Supporting Youth Employment: A Guide for Community Groups

This guide was developed to help concerned community members, groups, and organizations learn about major federal and state funds for employment-related youth programs and to direct them to additional funding resources. The guide discusses several types of employment-related activities that help young people become healthy and productive adults. The guide is divided into four sections. The first, "Effective Youth Employment Programs," provides information on the types of services that community groups should aim for as they help young people prepare for good jobs. This section describes youth development and the skills and abilities young people need to move from adolescence to adulthood. The second section, "The Workforce Investment Act" (WIA) describes the legislation that governs the U.S. Department of Labor's job training funds through state and local agencies that plan systems and administer the funds, including funds for employment-related youth programs. Section 3 describes "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)," the program that provides public welfare assistance and can fund services and programs for eligible youth to reduce dependence on government assistance, prevent or reduce single-mother pregnancies, and encourage the formation of two-parent families. The final section deals with "State Education Assistance," which pays for alternative learning programs. Additional resources are described throughout the guide and are listed at the end with contact information. The guide also offers profiles of quality youth programs funded by these sources of funds and adaptable tools, including charts and questions, that can help community groups plan strategies, assess programs, influence policy, and take advantage of funding opportunity. (SLD)