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YouthbuildIn 2001, we began our first YouthBuild program. YouthBuild is a uniquely comprehensive, full-time, non-residential, community-based program that offers at-risk youth an immediately productive role rebuilding their communities. Students spend half their time attending basic education classes and half their time receiving job skills training in high-demand fields while building affordable housing. YouthBuild is also on the cutting edge of education reform for drop-outs and effective re-entry for offenders. YouthBuild programs work because they put equal emphasis on education, employment skills, and community service in a supportive setting. While attending basic education classes for 50% of program time for approximately 10 months, students also receive job skills training, personal counseling from respected mentors, a supportive peer group with positive values, help in building assets through IDA programs, and experience in civic engagement. The young people help address the need for affordable housing by building houses for low to moderate income people while earning their GED. All students receive a national or local credential while in the program in addition to the opportunity to attain a GED. At Pathways we offer training for the following certifications: basic construction, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, green building, lead safety and food services management. We also partner with another organization to offer training in healthcare professions and are beginning a sales/marketing training program in May.
Research has shown that for every dollar spent on youth in this type of program the return is $27. This program to date has had a value of $77,200,000 for society and will give another $42,400,000 this year. Our goal is to double our enrollment in 2009, with an annual value to society of $80,000,000. |
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To date we have trained 193 persons in our YouthBuild program, with another 46 presently in training and another 60 scheduled to begin training this October. About 60% of our students are adjudicated and our recidivism rate in regard to incarceration is below 5%, with our placement rate for graduates in employment and/or higher education being 93%.