Services to CYCA Contract Sponsors and the Youth Corps Network —
Contract Management and Oversight
Project Pre-Screening — Work with sponsors to identify and develop youth corps appropriate projects.
Oversight and Quality Assurance — Provide project oversight, including project site visits, conducted by CYCA staff, for quality assurance and satisfactory completion.
Payments — Manage project payments to local corps upon project completion and withhold payments when work is unsatisfactory or when corps do not meet the crew size/hour minimums.
Contract Minimums —
- Accreditation — CYCA mandates that youth corps meet all accreditation standards.
- Environmental Education — CYCA mandates (and monitors) that all crews on CYCA-contracted projects complete a minimum number of hours on specific activities from the Colorado Outdoor Odyssey.
- Pre-Project Site Visits — CYCA mandates (and monitors) pre-project site visits by corps staff.
- Crew Size/Hours — CYCA mandates (and monitors) a minimum crew size and number of hours on the project each week.
Network Capacity — CYCA offers the services of another corps in the network if the local program is unavailable, or if there is no local program.
Evaluations — Conduct independent project evaluations with project sponsors.
Data Management — Comprehensive data on project accomplishments and sponsor satisfaction. Production of annual summary reports for use by project agencies.
[back to top]
 Training
Formal Training —
- >Conservation Corps Crewleader Training - Five-day basic trail construction, environmental education, and crew management skills for 85-100 crewleaders. The Colorado Outdoor Training Initiative curriculum is delivered by trained COTI Instructors at CYCA’s Statewide Training.
- >Annual Directors Retreat - Two-day leadership and non-profit management skills training for 18-20 executive directors and senior managers.
- >Specialized Training - media relations, CID (CYCA’s Corps Information Database) management, human resources, risk management, and AmeriCorps program management, for example.
Customized Technical Assistance — on-site and electronic technical assistance related to project management, environmental education, and organizational development on a case-by-case basis.
[back to top]
Youth Corps Infrastructure Support
Annual Accreditation — comprehensive program review including specialized themes such as:
- >Human Resources
- >Risk Management
- >Program Management and Infrastructure
- >Quality Work Projects
- >Corpsmember Development
- 2006 Accreditation Standards
Statewide Evaluation Initiative — CYCA has hired Omni Research and Training, Inc. to undertake research on the affects of youth corps on youth participants in five key areas. 1) job readiness, 2) environmental awareness, 3) citizenship and civic participation, 4) educational achievement, and 5) risky behavior. The study will eventually be longitudinal.
Database — Development and maintenance of CID (CYCA’s Corps Information Database) which tracks project, staff, and corpsmember data.
Website — Free access, postings, and webmaster services for www.cyca.org.
AmeriCorps — Access to CYCA/AmeriCorps Education Awards for corpsmembers.
Newsletter — Publication of CYCA newsletter, CorpsMatters.
[back to top]
Youth Corps Promotion
Youth Corps Public Presentations — Public presentations by crews to increase visitor awareness and volunteerism at State Parks.
VIP Site Visits — CYCA promotes work projects and conducts site visits with state and federal legislatures, GOCO Board members, and other officials.
[back to top]
|
