Employment Skills and Workforce Training Resources for All Students
Employment Skills and Workforce Training Resources for All Students
Editor’s Note: The following article identifies valuable workforce education and training resources that the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) can provide to students in your school. Please share this article with your district administrators. For more information, contact Greg Voorheis, Vermont Department of Labor, Senior Grant Manager, at greg.voorheis@state.vt.us.
The Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) has multiple programs that help youth explore the world of work and learn about the myriad of occupations that they can pursue. Providing youth with these opportunities enables them to successfully transition to adulthood.
For years, VDOL has served low income, at risk youth through the federal Workforce Investment Act (currently), the Job Training Partnership Act (in the 80s), the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (in the 70s), and the Manpower Demonstration Act (in the 60s.) These programs have funded activities such as skill assessment, mentoring, classroom training, summer employment opportunities, work experience and on-the-job training. Support services have also been available to provide such things as appropriate clothing for work, help with transportation, child care and health services support.
During this past legislative session, Act 46 (commonly referred to as H.433) was passed that expands the career development opportunities offered to youth through VDOL. An Internship Program was created to allow secondary and post-secondary students opportunities to experience first-hand real life working. These experiences place students with employers for a prescribed period of time and enable them to apply skills they have learned in their classrooms. Interns are often paid wages by the employers but can, under limited circumstances, receive financial stipends if they qualify. Often internships result in academic credit students can use toward getting a high school diploma or a college degree.
Another program made possible through Act 46 is a Career Exploration Program for students in grades 7 through 12. Programs funded under this section of the new act will increase career awareness opportunities for students while exposing them to a variety of career options. These programs will involve employers, connect with school curricula and produce measurable results. Academic credit may also be earned as a result of the students’ successful participation.
A third program specifically designed for youth under Act 46 is the Alternative and Intensive Vocational/Academic Program. This program will provide students options to earn credit towards a high school degree by participating in technical education learning opportunities. Both in-school youth and out-of-school youth pursuing a high school diploma will be eligible to participate.
Another career awareness project under development is the Vermont Career Gateway Project. This is a special federally funded project to create a web-based portal for learning about careers and the academics required to pursue them. VDOL, in partnership with the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, the Department of Education, the state’s Workforce Development Council, the state’s School Guidance Counselors, and others is working on this project with New Breed Marketing. The site is under construction, however you may visit the beta version at: www.vtcareergateway.org Please feel free to share feedback to sally.redpath@state.vt.us. Shortly, more information will be shared on this exciting portal and over the next year teachers, counselors and others will be trained on how to maximize its use especially as a tool for career development activities that align with the Vermont Framework of Standards.
VDOL is working in partnership with many agencies and departments to develop a Youth Vision. The on-going challenge is to maximize the use of limited resources when serving youth. The reality is that many agencies, departments and nonprofit corporations all provide services to youth; the goal of developing a Youth Vision is to coordinate these services so that we can eliminate duplication and maximize the use of resources that are available.
Finally, each summer, special efforts are made to provide youth with employment opportunities. In all cases, VDOL staff try to align these summer activities with a year-round plan of support and growth. This involves connecting the summer jobs to school activities and on-going exposure to the world of work and careers. Approximately 250 youth are participating this summer. They are paid training wages and work with employers all over the state. VDOL staff work directly with youth in these activities and VDOL supports many of the services provided by the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Linking Learning to Life, Smokey House Center, Sunrise Family Resource Center, and The Tutorial Center which partners with UVM’s Horticultural Program.
A healthy Vermont economy depends on providing current career information and opportunities for work experience to our youth. VDOL is not alone in this important work. We have many partners throughout Vermont state government including Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Children and Families, Corrections and many others. And we have many other non-state partners some of which have been already mentioned. Yes, it does take a "village to raise a child." But, most importantly, it takes a "vision" to raise a child in a healthy way which enables that young person to make informed, career choices as they transition from youth to adulthood.
Over the coming months, we will share individual stories of the journeys our youth are taking in this unending process of transition.
