Oklahoma Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Oklahoma Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs (Alliance) will provide career exploration opportunities using virtual reality technology for Jr. High and High School Club Members that will introduce Club members to midlevel careers with starting salaries $50k-$100k that do not require a 4-year degree. 40,500 Jr. High and High School students (9,000 students per year for 4.5 years) experience the career exploration virtual reality program. 6,750 of those (1,500 students per year for 4.5 years) will have an academic plan to be work ready upon high school graduation. The Alliance will partner with TRANSFR Virtual Reality to provide programming for youth to enhance career preparation by using virtual reality simulations of real jobs in actual industries. Youth will use hands-on, cutting-edge technology to explore occupations that interest them, and help prepare them for job opportunities in Oklahoma that develop career pathways and support the needs of Oklahoma employers.

EVIDENCE

In 2018, 76% of high-school-aged youth who attended the Club at least once per week expressed an interest in pursuing post-secondary education. Looking at just the graduating class, as of spring 2018, 80% of high school seniors had followed through on their intentions and submitted an application to a post-secondary institution More specifically, 65 % of these 12th graders applied to a four-year college or university, 48% applied to a two-year college, and 20 % applied to a vocational or trade school, meaning 37 % of Club high school seniors were actively pursuing multiple post-secondary education options.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The impact of COVID on young people?s prospects for employment are expected to be potentially devastating and long-term due to reasons that include interrupted learning, disconnectedness, feelings of hopelessness and a job market witnessing seismic shifts in multiple industries. Youth and families in poverty are most likely to experience the most negative consequences arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and these are the youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs: ? 50% of Club members live in rural designated areas while 25% are in suburban areas, resulting in limited resources and places for children to go during out of school time; ? 34% of Club members live in single parent households; and ? 78% of Club youth served qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. These also are the youth who lose academic ground, have inadequate technology at home, and experience food insecurity, lack of social supports, and other negative realities of economic and social disruption. The Oklahoma Alliance

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

In 2011, BGCA launched the National Youth Outcomes Initiative (NYOI), a system built to measure the impact of the Club experience in priority areas. NYOI includes a set of indicators and surveys that are research-based, age-appropriate, and valid, reliable measures that quantify outcomes. NYOI allows the Alliance to measure the positive impact Club programs have on youth served. NYOI collects youth outcomes data in the areas of Academic Expectations, Post Secondary Readiness, and Career Preparation. The Alliance will share NYOI data from these areas, submit attendance data on youth who experience the program and complete academic plans.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma