To prepare youth for the 21st century workforce, the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment, Division of Youth Services coordinates youth workforce development investments.
Shared Youth Vision
A Partnership between the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Labor; the U.S. Social Security Administration; and the Corporation for National and Community Service seeks to create a Collaborative Approach to Prepare Youth for Success in a Global, Demand-Driven Economy. The youth workforce investments are guided by an interagency Shared Youth Vision.
YouthBuild The Department of Labor began administering the YouthBuild program in September 2006, awarding 96 grants in October 2007 and an additional 11 grants in July 2008. The YouthBuild program is administered by the Employment and Training Administration’s Office of Workforce Investment, Division of Youth Services.
YouthBuild provides job training and educational opportunities for at-risk youth ages 16-24 while constructing or rehabilitating affordable housing for low-income or homeless families in their own neighborhoods. Youth split their time between the construction site and the classroom, where they earn their GED or high school diploma, learn to be community leaders, and prepare for college and other postsecondary training opportunities. YouthBuild includes significant support systems, such as a mentoring, follow-up education, employment, and personal counseling services; and participation in community service and civic engagement.
Multiple Education Pathways
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is providing $3,441,662 in funding to seven cities to ”blueprint” and implement a system that can reconnect youth that have dropped out of high school to a variety of high quality, innovative multiple education pathways. These pathways will offer alternative learning environments that engage these youth in rigorous and relevant academic studies and workforce preparation, while preparing and connecting them to post-secondary education opportunities. Former dropout youth will then be better prepared to enter the labor market and career pathways in high growth, high demand industries. To learn more about our efforts click here.