Information for recruiting high-school dropout students interested in participating in the Idaho National Guard Youth Challenge, an academic intervention program.

1. IDAHO YOUTH
CHALLENGE
ACADEMY

2. Alaska
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Arizona Arkansas
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Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois Indiana
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Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
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Wyoming
Washington
West Virginia
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Puerto Rico
.State With National Guard
Youth ChalleNGe Program
..State With Program Scheduled
to open in 2014
..No Program Located in State

3. IDYCA PARTNERS
National Guard Youth Challenge Program
State of Idaho / Military Division
City of Pierce
Joint School District 171 (Orofino School District)

4. ADMISSION CRITERIA
 Voluntary admission
 16-18 years of age on day of admission
 Current high school dropout/expellee/at-risk
 No pending legal action (charge, indictment, sentencing)
 Never convicted of a felony
 Not on probation for other than misdemeanor offenses
 Drug free upon enrollment
 Citizen or legal resident of the US and State of Idaho
 Physically and mentally able to complete the program

5. Idaho Youth ChalleNGe
Academy
WHAT WE’RE NOT:
 Not a juvenile detention center
 Not a military recruiting program
 Not a hospital, medical, or dental clinic
 Not a mental health, drug or alcohol treatment center
CADETS AND PARENTS MUST:
 Be committed to success
 Be honest with themselves and with us
 Must be accountable and accept responsibility

6. TWO
PHASE
PROGRAM

7. ChalleNGe Structure
2weeks
20 weeks 52 weeks
Total 17 ½ Months
2 PHASE PROGRAM
 22 week Residential Phase – Goal: uses a structured
Military-style environment that emphasizes self-
discipline and personal responsibility.
First 2 weeks are an Acclimation Period –Goal: identify those students
that have the desire and discipline to complete the program. This is part
of the Residential Phase.
 52 week Post-Residential Phase – Goal: using a
one-on-one mentoring relationship, student progress is tracked
for one year to provide advice, guidance, and support.

8. Acclimation Period - (2 WEEKS)

9. ACCLIMATION
First Two Weeks (14 Days)
 16 Hour Days (6:00AM-9:45PM)
 Physical Training Once A Day
 Drill and Ceremonies
 (Team Building)
 Mentally and Physically Challenging…

10. RESIDENTIAL PHASE (20 WEEKS)

11. Typical Weekday – Residential Phase
Daily Activities
 0600 Wake-up
 0600-0645 Hygiene/Barracks Maintenance
 0645-0730 Morning Chow/Personal Time
 0800-1055 Academic Instruction
 1100-1145 Lunch
 1150-1445 Academic Instruction
 1450-1545 Guided Instruction
 1600-1610 Formation
 1610-1725 Physical Training (PT)
 1730-1830 Dinner/Personal Time/Mail Call
 1925-2035 Small Unit Training/Guided Study
 2040-2130 Hygiene/Snack/Guided Letter Writing
 2130-2145 Evening Details
 2145 Lights Out

12. Typical Weekend – Residential Phase
Schedule
 0630 Wake-up
 0630-0645 Hygiene/Barracks Maintenance
 0645-0730 Morning Chow/Personal Time
 0800-0855 Campus/Barracks Maintenance
 0900-1545 Service Learning (composed of service
to the community and guided journaling
pertaining to career and
technical/occupational lessons and the
value of service); sack lunch provided
 0900-1055 Note: Non- Denominational
Worship/Meditation Time on
Sundays)
 1100-1145 Lunch
 1150-1445 Team Building/Core Value Exploration
Activities
 1450-1545 Incentive Activities (Movie/Games all
theme journal related)
 1600-1610 Formation
 1610-1725 Physical Training (PT)
 1730-1830 Dinner/Personal Time/Mail Call
 1925-2035 Small Unit Training/Guided Study
 2040-2130 Guided Journaling/Guided Letter Writing
 2130-2145 Evening Details
 2145 Lights Out

13. Squadron = Diversity
 Thirty-Five to Fifty Cadets per Platoon
 From All Over The State of Idaho
 Different Backgrounds
 Different Beliefs
 Different Experiences…
 Will learn to become one team!

14.  Academic Excellence
 Health and Hygiene
 Job Skills
 Leadership/Followership
 Life Coping Skills
 Physical Fitness
 Responsible Citizenship
 Service to Community
8 CORE COMPONENTS

15. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
 Recover High School credits and return to home high school to
graduate.
 H.S. Equivalency – GEDplus, leading to:
Vo-Tech School
Community College
Employment, or
Military Service

16. HEALTH and HYGIENE
 Good health, hygiene, and nutrition practices.
 Substance abuse awareness and prevention.
 Safe lifestyle choices—human sexuality, communicable
diseases, physical and emotional effects of their decisions.
 Family planning.

17. JOB SKILLS
 Job search skills—where/how to look for jobs, preparing
applications, resumes, and interview skills.
 Education options—considering alternatives, selecting a
school, applications, financial aid.
 Career options—vocational, service sector, public
sector, military service.
 Work ethics—being a good employee and co-worker.

18. LEADERSHIP and FOLLOWERSHIP
 Lessons/discussions on value-based leadership.
 Focus on positive, moral, and ethical standards as a leader and/or
follower in any role—school, job, citizen.
 Opportunities to serve in cadet leadership roles in large and small group
situations.
 Performance evaluated, feedback provided
by IDYCA staff.

19. LIFE COPING SKILLS
To prepare the student for independent living, with a focus
on self-awareness and self-discipline
 Personal financial management
 Conflict resolution
 Anger management
 Goal setting and achievement

20. PHYSICAL FITNESS
 Daily physical fitness—calisthenics, jogging, hiking, intramural
sports, etc.
 Fitness program based on national standards established by the
President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports—the President’s
Challenge (www.presidentschallenge.org)
 Expectation—cadets will be in the best shape of their life…and
hopefully committed to staying that way

21. RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP
 Understand federal, state, and local systems of government—
structure and processes
 Individual rights and responsibilities as a citizen and registered
voter
Participate in cadet government
How to be a positive, contributing member of the community

22. SERVICE TO COMMUNITY
Cadets must complete a minimum of 40 hours of
volunteer service to the community projects or
conservation projects.
 Work as individual, in small group, or large group.
 Projects scheduled on Friday and/or Saturday.

23. Dorm Life
 50 Cadets per bay (Open Bay)
 Dorm Details (Cleaning)
 Letter Writing/Journal Writing
 Personal Hygiene
 9:45 PM Lights Out…

24. RECAP
 This Is A Tough Program
 Physically Challenging
 Mentally Demanding
 Cadets Will Get Dirty
 Cadets Will Be Sore
 This Won’t Be A Free Ride!!!

26. Benefits of Mentoring
 87% of youth went to college
 59% improved their grades
 45% less likely to use drugs
 31% less likely to act violently
 27% less likely to use alcohol

27. POST-RESIDENTIAL
MENTOR SUPPORT - 12
MONTHS
―Friendly Matches‖
Screened & trained by IDYCA Staff
Provide an ongoing supportive adult for
encouragement, guidance, a listening ear, and a
connection to IDYCA during Post-Residential
Phase

28. Mentor Eligibility
 Must be same gender as youth
 Should be at least 25 years old (some exceptions
made)
 Should live within reasonable distance of where
the youth will live after the Residential Phase
 Must NOT be a member of the family

29. Mentor Eligibility
(continued)
 Must consent to criminal history background
check (free of any sex crimes; free of
felonies, DUI’s, alcohol or substance abuse
within the last five years)
 Have a desire to volunteer some time for youth
and the Washington Youth Academy

30. Mentoring Commitment
 Complete 2.5 hour online training
 Attend a 4-hour training/orientation
 Match with your student on Day One or in
person
 Maintain weekly contact for the entire
mentoring relationship (including 4 hours of
personal contact each month during the
Post Residential Phase
 Maintain faithful communication with your
Case Manager (once monthly) and provide
information on the Cadet’s placement status

31. A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND
WORDS…

33. Case Manager
Post Res NGA 7
Vacant
HR Asst
NGA 7
Vacant
NOTES:
- 47 FTEs
- Contract Positions: 8
Teaching staff
Medical
Total: 55 Positions
Initial Hires: 33 FTEs , 8 Contracted (40)
(14 additional FTEs hired as program grows)
Programs Coordinator
NGA 10
Lorie McNeil
Commandant
NGA 10
Announced
Nurse
Practitioner
NGA 10
Vacant
Training Spec
NGA 9
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Shift Supervisor
NGA 8
Vacant
Shift Supervisor
NGA 8
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant
Cadre Team
Leader NGA 7
Vacant Not initially Hired
Contracted Service
Director
NGA 13
Derek Newland
Administrative
Assistant
NGA 6
Carmen Syed
IT Analyst
NGA 9C
Chris Buckingham
Maint Tech
NGA 7
Vacant
Log Spec
NGA 8
Harv Nelson
RPM Recruiter
NGA 8
Announced
Case Manager
Post Res NGA 7
Vacant
Counselor
NG A 9
Vacant
Case Manager
Post Res NGA 7
Vacant
Med Asst
NGA 7
Vacant
Budget Off
NGA 10
Gina Cook
Mentor
Coordinator
NGA 8
Vacant
Deputy Director
NGA 12
Amy Steinhilber
Initial Hires
Instructor
NGA 9
Vacant
Instructor
NGA 9
Vacant
Instructor
NGA 9
Vacant
Instructor
NGA 9
Vacant
Instructor
NGA 9
Vacant
Lead Instructor
NGA 10
Announced
Med Asst
NGA 7
Vacant
Counselor
NGA 9
Vacant
Case Manager
Post Res NGA 7
Vacant
Case Manager
Post Res NGA 7
Vacant
Counselor
NGA 9
Vacant
Case Manager
Post Res NGA 7
Vacant
RPM Recruiter
NGA 8
Announced
Shift Supervisor
NGA 8
Vacant

34. Hiring Plan
Hired 1 Program Director (NGA 13)
March/Apr 2013
Hired 1 Deputy Director (NGA 12)
22Apr 1
Budget Officer (NGA 10)
Hired 1
IT Systems Analyst (NGA 9C)
22Apr? 1
Logistics Specialist (NGA 8)
15Apr 1
Administrative Assistant (NGA 6)
May 2013
3May 1 Programs Coordinator (NGA 10)
1 Commandant (NGA 10)
1 Lead Teacher/Principal)(Contract)
1 RPM Recruiter (NGA 8)
1 RPM Recruiter (NGA 8)
1380Hrs 1 Maintenance Tech. (NGA 7)
July 2013
1 Counselor (NGA 9)
1 Case Manager (NGA 7)
2 Cadre Team Leader (NGA 7)
1 Human Resources Asst. (NGA 7)
August 2013
1 Instructor (Contract)
1 Instructor (Contract)
1 Instructor (Contract)
1 Instructor (Contract)
1 Instructor (Contract)
1
Counselor (NGA 9)
1 Counselor (NGA 9)
1 Case Manager (NGA 7)
1 Case Manager (NGA 7)
12 Cadre Team Leader (NGA 7)
September 2013
3 Shift Supervisor (NGA 8)
1 Nurse Practitioner (Contract)
1 Medical Assistant (Contract)
43 Total Positions