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Grant aims to help young people find work after punishment

The Herald - 1/2/2020

Jan. 2--SHARON -- A state grant could help young people find gainful employment after scrapes with the law.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry recently awarded an $800,000 grant to the West Central Workforce Development Board to assist about 140 out-of-school youth ages 18 to 24 in Mercer and Lawrence counties who are transitioning from the justice system to the workforce.

"This is a demonstration project, not something we've ever done before," said Eric Karmecy, the West Central Job Partnership division chief of operations and special projects.

West Central Workforce is one of 10 development boards to receive grants as part of a larger $5.8 million package of youth-reentry demonstration project funding.

State Reps. Mark Longietti (D-7, Hermitage) and Chris Sainato (D-9, Union Township) said the grant will allow the West Central Workforce Development Board to "conduct needs assessments to determine skill sets and training gaps, the need for supportive services and training options, as well as literacy instruction, career exploration and mentoring."

About half of the grant will stay in Mercer and Lawrence counties while the remaining $400,000 will assist young people in Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango and Warren counties in northwest Pennsylvania, Karmecy said.

"The main objectives are to engage youth in a career pathway leading to post-secondary education, advanced training and/or meaningful employment -- and hopefully to reduce recidivism in the process," Karmecy said.

As a workforce board, Karmecy said he's hoping to "coordinate services" for youth and for the employers who stand behind them.

"Roughly 40 percent will be enrolled in a program leading to high school equivalency, 25 to 30 percent will be enrolled in post-secondary education and 30 percent will receive a blend of occupation and paid work training," Karmecy said.

Ultimately, Karmecy said he hopes at least half of the participants will be placed in self-sustaining or family-sustaining employment.

Many referrals for the program will come from officials at state correctional facilities and county jails, Karmecy added.

"These are the folks that will be doing that assessment on the front end and referring candidates to us for entrance into the program," Karmecy said. ""I don't think there's going to be any shortage of individuals. They've got to want to better themselves."

Karmecy knows the need for supportive services will be high, he said.

"We have resources to help these folks," Karmecy said. "We'll be providing training options for them, case management and helping individuals progress to employment. We have employers with openings every day. We need to get these individuals prepared."

FOR MORE information about the program, contact PACareerLink in Mercer or Lawrence counties.

Like Heidi Warren on Facebook or email her at hwarren@sharonherald.com.

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