Youth Council
The mission of the Region 2 WIB Youth Council is to provide all youth with the opportunities needed to develop the attitudes, behaviors and skills that allow them to make the transition to productive adulthood.
The services emphasize a youth development perspective designed to meet the human development needs of youth and to build a set of core assets and competencies needed to participate successfully in adolescent and adult life.
The youth development approach is designed to focus on the positive outcomes desired by young people, not the negative outcomes that adults hope to prevent. The distinction may appear subtle, but it is a significant shift in policy and practice.
The intent of the WIA legislation is to move away from one-time, short-term interventions for youth and move towards a longer term, systematic set of service strategies and a closer link to the labor market.
The new programs are year-round and address each of WIA's 10 key program elements, which are:
- Comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referrals, as appropriate
- Follow-up services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation in the program.
- Tutoring, study skills and instruction leading to completion of secondary school, including dropout prevention strategies.
- Alternative secondary school services, as appropriate.
- Summer employment opportunities directly linked to academic and occupational learning.
- Paid or unpaid work experiences including job shadowing and internships as appropriate.
- Occupational skills training as appropriate.
- Leadership development opportunities, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social behaviors during non-school hours as appropriate.
- Supportive services (may include transportation, childcare, need-related payments that are necessary to participate in activities.) Some of these activities may be coordinated with the assigned Community Based Organization in each county.
- Adult mentoring for the period of participation and subsequent period, for a total of not less than 12 months
For more information on the Region 2 Youth Advisory Council email us at youth@wvregion2.org