Stable employment is associated with significant short- and long-term benefits for youth and young adults (ages 16 to 24), but juvenile or criminal legal system involvement can create significant employment barriers, especially for young people. Engaging with supportive services in a community-based setting can help young people navigate and mitigate these barriers by accessing support to meet basic needs and set and achieve professional goals. This report summarizes findings from an exploratory study of community-based workforce development programs that involved a nationwide survey and a series of 15 follow-up interviews with staff members from a subset of surveyed programs serving youth and young adults who have been adjudicated for or convicted of serious offenses. The programs examined use a variety of strategies to serve their participants, including engaging in multisector partnerships, offering a wide range of workforce- and non-workforce-related supports, blending funding from multiple sources, and measuring progress and success. Though many programs are actively serving system-involved young people, they varied as to the extent to which services were tailored for this population. The findings highlight the importance of providing flexible service models that can be adapted to meet participants’ unique needs, particularly as they pertain to the barriers associated with legal system involvement and the young adult life stage. By developing a responsive program structure, building the organizational infrastructure to support program success, and engaging in strategic partnerships and collaborations, community-based programs can help young people involved in the legal system overcome barriers and identify and meet their employment and career goals.
Community-Based Workforce Engagement Supports for Youth and Young Adults Involved in the Criminal Legal System
