, Provide services to address workplace needs, Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Vermont Chamber of Commerce Business-Education Partnership	VT	Montpelier	WORKPLACE MENTORING: Supporting school-to-career statewide through extensive mentor training	Create and strengthen employer demand, Provide services to address workplace needs
Westchester/Putnam STC Partnership	NY	Valhalla	A-YES: Overcoming academic-vocational divisions with a collaboration with automotive business partners that eliminates the distinction between vocational and academic education	Connect youth to high-quality learning experiences
Worcester Public Schools	MA	Worcester	WORK FOR WORCESTER'S YOUTH: Blending funding streams to establish a public/private program that has no income eligibility requirement for participation	Encourage policies that promote effective practice
Youth Opportunities Unlimited	OH	Cleveland	LOCAL INDUSTRY SKILL STANDARDS: Convene employers and educators to create local skill standards in the manufacturing sector	Convene local leadership, Ensure quality and impact, Create system focused on quality

The strategic functions of school-to-work intermediaries, along with snapshots that illustrate them, are:

Convene Local Leadership

Ensure the Quality and Impact of Local Efforts

Promote Policies to Sustain Effective Practice

Broker and/or Provide Services to Employers, Educational Institutions, Young People, and the Youth-Serving System
Intermediary organizations work:

With employers/workplace partners to create demand for working with youth and provide services to address the needs of the partners;
With schools and youth-serving organizations to build staff awareness and buy-in and provide services to support school involvement;
With youth to connect them to appropriate quality experiences and improve the quality of work-based learning; and
With all partners to provide the communications link among partners and create a system focused on quality and continuous improvement.

With employers/workplace partners:

With schools and youth-serving organizations:

With youth:

With all partners:

For more information contact:

clarsen@nww.org