Youth Resource Connections
Published monthly by the
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Youth Services
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210 (202) 693-3036, 
http://www.doleta.gov/youth_services/

Volume 5, Number 10

October 31, 2005


Headlines

Department of Labor (DOL) Launches a "Pathways to Employment" Initiative 
Expanding Employment Services for Hurricane Survivors.  The U.S. Department 
of Labor announced a new "Pathways to Employment" initiative to help 
evacuees and other survivors of the recent hurricanes find employment and 
training opportunities.  "Pathways to Employment" provides targeted 
assistance to people based on individual needs through the nationwide 
network of 3,500 One-Stop Career Centers located across the country.  To 
view the press release, visit: 
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20051850.htm.

Department of Labor (DOL) provides On-Line Job Bank for Hurricane 
Survivors.  The Hurricane Recovery Job Connection is a service that 
connects workers impacted by the Gulf Coast hurricanes with employers who 
want to hire them.  It will also support the hiring associated with 
critical clean-up efforts in impacted areas.  For more information, go to: 
http://www.jobsearch.org/katrinajobs.

The Department of Labor's (DOL's) Employment and Training Administration 
Launches a Website with Resources for Hurricane Recovery.  "Hurricane 
Recovery Services" is a new website under the American Service Locator.  It 
provides resources to recovery assistance workers with a range of 
employment and disaster relief services.  Fact Sheets and Resources for the 
impacted states are now available on: 
http://www.servicelocator.org/hurricaneservices/.

Job Corps Announces Available Slots for Youth Affected by Hurricane 
Katrina.  Job Corps has identified 4,000 slots nationally that can be used 
to absorb some of the program-eligible youth displaced from their 
communities.  Job Corps is a no-cost education and vocational training 
program administered by the Department of Labor that works with young 
people ages 16 through 24.  For more information, visit: 
http://jobcorps.doleta.gov/katrina.htm.

YouthBuild Opens its Doors to Young Adults Displaced by Hurricane 
Katrina.  YouthBuild sites in 13 states have made slots available for 200 
young adults who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina.  In YouthBuild, 
low-income young people ages 16-24 work toward their GED or high school 
diploma while learning job skills by building affordable housing for 
homeless and low-income people in their community.  Displaced young adults 
from Katrina seeking academic and vocational training and other support 
services may call toll-free 877-631-0272 or email katrina at youthbuild.org to 
learn more about opportunities with YouthBuild.


Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao Participates in the First White House 
Conference on Helping America's Youth.  Secretary Chao moderated a panel 
entitled "Connecting with Community Locally" at the first White House 
Conference on Helping America's Youth.  The conference was hosted by First 
Lady Laura Bush at Howard University in Washington, D.C., October 
27th.  The Conference promoted public awareness of the various problems 
facing at-risk youth in our Nation.  For additional information, visit: 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/firstlady/helping-youth.html.

Workforce3One offers Podcast, a New On-Line Resource.  Department of 
Labor's Workforce3One recorded its first podcast with Lisa Matrundola, Lead 
Disability Program Navigator from the state of Massachusetts.  The podcast 
discusses how the workforce system has improved employment outcomes for 
people with disabilities through the development of partnerships, leveraged 
funding, and outreach with employers.  This is the first of several 
podcasts that will be featured on Workforce3One.  To view, visit: 
www.workforce3one.org.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Office of Disability Employment Policy 
(ODEP) Kicks Off Disability Mentoring Day.  W. Roy Grizzard, Assistant 
Secretary Of Labor for ODEP, officially kicked off the 7th annual 
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), Wednesday October 19th.  This year's DMD 
was held in partnership with the American Association of People with 
Disabilities (AAPD).  The day gave students and recent graduates with 
disabilities an opportunity to spend the day with a professional working in 
a field of interest to them.  For more information on Mentoring Youth with 
Disabilities, visit: http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/cultivate.htm.

Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao Announces an Award of more than $3.7 Million 
to Train Transportation Industry Workers.  Secretary Chao announced two 
grants totaling more than $3.7 million to help address workforce shortages 
in the transportation industry as part of the President's High Growth Job 
Training Initiative.  The grants were awarded to Community Transportation 
Development Center (CTDC) near Washington, D.C., and Atlanta-based United 
Parcel Service of America (UPS).  For further information on this 
initiative, visit: www.doleta.gov/BRG/JobTrainInitiative/.

Department of Labor (DOL) Awards $125 Million in Competition for the 
President's Community-Based Job Training Grants.  On October 19th, DOL 
awarded $125 million to 70 community colleges competing for the President's 
Community-Based Job Training Grants.  As part of the national response to 
Hurricane Katrina, the department gave preference to competitive 
applications from Gulf Coast and Southeast colleges whose programs will be 
critical to rebuilding the regional economy.  For more information on this 
initiative, visit: 
http://www.doleta.gov/business/Community-BasedJobTrainingGrants.cfm.


Funding Opportunities

Captain Planet Foundation Accepts Applications for Environmental Project 
Grants.  The Captain Planet Foundation funds hands-on environmental 
projects to encourage youth around the world to work individually and 
collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and 
communities.  Schools and non-profits organizations are eligible to 
apply.  Maximum amount of award is $2,500.  To obtain an application, 
visit: 
http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/aboutUs.html#policies_grant_guidelines. 
Deadline: December 31.

Dollar General Supports Programs that Contribute to the Advancement of 
Literacy and Basic Education.  Dollar General's community grants program 
provides financial support to non-profit organizations, located within the 
stores' 31 state market area, which are committed to the advancement of 
youth literacy initiatives and address the challenge of drop out 
prevention.  Maximum amount of the award is $2,500.  For additional 
information, visit: 
http://www.dollargeneral.com/community/communityinvestments.aspx. 
Deadline: December 5.

Youth Venture Foundation Funds Dream It, Do It Program.  Youth Venture 
provides seed money grants up to $1,000 for new youth-created, youth-led, 
sustainable ventures that benefit the community.  Youth ages 12-20 who want 
to start a new ongoing environmental club or organization can get guidance 
on how to plan, organize, and launch their venture, along with funds for 
start-up expenses.  For additional information, visit: 
http://www.youthventure.org/.    No Deadline.


Opportunities for Youth, Young Adults, and Teachers

The Sloan Consortium Announces Tuition-Free Online Education for Youth 
Affected by Hurricane Katrina.  The Sloan Consortium, an international 
association of colleges and universities, is offering students whose 
studies have been interrupted by Hurricane Katrina an opportunity to 
continue their education tuition-free. For more information, visit: 
http://www.sloansemester.org/.


Publications

AdvoCasey (Foundation magazine).  AdvoCasey is a policy magazine published 
by the Casey Foundation to highlight issues that affect the lives of 
children and families in the United States.  AdvoCasey seeks to document 
programs and strategies that work for kids and families through in-depth 
feature stories and essays that combine hard data and human insight.  To 
access the magazine, visit: 
http://www.aecf.org/publications/browse.php?filter=12.

America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2005.  "America's 
Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2005" is produced by the 
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, an organization 
committed to enhance and improve data on children and families.  The report 
features data about youth and families and measures the changing population 
and environmental context in which children are living.  To access the 
report, visit: http://www.childstats.gov/pubs.asp#ac2005.

100 Best Communities for Young People. The Alliance for Youth today 
announced the winners of a first-ever, national competition to identify 100 
Best Communities for Young People. The winning communities -- ranging from 
small towns to urban neighborhoods across America -- are being celebrated 
for their commitment to provide healthy, safe and caring environments for 
young people.  A complete list of the winning communities can be found at: 
http://www.americaspromise.org.

Pathways to College Access and Success.  A report released by the U.S. 
Department of Education examines the practices and policies of these 
important credit-based programs.  Experts from the Community College 
Research Center analyze the ways in which credit-based transition programs 
can help lower- and middle-achieving students prepare for college.  The 
authors also offer recommendations for practitioners, policymakers, and 
researchers.  To view the report: 
http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/Publication.asp?UID=340.

Reading to Achieve: A Governor's Guide to Adolescent Literacy.  The 
National Governors Association (NGA) released a new guide-- Reading to 
Achieve: A Governor's Guide to Adolescent Literacy  which "lays out the 
literacy crisis facing America in the 21st Century.  Additionally, it 
highlights several successful state-based programs that have helped 
governors in their efforts to improve reading achievement, raise high 
school graduation rates, increase the value of the high school diploma, and 
close the ever-widening achievement gap."  The guide is available at: 
http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0510GOVGUIDELITERACY.PDF.


Websites

Connect for Kids Website gives parents, grandparents, guardians, educators, 
advocates, policymakers, elected officials and others the tools and 
information they need to improve the lives of children, youth and 
families.  The Connect for Kids online publication covers more than 30 
topics ranging from arts to youth development, foster care to adoption, and 
welfare reform to oral health.  For additional information, visit: 
http://www.connectforkids.org/.

My future is a website targeted to high school students and provides 
information on financial aid, scholarships and careers, getting a job, and 
managing money.  For additional information, visit: http://www.myfuture.com/.

Careers and Colleges lists scholarships, loan, and college 
opportunities.  For additional information, visit: 
http://www.careersandcolleges.com/.


Calendar of Events

November 10-13.  Seattle, WA.  Coalition for Juvenile Justice, Equal 
Justice for Youth.  Equal Justice: Innovating for the Future will focus on 
examples of innovation, as well as system and policy improvement and 
reform, designed to eliminate bias and disparities in the treatment of 
youth in the juvenile justice system.  Contact: (202) 467-0864 ext. 120, 
www.cvent.com  (click "RSVP for Event;" code is 73NEUQS4RDG).

November 14-15.  Baltimore, MD.  "It's My Life" Conference, sponsored by 
Casey Family Programs, focuses on a youth-centered framework designed to 
guide transition services for young people who "age out" of foster care and 
other substitute care.  For additional information visit: 
http://www.casey.org/Resources/Projects/ItsMyLife/.

November 15.  Albany, NY.  New York State Youth Gangs Summit will bring 
local and national experts, community members and service providers to 
explore research on practices of gang prevention and intervention.  For 
more information contact Christine Roberts at (518) 473-8735, or email: 
Christine.Roberts at ocfs.ny.us.

November 16-18.  Orlando, FL.  Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse 
Association.  Florida Prevention Partnership Statewide Prevention 
Conference hosts this event for youth and adults involved in alcohol, 
tobacco and other drug prevention.  This year's conference will feature a 
Youth Summit where youth will take part in a high energy, innovative, 
hands-on learning experience.  Contact: (850) 878-2106, www.fadaa.org.

November 16-19.  Chicago, IL.  Healthy Teen Network.  Leading the Charge: 
Making a Difference in the Lives of Teens and Young Families looks to 
identify strategies for involving parents in the decisions of their teen's 
health.  Contact: (202) 547-8814, www.healthyteennetwork.org.

November 17-18.  Indianapolis, IN.  2005 Kids Count Conference, sponsored 
by the Indiana Youth Institute, features workshops led by nationally known 
instructors and networking opportunities geared for Indiana youth 
workers.  For more information, visit: 
http://www.iyi.org/trainings_conferences/kidscount.asp.

November 20-22.  New York, NY.  Partnership for After School 
Education.  Shaping Our Future In Out of School Time (OST) conference will 
look at developments in managing; researching and/or evaluating; 
collaborating with and/or funding; or serving as intermediaries in OST 
programs.  Contact: (212) 571-2664, www.pasesetter.com.


NOTICE:

The Office of Youth Services is interested in hearing about new and 
innovative approaches which bring employers, educators and workforce 
systems professionals together to serve our communities' youth.  If you 
would like to share projects or programs in your area please e-mail your 
information to the Office of Youth Services at youth.services at dol.gov.

Thank you.


Youth Resource Connections (YRC).  The Department of Labor (DOL), 
Employment and Training Administration (ETA) does not take responsibility 
for non endorsed DOL/ETA resources included in the YRC.

We welcome your input.  Please let us know how these updates might be 
improved to better serve your needs.  If you have comments contact the: 
Office of Youth Services at (202) 693-3030 or e-mail youth.services at dol.gov .

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