Youth Employment and Training Program

FamilyLinks’ Youth Employment Training Program is located in our Millvale Shelter and Educational Center, 413 Evergreen Road, Pittsburgh, PA. 15209. The facility currently houses FamilyLinks’ shelter and educational programs for shelter residents. The program serves up to 25 youth ages 16-21 years who reside in Allegheny County but outside the City of Pittsburgh. These youth include those who have dropped out of school, have received high school diplomas or their equivalent but lack basic skills, or are under-employed/unemployed. The program targets the Millvale/Etna/Sharpsburg area as a priority in recognition of the County’s identification as an area of need. Clients will be recruited from the following sources:

• Current FamilyLinks’ consumers who meet eligibility criteria and, through a mutually agreed upon treatment plan, can benefit from these services.
• Publication and distribution of marketing materials to juvenile justice, adult probation, community human service agencies and providers, community support centers, educational and vocational institutions, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, local retail businesses, employment centers, churches, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA/YWCAs and civic organizations.
• Face-to-face communication through street outreach workers (already funded through our emergency shelter program for under 21 youth, supported by program staff from this WIA project.

The project is staffed by three paid staff providing two full time equivalents: a Coordinator, Instructor and a Vocation/Employment Counselor. This staff is supplemented by volunteers recruited through our agency’s Volunteer Coordinator.

To be eligible for admission to this program, youth must be between the ages of 16 and 21 years and reside outside the city of Pittsburgh but within Allegheny County. Recruiting will be intensified and prioritized in the Millvale/Etna/Sharpsburg area. These youth must be high school (or earlier) dropouts, unemployed or underemployed. Residence, educational level and employment will be verified through written documentation. Services include basic education instruction and testing in reading, language and mathematics. This service provides an initial assessment and progress evaluation at year’s end. Students who are preparing for high school equivalency diplomas will be tested according to individual readiness. Employment training, readiness and retention will include Life Skills evaluation, instruction, presentations, job search exercises and hands on employment with employers who partner with the program to evaluate student progress throughout the year.

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