A Lost Generation Of Youth
The Department of Labor funds a number of youth-oriented programs age range 12- to 25- year-old. The purpose of these programs involves the development of youth and employability and occupational skills training in a number of different forums. However, it is my recommendation that the U.S. federal government do a better job with auditing their programs and analyzing the needs of the community. Programs that are needed and those that prove to be successful are not being funded or refunded because of budget cuts and allocations to other federal programs. I suggest that the federal government provide more support to youth programs and schools that are in an economically disadvantage areas.
Secretary Chao announced a $20 million grant to the National Urban League to continue and expand its Urban Youth Empowerment Program. “The income and self-respect that come with succeeding in a job is critical for young people trying to turn their lives around,” said Chao. “With this $20 million grant, we are tripling the commitment to the President’s Urban Youth Empowerment Program to help at-risk youth prepare for full-time employment. A significant portion of this grant will help young people in New Orleans and other areas that were affected by last year’s hurricanes.”
In 2004, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration awarded $9.2 million to the National Urban League to design and implement a national model program for at-risk, out-of-school, and adjudicated youth between the ages of 16-24. In partnership with faith-and community-based organizations, Urban League affiliate sites are providing youth career-focused employability skills, paid internships, and on-the-job training to help participants enter full-time, private sector employment. I applaud Secretary Chao and the First Lady Laura Bush to make this initiative a priority however there is still a greater need.
Although it may appear that the federal government is disbursing money to programs, they could do more. In spring of 2000 the Department of Labor awarded its first 36 Youth Opportunity Grants to youth living in empowerment zones, enterprise areas and other impoverished urban and rural areas. This five-year initiative seeks to target high-poverty areas in order to expand job opportunities for youth. Over this five-year tenure Department of Labor was committed to distribute 250 million dollars to these 36 cities in need. The majority of those 36 cities had programs that had proven to be successful, so the question is how come the Department of Labor did not refund those programs?
A model that I recommend is the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) funded by the federal government. GEAR UPTags: Grants, Labor, Youth
