Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help address educational disparities and.provide assistance to unemployed workers The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve these outcomes are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
- Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program overview
Improving outcomes for opportunity youth: YouthBuild is a vocational training and youth development program for young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor employed. By providing training and support services, YouthBuild aims to improve educational and employment outcomes for its participants.
Partnering with local programs: YouthBuild USA is the nonprofit support center for over 280 YouthBuild programs across the US and around the world. Typically, programs serve young people who have not completed high school and face a risk of negative labor market outcomes (e.g., unemployment).
Offering targeted educational services: YouthBuild uses a cohort model, in which participants receive support services and progress through educational, vocational, and youth development programming over a 6- to 12-month period. As part of this model, participants receive alternative educational services that can lead to a high school diploma or equivalency credential. Some programs also aim to prepare participants for enrollment in post-secondary education (e.g., assisting with financial aid applications).
Providing vocational training opportunities: At all YouthBuild programs, participants receive hands-on training in construction. However, some YouthBuild programs offer vocational training for other in-demand occupations, such as in information technology, nursing, and advanced manufacturing.
Developing leadership skills: As part of the YouthBuild model, participants receive leadership training and have the opportunity to assume leadership roles in the program (e.g., serving as a work site leader). Participants also regularly serve their community, such as through projects building and rehabilitating affordable housing.
Addressing barriers to participation: To ensure participants can engage in the program successfully, YouthBuild provides a stipend for participation and other forms of support, such as access to childcare, housing, food, and transportation assistance. Each participant also works with a case manager, who can provide counseling, life skills training, and assistance while transitioning into the workforce.
- Cost per Participant
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MDRC study estimates $24,000 per participant
A single study with a rigorous design provides some evidence for YouthBuild as a strategy for improving educational and employment outcomes for opportunity youth.
- A 2018 randomized controlled trial found that YouthBuild increased the likelihood that participants received a high school equivalency credential by 11 percent, enrolled in vocational school by 11 percent, and attended college by over 8 percent over a four year period. Forty-eight months after starting the program, YouthBuild participants also earned an average of $33 more per week than members of the control group.
Note: This content is under review.
Leverage partnerships to develop a recruitment pipeline: YouthBuild programs should develop working relationships with social service agencies and other community-based organizations that regularly interact with opportunity youth. By sharing information on eligibility criteria and program content with these partners, YouthBuild sites can develop a stronger recruitment pipeline.
Provide opportunities for youth voice: As leadership development is a key component of the YouthBuild model, programs should identify meaningful opportunities for participants to develop and exercise leadership skills. For instance, many YouthBuild sites have established active Youth Policy Councils, which provide young people the opportunity to play an active role in programmatic decision-making.
Adapt the program to the local context: The YouthBuild model is flexible and allows YouthBuild programs to adapt to the local context. As with other vocational training programs, YouthBuild sites should adjust their services to reflect local workforce dynamics. For instance, programs may offer additional vocational training in a field other than construction if it is in demand locally (e.g., culinary arts).
Develop relationships with local employers: As vocational training programs like YouthBuild affect the quality of the future workforce, local employers have a stake in the program’s success. By developing relationships with local employers, YouthBuild programs can gain insight into skills that employers find valuable, recruit local leaders to champion their work, and identify potential employment opportunities for program participants.
Access to technical assistance and support: When starting and operating a YouthBuild program, program leaders can access technical assistance from YouthBuild USA. As the support center for the YouthBuild network, YouthBuild USA provides training and technical assistance, leadership development, funding for innovative program enhancements, and advocacy for YouthBuild programs.