The YouthBuild program supports pre-apprenticeships to educate and train young people for construction jobs and employment in other high-demand industries. Grant money in Dayton will cover the administration of the program, stipends for participants and other program expenses for two years.
“Not only are they able to apply what they learn in the classroom, they’re also exposed to all of the trades,” said County Corp vice president of housing Adam Blake. “They’re getting real world experience.”
YouthBuild grants will help deliver education and training to enable participants to build or rehabilitate affordable housing in their communities for people in need, according to a labor department press release.
“There are different ways that this construction gives back to the community,” said YouthBuild program manager and family advocate Denita Carson. “Sometimes it’s from the ground up. Other times it’s a house they help rehab.”
But YouthBuild participants in Dayton can participate in other tracks — healthcare and manufacturing for example. Students can also train to become direct support professionals for people with disabilities.
In the Dayton area, young people aged 16-21 who have opted into Liberty High School and meet income requirements may be eligible for the YouthBuild program, Carson said.
YouthBuild participants work toward a high school diploma or its equivalent and build job skills while also preparing for their futures. Participants can also earn certification so they can better enter into the labor market.
YouthBuild members are paid while they learn and work to improve themselves and their communities. Participants rotate through classroom and hands-on training in the field, and YouthBuild coordinators can also help young people address personal needs: mental health, drug and alcohol counseling; mentoring supports; food insecurity; homelessness and healthcare.
“We try to be well-rounded,” Carson said. “We teach them the foundation of job readiness. We push them hard, we set goals, we help them with their academics.”
YouthBuild Dayton saw more than 50 graduates in last year’s cohort.
YouthBuild grants promote a pre-apprenticeship model that provides disadvantaged young people with educational guidance, occupational skills training and significant supportive services through participation and a yearlong follow-up period. The supportive services may include transportation assistance, childcare, health care referrals and the provision of work attire and personal protective equipment, according to the labor department press release.
The U.S. Department of Labor, in total, awarded $99.3 million in grants to 70 other organizations throughout the country.
“YouthBuild grants are investments in young people who want to pursue education and receive hands-on training, while providing service to neighbors in need,” explained U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training José Javier Rodríguez.
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