Problems encountered by local youths seeking jobs, activities,
services, volunteering opportunities or scholarships recently eased
dramatically with a new tool.
Problems encountered by local youths seeking jobs, activities, services, volunteering opportunities or scholarships recently eased dramatically with a new tool, the Youth Services Directory, which organizes available activities for students in grades 9 through 12.
Organized by the Youth Employment Program Council, the guide’s objective is local economic development.
Kathy Bosworth chairs the council and oversaw production of the directory.
“We really chose those services that target and were specific to youth,” Bosworth said. “We want to keep them from getting the runaround.”
The booklet, which contains 174 listings, was distributed this fall to area students and is required by the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998. A county branch of the Workforce Investment Board oversees funding to related programs.
The purpose of the WIA was to offer a range of workforce development activities through local and statewide organizations, according to the California Employment Development Department. The YEP Council advises the youth aspect of the program.
“What are the youth telling us are issues for them?” Bosworth said. “We take their input and coordinate services or possibly seek funding to fill needs.”
Bosworth said the response thus far has been “fantastic.” A number of agencies, including schools, the San Benito County Probation Department and the county Health Department, asked for additional copies almost immediately, she said.
“This feeds into research about gaps we need to fill for our youth,” Bosworth said. “It’s to increase the youth voice and provide resources to our youth.”
Yann Lee, a student at San Benito High School, designed the cover of the directory. Bosworth said the YEP Council wants to get youth involved as much as possible with the program. The council has 12 members and three additional members are on an advisory staff.
Bosworth said anyone with information on services for youth not included in the directory should call Andi Anderson at 637-9293.
