Lessons Learned: A Qualitative Study of Service Delivery and Experiences in Local Youth Workforce Programs

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA) authorizes youth-focused workforce development programs such as YouthBuild, Job Corps, and Youth Activities programs, to increase economic self-sufficiency among youth and young adults (YYA). These programs vary in their funding and service delivery structure but all serve YYA with significant barriers to education and employment. The devolution of policy implementation requires research that examines the nuanced ways in which services are implemented and experienced at the community level. Our research studied the implementation contexts of five local youth workforce programs in a metropolitan area of one southern state. Participants included a total of 12 youth-serving staff, and 7 YYA. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Across providers and YYA categories related to local policy implementation included: (1) recruitment, (2) facilitators of success, (3) barriers to success, with an intersection between YYA’s complex backgrounds and experiences, developmental needs, and structural inequities, and (4) opportunities to enhance supports. Overall, our findings indicate that these youth workforce programs might be promoting healthy development, whether or not the design or implementation of such an approach is explicitly mentioned. Further, implementation struggles around funding, staff, and ability to recruit hard-to-reach YYA and to provide intensive support for YYA were noted. Recommendations for policy and practice that support YYA well-being are presented, as well as implications for future research related to local youth workforce program recruitment and service delivery practices. Highlights Local youth workforce programs provide important connections, services, and skill building activities for youth enduring marginalization. Programs used similar recruitment techniques and noted comparable facilitators and barriers to success. YYA face challenges of lacking transportation and inability to meet basic needs alongside lacking confidence, hope, and social support. Despite facing structural and personal challenges, many YYA participants are driven by a desire to succeed. Additional funding and different outcome measures might help ensure access to resources that enable YYA to meet their basic needs and thrive.