Now in operation in Greater Hartford through Our Piece of the Pie and in Greater Bridgeport through The Youth Business Center affiliated with Family Services Woodfield. Program development is also underway in Greater New Haven to implement the Youth Work and Learn Model, as part of the work of the state’s Youth Vision Team.

Funded by the State Department of Education in several areas to reach as many of the 140,000 young adults (ages 16-24) who are out of school without having achieved a high school degree. These programs build in many of the work and learning elements of the Youth Work and Learn Model.

Now serving a group of foster youth from the Greater Hartford and Bridgeport, ages 14-23. This initiative (a) builds upon the Youth Work and Learn Model and adds components to assist youth to develop financial literacy and tangible economic assets, and (b) seeks to achieve systemic investments based on a set of positive youth outcomes.

Now in development, proposes a continuum of services for youth who are or have been in the state foster care system. Services include access to continued education, case coordination, youth leadership opportunities, supported housing, and work experiences.

Perhaps one of the most studied of comprehensive employment and career skills programs in the nation. Recent research has suggested that the higher cost of this program may not be justified for younger youth, but it appears to be highly effective and warranted for older youth who are at high risk of poor adult outcomes, including incarceration and joblessness. Elements of the Job Corps program should be considered in developing policy guidelines for positive youth development.