YouthWorks is a community-based program that assists youth ages 14-18 in a pre-employment training and life skills building environment. The youth have a wide array of experiences in which to practice the skills they learn – including drug and alcohol prevention to healthy family life styles, to resume writing and community service. While youth learn these skills and give back to the community, they earn a bi-weekly stipend of $200, and get guidance on how to handle their first paycheck, establishing good money habits from day one. YouthWorks focuses on skill development in two areas:

• Life Skills Development – resistance strategies, problem solving, conflict resolution, decision making, communication, goal setting, planning and implementation, team building, positive peer interaction.
• Employment Skills Development – project assessment, planning, development and implementation, cost breakdowns, budgeting, time management and organization, resume writing, public speaking, and computer training.