21 May United Construction Supports Washoe County YouthBuild Project
By with KPS3
Youth building new Transitional Living Center for The Children’s Cabinet.
The Washoe YouthBuild program provides at-risk youth (ages 16-24) with education and vocational training in the construction industry. This Children’s Cabinet program includes mentorship, career counseling, academic support, and leadership training as each participant works on an individualized plan. Participants complete 300 hours of education training, 186 hours of vocational skills training, 65 hours of field work construction training, and 40 hours of community service. This approach gives each participant the opportunity to earn an HSE or adult diploma and professional certifications, such as OSHA 10, First Aid and CPR, LEED, and Solar Installation.
A Children’s Cabinet Work Development Counselor works with youth for up to a year following program graduation. The Work Development counselor helps youth apply for apprenticeships with local construction companies or pursue career and educational goals.
Program Director Jeremy Stocking works one on one with the program youth and says, “This is an opportunity for young adults to invest in their community and most importantly invest in themselves.” The program has had great results, with 90 percent of the program youth obtaining a degree or certificate.
One program youth said,“ I feel like YouthBuild was a great opportunity to help get my life back on track. It gave me a second chance.”
YouthBuild is a program of the U.S. Department of Labor, which selected The Children’s Cabinet to introduce the program to Northern Nevada in 2013. Two cohorts have completed the program. The third cohort has just completed the educational training and they will begin field work experience at the end of May. All participants have been on-site building/rehabilitating a new Transitional Living Center for runaway, homeless and foster youth. The completed center is due to open at the end of 2015.
When asked about the field work experience a program youth mentioned,” I think if I did not get into this program I would still be in the same situation. Now I have changed directions and I’m working on building skills for the future.”
Children’s Cabinet’s YouthBuild program partners include: Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Truckee Meadows Community College, State of Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, United Construction Company, Western Nevada Supply, D&D Plumbing, Contract Flooring, Custom Paint, Sherwin-Williams, Frank Lepori Construction, Rex Moore Electric, Washoe County School district, Juvenile Services, Social Services, Nelson Electric Co., and many more who donated materials or provided journeymen to coordinate hands-on construction activities.
For more information please visit www.childrenscabinet.org or call
775-856-0356. Follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/childrenscabinet and Twitter at @ChldrnsCabnt.
About The Children’s Cabinet Celebrating 30 years of supporting children and families, The Children’s Cabinet exists to keep children safe and families together by offering services and resources that address unmet needs through a unique and cooperative effort between the private sector and public agencies in Nevada. The Children’s Cabinet serves 11,000 Nevada families annually. Services including, providing food, shelter, and crisis intervention, child care assistance, academic support, parenting classes, and family counseling. Ensuring access to these services strengthens our community’s children and families.