WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is completing the first phase in a campaign to increase educational opportunities and employment of minority youth in VA.
"Young people need realistic insights into the world of work," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "We want to help motivate these minority students to pursue their education into post-secondary schools, and we hope VA will be their employer of choice."
VA officials are assessing results of the eight-week pilot at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio before introducing similar programs at other VA facilities.
The San Antonio work-study program involved 53 students, most of them Hispanic, whose low family incomes could endanger their chances of attending college or even completing high school. Aged 16 to 18, they were selected by the Texas Employment Commission to participate in work and educational experiences 40 hours a week for eight weeks. The program is running from June 3 to July 26.
Principi said the objective was to introduce minority students to role models and mentors who will inspire them to remain in school. Students were assigned to VA facilities and participated in workshops and meetings with assigned mentors.
"VA facilities offer careers in many different fields, from administration to patient care," Principi said. "This program will connect high school students to employment possibilities in government."
VA selected the South Texas Veterans Health Care System for the pilot because the San AntonioMedicalCenter and its outpatient clinics already have enrichment programs with local schools that have large Hispanic student enrollments.
VA's nationwide Hispanic work force is 6.3 percent of its total, and its goal is to approximate the country's overall proportion of Hispanic employees, at 12.5 percent.
VA officials said the program supports the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans and addresses the problems of Hispanic under-representation as well as succession planning for its work force. It also markets government service to minority youth.
