This summer, Learning Opportunities/Quality Works, Inc.(LOQWI) is collaborating with Gamm, Inc., the Northeast Missouri Workforce Investment Board (WIB), the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and a number of local businesses to provide eight local youth with disabilities the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and earn their own money, often for the first time.
These youth (age 14-24) are part of the Next-Generation Jobs Team which is funded primarily through the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Through the partnership, local businesses provide temporary jobs to the youth and agree to mentor them by giving feedback on a number of factors related to their job performance and job keeping skills.
Before starting the program, the youth completed a 30-hour job readiness training focused on teaching job seeking skills and job retention techniques. The youth can work at the job until September 30, or until he or she reaches 320 hours of work. Local businesses participating and supporting the youth with disabilities are Joe’s Diner, Beth Haven Nursing Home, The Opened Book, NEMO Humane Society, The Dugout Sports Shop, Badger Cheese Haus, Ralls Co. School District, and Concord Custom Cleaners.
For the out-of-school-older youth, the goal of the program may be to receive training and/or services, which enhance the ability to obtain unsubsidized employment. For the younger in-school youth, the goal may be a variety of services geared towards career decision-making, hands-on experience in several career areas, or any number of other services, which allow you the opportunity to make good decisions about your future goals.
It is the mission of Learning Opportunities/Quality Works, Inc. to positively impact the lives of individuals through support, advocacy and connection to resources. At the beginning of the summer, LOQW, Inc. guided local youth with disabilities through the application process. Eight individuals were accepted into the program and began their job readiness training shortly thereafter. Once the training was complete, the youth were placed at a site that matched their job interests. At the beginning of the placements, a majority of the youth were provided with a job coach to assist in their success at the workplace. Job coaching is the service provided to an individual and their employer. The goal of this service is to assist and train the individuals in becoming acclimated to their job, co-workers, social climate, and place of employment to become a valued member of the team. Job coaches are still in place at half of the worksites to ensure continuous success.
Research from the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University has shown that for every $1 a teen earns, it has an accelerator of $3 in the local economy. Not only is The Next-Generation Jobs Team helping the nation as a whole, but it is also providing a vital learning experience for disadvantaged youth. The skills, networking, and career-building opportunities that these youth are gaining are irreplaceable.
Hannibal, MO —
