Assisting At-Risk Youth In The Transition From School To Work I. TOPIC Youth Employment and Training II. LOCATION Butte, Montana III. SUBJECT Assisting At-Risk Youth In The Transition From School To Work IV. SUMMARY The Youth Employment and Training Program of the Human Resource Council, District XII, in Butte, Montana, assists economically disadvantaged youth, at-risk of dropping out of high school, in the transition from school to work in five Montana counties. The participants in the School-to-Work program receive a broad array of services, including pre-employment activities, career and aptitude assessments, individual counseling on goals and objectives, motivational workshops, life skills training and remediation, work experience, and limited internships in careers that best fit their interests and career goals. Pre-employment activities help participants determine employment goals and increase job readiness skills. Pre-employment training includes remedial and basic education, job search techniques, motivational support and skills training. Literacy is a major focus of basic and remedial education efforts. While participating in the pre-employment program, participants can receive individual counseling both in terms of career planning and assistance with personal problems such as family crisis or substance abuse. Once the participants have completed pre-employment, they move on to the Limited Internship Program or to Work Experience and then to the Limited Internship Program. The Limited Internship Program provides paid work experience opportunities and training at private sector work sites to youth program participants who are enrolled in JTPA. During the supervised internship, the youth program counselor coaches both the participant and the supervisor to assure the training is meeting the participant's and the employer's goals. At the same time, program staff works with the participant's school to ensure that academic needs and goals are also being met. The Work Experience program provides additional on-the-job training and supervision for those who need a transitional experience between pre-employment activities and the internship program. The program not only helps participants meet educational goals and find employment. It also assists participants in developing higher self-esteem, career planning, and identifying opportunities for continuing education. V. SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE Development of a comprehensive program of counseling, employment and training, and educational services to assist at-risk youth in danger of dropping out of high school to make the transition from school to work. VI. CONTACT Gertrude Downey, Executive Director Linda Moody, Youth Program Director District XII Human Resources Council (A Community Action Agency) 700 Casey Street P.O. Box 3486 Butte, Montana 59702 406-728-3710 406-728-7680 (FAX) VII. CASE STUDY The Problem: How to serve at-risk youth and increase their motivational skills, and through job training, increase employability skills to improve their marketing skills for the local job market The Approach Adopted: The Human Resource Council, District XII in Butte, Montana developed The Youth Employment and Training Program that assists economically disadvantaged youth, at-risk of dropping out of high school, in the transition from school to work in five Montana counties. How They Implemented The Approach: The participants in the School-to-Work program receive a broad array of services, including pre-employment activities, career and aptitude assessments, individual counseling on goals and objectives, motivational workshops, life skills training and remediation, work experience, and limited internships in careers that best fit their interests and career goals. While participating in the pre-employment program, participants can receive individual counseling both in terms of career planning and assistance with personal problems such as family crisis or substance abuse. Once the participants have completed pre-employment, they move on to the Limited Internship Program or to Work Experience and then to the Limited Internship Program. The Limited Internship Program provides paid work experience opportunities and training at private sector work sites to youth program participants who are enrolled in JTPA. During the supervised internship, the youth program counselor coaches both the participant and the supervisor to assure the training is meeting the participant's and the employer's goals. At the same time, program staff works with the participant's school to ensure that academic needs and goals are also being met. The Work Experience program provides additional on-the-job training and supervision for those who need a transitional experience between pre-employment activities and the internship program. Results: A recent profile of the program demonstrated that of 163 participants, 85 returned to school in the Fall. In addition, job placement was at 58%, with 28% of the participants completing an additional year of school. VIII. PROGRAM SPIN-OFFS HRC provides leadership support to a number of ask forces and cooperative organizations such as the local Jobs Task Force, the Interagency Task Force on Housing, School District #1 Council for Vocational Education. IX. KEY WORDS Community Action Agency High School Drop Out JTPA Literacy Pre-Employment Activities School To Work Work Experience Youth and Employment Training ref: butte.doc