BACKGROUNDER

Working Together for Youth

• The Department of Human Resources and Employment remains committed to providing programs for unemployed youth.
  
  
• In 2001-2002, the department will provide $1.2 million for the successful Linkages Youth Employment Program. The Linkages program provides 26 weeks of career related employment, career planning workshops and a completion bonus towards the cost of post-secondary education. Linkages is available to eligible clients age 18 - 24. Since its inception in 1998 the program has helped approximately 500 youth across the province.
  
  
• HRE will continue with NewfoundJOBS, which gives priority to unemployed youth under the age of 29. As part of its overall redesign initiative, HRE will continue redesigning youth programs and services.
  
  
• Programs targeted toward youth, who are students, will now fall under the Department of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education including: the Student Work and Service Program (SWASP ); the Graduate Program; the Small Business Co-operative Placement Program; the Newfoundland and Labrador Conservation Corps Green Team Initiative; and the High School Student Program (Levels I, II, and III). HRE will continue to focus its efforts on programs and services to address youth unemployment.
  
  
• HRE and Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education are collaborating on a variety of initiatives that are seeking to develop innovative methods to address the needs of youth.

Media contact: Marcia Porter, Communications, (709) 729-4062

2001 03 22            4:20 p.m.