Youth Vendors

Funding Overview

Through funding allocated by the Federal Workforce Investment Act, the Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board provides financial support to local youth agencies. Interested agencies must complete the WIB’s yearly RFP, and a panel of community readers, as well as the WIB’s Youth Council, comprised of various community leaders, assesses each program and determines funding. In order to be eligible for funding, successful programs must observe and strive to meet the following performance standards:

Older Youth (19-21 at entry age):

§ 66% Entered Employment
§ 79% Employment Retention Rate (6 months)
§ $2,700 Earnings Gain (Pre-Post)
§ 50% Credential Rate

Younger Youth (14-18 at entry age):

§ 77% Skill Attainment Rate
§ 57% Diploma (or Equivalent) attainment rate
§ 58% Employment or Education Retention Rate

The following programs have been funded for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008.

In School Programs

Middlesex Community College In School Youth Dropout Program

Middlesex Community College, in partnership with Lowell High School, will offer a comprehensive In-School Dropout Prevention Program for 50 highly at-risk WIA-eligible LHS students annually. The selected youth will have exhibited at-risk behaviors for dropping out of school, such as high absenteeism, course failure, failure on the MCAS, prior suspensions from school, lack of parental involvement in their education, and involvement with Department of Social Services, Department of Youth Services or the court system.

Services will include: intensive case management, including working with families; facilitation of student participation in support services, such as academic tutoring and counseling; career and leadership development workshops and programs, including job shadowing and unpaid internships; and assistance with the college ad mission and employment processes.

Contact Person: Maria Cunha, Program Director
(978) 656-3104
cunham@middlesex.mass.edu

YWCA of Greater Lowell Project STEP
(Strategies for Employment Preparation)

The YWCA seeks to engage in-school WIA-eligible youth in Project STEP (Strategies for Teen Employment Preparation), a year round educational, occupational and personal development program designed to prepare them for academic, employment and personal health success.

The program proposes to serve 14 teens during the summer work experience – 8 in a Camp Counselor Training Program and 6 in targeted non-profit and for profit community-based internships. These hands-on experiences will incorporate reading and math exercises applicable to their day-to-day activities and responsibilities, as well as measurable skills attainments, and measurable outputs i.e., completion of CPR/First AID Training, and facilitation of structured activities with younger children.

During the 2005-2006 school year, the program aims to serve 20 in-school teens – 14 from the summer work experience and 6 additional WIA-eligible youth. It is proposed that 80% of participants will remain in the program throughout the school year while remaining in school and attaining competency ratings in the skill components; also 80% will exhibit significant academic gains.

Contact Person: Andre J. Chandonnet
(978) 454-5405
achandonnet@YWCAoflowell.org

Greater Lowell Technical Workforce Program

The Greater Lowell Technical Workforce Program will provide work experience, summer employment and basic skills development for twenty (20) GLTHS students. The summer work experience component will have teens working in jobs related to their technical/trade area of study (i.e. electronics, carpentry, plumbing, etc.). The students will work three 7-hour days at their jobs Monday – Wednesday. On Thursdays, participants will attend “survival” activities and lessons at GLTHS for four hours, resulting in a 25 hour work week.
“Survival Day” will focus on basic skill development and the competencies of the Massachusetts Work-Based Learning Plan(MWBLP) with emphasis on Reading, Communication Skills, Employment Readiness and independent living skills. Other topics include leadership skills, community service and recreation.
The full year program will include after-school tutoring in academic subjects, paid and unpaid work experiences, community service projects, part-time jobs, volunteer opportunities, and leadership development activities. The full year program will also take part in the Incentive Payment Policy and supportive employment opportunities.

Contact Person: Frank Heslin, Work Experience Coordinator
(978) 454-5411
fheslin@gltech.org

Big Brother – Big Sister of Greater Lowell
The ADAM Project

“Leaders of a New Millennium” is an after school and summer program for 25 low-income, in-school youth between the ages of 14 and 18, who are at risk of gang involvement, dropping out of school, and other negative outcomes. The program will provide 50 weeks of training and work experience including:

Summer Employment and after school internships/work experiences
Job skills training and summer academic enrichment
Homework help and tutoring, including MCAS & SAT preparation, math and reading comprehension, and study skills development
Career and college exploration and readiness
Education on risk factors, including pregnancy prevention, violence and gang prevention, and peer mediation skills
Leadership development and team building curricula, including goal setting, communication skills and group dynamics
Community service and opportunities to serve as peer mentors to younger youth
Incentives and recognition for achievement
Cultural and recreational enrichment activities
Family outreach and referrals
12 month follow up services

Contact Person: Jim Conlon, After School Program Director
(978) 453-9339
jconlon@mec.edu

Lowell Association for the Blind

Senior Teen Employment Program (STEP)

Unemployment among the blind adults ranges from 70% – 75%. Without a structured program to assist them with necessary employment skills we feel the participants in our Youth programs will almost certainly be a future part of that statistic. Blind youth in our highly visual society face added employment difficulties in securing meaningful employment. Employers are often hesitant to commit resources to hire adults and certainly youth with vision difficulties. The Senior Teen Employment Program (STEP) designed by the Lowell Association for the Blind will provide the necessary support for both the employer and employee. In its start up year, the program will provide services to eight blind/visually impaired youth.

LAB will work with participants to identify their interests, skills and talents. Through workshops, trainings and field trips, we will help them prepare for employment. Concurrently, staff will be contacting local employers to promote internship/employment opportunities for participants. Our program design includes social/recreational activities, community service and leadership activities. We will offer workshops and trainings addressing such issues as: resume writing, dressing for success, workplace conduct, applications and interviewing and interpersonal skills, safely commuting to and from work, workplace orientation and familiarization with public transportation.

Participants will also develop individual goals, learn adaptive technology and its use in the workplace, and receive one on one case management and job specific training.

Contact person: Christie Cleaver
(978) 454-5704
ccleaver@lowellassociationfortheblind.org

Out of School Programs

The GRIP Project – JUMP with GRIP

The GRIP Project is a “by teens, for teens” shelter for homeless, runaway and throwaway teens. Additionally, GRIP strives to stomp out teen homelessness by performing aggressive prevention measures, such as also housing teens who are aging out of the state foster care system, because of their overwhelming rates of homelessness within the first six months of emancipation.

The JUMP program allows GRIP to provide GED courses, Monday – Friday from 9:00 – 12:00 onsite, to 15 teens on a rolling basis. While teens are enrolled in the GED program, they are also partaking in life skills workshops such as: finances and budgeting, how to find a home, job search, how to dress for an interview and so on. JUMP also encourages teens to register to vote, to register for selective service, and saw a number of teens move into their own apartments and gain employment – setting the stage for an evolution into self-sustaining adults of the community.

Contact Person: Rachel McNamara, Executive Director
(978) 458-3622
rmcnamara@jri.org

Middlesex Community College Out-of-School
(OSY) Youth Development Center

For the past four years, Middlesex Community College has operated the Out-of-School Youth (OSY) Development Center at the Lowell campus. It is an open enrollment Program, allowing the students to enroll at any time during the year. The creation of the Center has allowed MCC to provide OSY with a highly supportive, structured system of services enabling youth to identify interests and career pathways, access and complete high school educational programs (alternative diploma programs) and enter college or employment. The Center operates through funding from the City of Lowell Community Development Block Grant, and funding from the Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board.

In FY2005, the OSY Center developed a partnership with the Lowell Adult Basic Education Center. The LAEC will provide pre-GED and GED instruction Monday through Friday at MCC. Following the morning GED prep, the students will receive tutorial support, case management services, and participate in workshop trainings 1-2 afternoons per week.

A total of 70 out of school youth between the ages of 16-18 will be served during the program year (2005-2006). The OSY program aims to have 77% of its participants reach positive termination through one or more of the following – obtaining their GED, entering employment, enrolling in post-secondary education or re-entering secondary education at the Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School.

Contact Person: Maria Cunha, Program Director
(978) 656-3104
cunham@middlesex.mass.edu

Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities - Youth In Progress

Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities (MVCC) aims to continue to operate a “Youth IN Progress” program with GED preparation and vocational exploration for fifteen (15) out-of-school youth between the ages of 16-21 who reside in the Northern Middlesex Service Delivery Area. The program will have open entry enrollment, and will be located at the MVCC Educational Center in Downtown Lowell.

Participants will attend the program Monday through Friday from 8:30 – 1:00pm for a total or 17.5 hours, with 8 hours of internship or paid employment. The program will last for 20-40 weeks, dependent upon entrance grade level.

The goal of the program is to provide income-eligible youth who are school dropouts with Basic Education/GED Preparation and an introduction to the world of work. This is accomplished through career exploration; paid work experience opportunities, unpaid internships, work readiness workshops, leadership activities, basic computer skill training and an intensive job placement component. Older youth, aged 19-21, will be placed in jobs to meet the wage gain target after six months of exiting the program.

Contact Person: Patricia Kirwin, Regional Director
(978) 452-1421
patricia_kirwin@ccab.org

Little Sprouts Project

Project STRIVE offers Out of School Youth the opportunity to earn their GED while attaining Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) Teacher Certification in early education. GED classes prepare participants for the exam while a job shadow, a subsidized work experience, comprehensive leadership development and occupational skills training prepare participants for a professional career. Participants complete the program with college credits, important life skills, and a rewarding career in an environment with successful parent and educator role models.

The program targets eight (8) pregnant, parenting, and/or at-risk youth, ages 16-21 that have dropped-out of high school or an eligible youth who has received a secondary school diploma or its equivalent but is basic skills
deficient, unemployed, or underemployed who reside in the Northern Middlesex Service Delivery Area and are seeking assistance in achieving academic and employment successes. All three elements of the program-- classes,
training, and work experience-- are held at our Lowell Early Childhood Center located at Cross Point Towers.

Contact Person: Jim Carlson, Director of Programs
(978) 764-1649
jcarlson@littlesprouts.com