Youth Services Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board

Record last updated 2023/01/06 Comment on this info .Update this info

Narrative

The Youth One Stop Career Center assists young people achieve their career goals by providing workshops, access to the Resource Room, and job placement assistance. The Resource Room is a computer lab for participants to work on their résumés, online job applications, school projects, etc. It also contains a “Hot Jobs Board” which has several youth-friendly job postings from local companies.

On a year-round basis, jobseekers can be connected to private employer partners depending on availability and suitability. 14-24 year-olds residing in a low-income household may be eligible to receive a 120 hour paid internship in an industry of their preference to build entry-level job skills through the YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program (funded by Commonwealth Corporation). Eligibility and enrollment into programs is determined by the availability of funds.

In addition to walk-in tutoring, YouthWorks has partnered with agencies that offer in-school services, HiSET preparation, college transition and financial assistance, and occupational skills training. Upon intake, staff will informally identify suitability and/or eligibility for specific programs and make appropriate referrals.

Jobs First

Jobs First is a college and career readiness program for high school seniors aimed at getting students into the workplace to provide a launching point for their careers. The program assists the students with various aspects of the college application process, including financial aid and SAT preparation. In addition, students also receive professionalism training aimed towards helping the student begin a career by learning hard and soft skills necessary in the work environment they seek. A 100 hour paid internship is included as a part of the program at a worksite that aims to provide great experience for a resume.

Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation

Connecting Activities (CA) supports staff to recruit employers; prepare and place students in brokered work-based learning opportunities; and structure those experiences through the use of Massachusetts Work-Based Learning Plan.

Through CA, students achieve more learning hours by extending the classroom to the workplace while providing more adults who can support these students in one-to-one relationships.

Youth CareerConnect
Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation

Funding from the US Department of Labor has allowed Brockton High School, the Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board, and Massasoit Community College to partner to prepare approximately 280 students for high-growth/high-demand careers through a program called Youth CareerConnect (YCC).

Summer Jobs
Work Opportunities for Young People

YouthWorks is a state-funded youth jobs program, which provides funds that communities use to pay wages to low-income youth for summer jobs—usually in the public or non-profit sector. The primary component of the YouthWorks program is subsidized employment at public or non-profit agencies, departments, and authorities. Participants are employed up to 25 hours per week over a six-week period during the summer component (early as June and ending as late as September). Hourly wages are required to be no less than the Massachusetts minimum wage.

Entrepreneurship
YouthWorks Annual Business Plan Competition

The Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board and the Future Entrepreneurs Series planning team are proud to provide an opportunity for youth to compete in the 5th Annual Youth Business Plan Competition to be held in May 2015. Available to youth ages 16-21, the competition hopes to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit among our youth and to foster the development of feasible business ideas.

HiSET (formerly GED)
Get Your High School Equivalency Certificate

In January of 2014, Massachusetts adopted the High School Equivalency Test by The Education testing Service as a replacement to the GED. The program is offered in both a paper and computer test form and will cover reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. The first phase of implementation (current) will be very similar to the old format and gradually incorporate the Common Core State Standards.

To help youth in the Brockton area, YouthWorks offers it’s Engaged Program. Engaged is a free online course to help 16-24 year old’s pass the HiSET. The program provides its students the option to study from home and receive assistance from YouthWorks staff. It’s designed for students to work at their own pace while completing interactive tutorials and ongoing assessments that monitor the student’s progress.

Service Types

• Job Counseling
• Job Seeking
• Job Training

Program Type

• Transition

Populations Served

• All Disabilities

Ages Served

• 14 - 18
• 19 - 22

Accessibility Features

• Accessible Parking
• Accessible Restrooms

Additional Information

• Fees: Free Service