Patrick-Murray Administration Releases YouthWorks 2011 Report
Continues to Promote Youth Jobs Through 2013
BOSTON – February 23, 2012 - The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development's Commonwealth Corporation today released data from last year's successful YouthWorks program.
During the summer of 2011, the Patrick-Murray Administration’s YouthWorks saw a 25% increase over that year’s targeted number of youth with jobs. In 2011, the Administration provided YouthWorks with $9 million in funding that allowed it to enroll more than 5,200 youths across the state in its summer and year-round programs.
The Patrick-Murray Administration maintains its commitment to young people seeking employment, particularly in cities across Massachusetts with greater incidences of juvenile detention and adjudication.
One of Governor Patrick’s top priorities has been to improve opportunities for young people not just through education and closing the achievement gap, but also by giving them the opportunity to work, and reducing the likelihood of youth violence. The Governor has urged the private sector to contribute to these efforts through providing jobs, internships and employment opportunities.
To advance these efforts, the Patrick-Murray Administration has partnered each year with the Legislature to fund YouthWorks. YouthWorks partners with local workforce boards, employers, and youth to ensure that young people get work experience.
Governor Patrick continues to seek funding for such initiatives through 2013, which will afford employers the resources to increase the number of opportunities available to the youth of Massachusetts.
The Governor included $8.6 million in his budget to support youth employment during the school year and the summer of 2013. This will insure plenty of time and sufficient resources to connect young people to high-quality work experiences with local employers.
Fifteen percent of youth in the 2011 summer program were at-risk: homeless, in foster care, or court-involved. Programs like this are critical for youth who need an outlet from negative environments and who use their wages to help support their families.
Please visit http://www.commcorp.org/resources/detail.cfm?ID=955 as this report may be useful as you plan your coverage of this important topic.