What are the types of youth programs funded through the WIB?

I. Workforce Investment Act Programs for Low-Income At-Risk Youth
(Federal Funds)
Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 funds programs that support low-income, at-risk youth ages 14-21. “In-school” youth are those who are at risk of dropping out. “Out-of-school” youth are those who have dropped out and may still need a diploma or GED. Programs are designed to support either the “in-school” or “out-of-school” population, and are typically run by area non-profit organizations or local school districts. Contracts are awarded based on a response to a WIB-released RFP. The overarching goal of WIA programs is to ensure that low-income at-risk youth are able to access critical education, training, and career development services so that they are able to enter the labor force and ultimately build economic self-sufficiency.

FY 12 WIA In-School Youth Vendor:

• Hull Public Schools

• Plymouth Boys & Girls Club
• Quincy Public Schools
• Wellspring Multiservice Center (Hull)
• Training Resources of America (Quincy)

II. Connecting Activities Work-Based Learning for Youth Currently Enrolled in High School but Academically At-Risk
Funding Source: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (State Funds)
Connecting Activities is a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education initiative that is central to the Career and College Readiness goals set by the Commonwealth. Participating high school youth get to experience exploration, work readiness and job search readiness services, and placement in unpaid and paid work opportunities supported through the use of the Massachusetts Work-Based Learning Plan.

In FY12, the South Shore WIB has Connecting Activities programs active in Braintree High School, Plymouth North and South High Schools, Quincy and North Quincy High Schools, Randolph High School and Middleborough High School.

III. Additional School-Year Programs
Year-Round YouthWorks (State Funds)
Between Fall 2011 and Spring 2012, the South Shore WIB is funded to provide workplace readiness and job placement services in-school and out-of-school youth 14-21 who live in Quincy, Randolph or Weymouth and are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

IV. Summer Youth Employment Programs
Summer YouthWorks (State Funds)
Summer YouthWorks is a state-funded, publicly-subsidized program. The program is designed to provide paid summer employment and work readiness training to in-school and out-of-school youth 14-21 who live in Quincy, Randolph or Weymouth and are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Quincy Public Schools has administered this grant for the South Shore WIB since the summer of 2007. In addition to providing paid summer employment, the grant requires that 20% of the award be matched by employers.

DESE Fund 597 encourages local high schools that have workplace readiness and job placement services similar to Connecting Activities to apply for funds to provide a “summer of work and learning.” This allows students to experience work-based applications of math, ELA and/or science curriculum at an employer worksite. In Summer 2011, 10 Randolph High School students worked on-site at Milton Hospital and gained hands-on experience in the application of mathematical concepts. Additionally, the students contributed to a 10-page newsletter describing their experiences.