FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Teresa Ruiz
October 7, 2003 973-621-4404
ESSEXCOUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO UNVEILS
ESSEXCOUNTYYOUTHRESOURCECENTER
NEWPROGRAM PROVIDES OUT-OF-SCHOOL AND UNEMPLOYED YOUTH
WITH JOB TRAINING, ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT AND MENTORING SESSIONS
Newark, NJ - Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. has announced the creation of the EssexCountyYouthResourceCenter for County youths who have dropped out of school. The center is located at FOCUS headquarters at 443 Broad Street in Newark.
As the 2003 fall school season gets underway, DiVincenzo is encouraging County youths, who also are unemployed or possess a GED, but desire to improve their academic and employment skills, to take advantage of the wide range of services offered at the new EssexCountyYouthResourceCenter.
In an effort to expand services for youths, the County’s Office of Workforce Development has awarded FOCUS with a contract for $102,379 to administer the YouthResourceCenter, which provides clients with complete academic and employment assessments. The center also offers testing for adult basic education, workforce literacy training, English as A Second Language classes and GED referrals.
“Our new YouthResourceCenter is designed to help assist our youth who have dropped out of school and want to get back on track,” said DiVincenzo. “By evaluating their academic and employment skills, FOCUS staff members will be able to work with our clients and see to it that they receive the proper instruction and counseling,” he added.
Betty Brown, Director of the Essex County Office of Workforce Development, said “Our goal is to provide young people with an opportunity to improve their educational level and employment skills. Ultimately, the objective is to assist our youths with becoming self sufficient.”
The program, which began in June, is open to all EssexCounty residents, who have dropped out of school, and are between the ages of 19 to 21. All participants also must meet the eligibility requirements under the Workforce Investment Act.
Under the new County program, FOCUS serves as a day-to-day reporting center for clients and several FOCUS staff members are assigned to the YouthResourceCenter, Brown said. Services are offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Since retention is a vital component of the program, Brown said, FOCUS staff members will implement a variety of retention strategies and a client completion program. Through computer based learning, students are able to work at their own pace, she added.
For more information about the EssexCountyResourceCenter, please call 973-395-8681.
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EssexCounty is an equal opportunity employer.