Youth Job Connection is a new initiative available through Career Edge that is designed to help young people between the ages of 15 and 29 living in Trenton, Belleville, Napanee or Picton who face multiple barriers to employment and are employable. This program provides access to employability and employment skills development, along with education/training and work experiences. The goal is to ach
ieve long-term employment, meaningful careers, and success in your future working lives. Youth Job Connection will consist of two components:
A year-round component, launching October 1st, 2015, which will provide intensive employment supports for youth aged 15 to 29 who are not in employment, education or training and who experience multiple barriers to employment. A summer component – Youth Job Connection: Summer – launching in spring 2016, which will provide summer job opportunities and part-time job placements during the school year to help multi-barriered high school students, aged 15 to 18, make positive educational and career choices. The focus will be on those facing challenging life circumstances and at risk of experiencing poor transitions between education and work. Youth Job Connection is targeted to individuals who are out of school and unemployed. Eligibility criteria:
15 to 29 years old at the time of registration in the program
A resident of Ontario
Eligible to work in Canada
Unemployed
Not participating in full-time training or education, as defined by the institution
Please Note: Individuals who are 15-18 years old must be legally excused from attending high school. There is no cost for this program. An assessment is required that focuses on the suitability for this initiative which is geared to individuals requiring support to achieve success in their endeavors to obtain and maintain employment. In addition to the usual barriers facing youth who are entering the work force, some additional suitability criteria are taken into consideration. Participants who do not meet the suitability criteria for Youth Job Connection are still eligible for and will be provided services through regular Employment Services programming. Additional Suitability criteria:
A documented low level of proficiency in one or more of the essential skills which include reading, writing, document use, numeracy, computer use, thinking, oral communication, working with others and ability to continuously learn. Family/household circumstances which impact on the ability to succeed. Socially marginalized individuals
Program Components are:
Client service planning and coordination
Pre-employment services
Job matching, placement and incentives
Education and work transition support
All participants must receive and commit to a minimum of 60 hours of pre-employment workshops and a placement with an employer of up to a maximum of 6 months. The goal of the program is their long term connection to the job market or transition back to full time education. Participants are paid minimum wage for attendance in the pre-employment workshops.
