Job Central will provide pre-employment, life skills and work experience for at-risk unemployed youth. The focus will be on those who face significant barriers to employment, including:
·         Lack of education/literacy
·         Health, addictions and/or mental health issues
·         Learning disabilities/other disabilities
·         Family disruption, lone parents
·         Street involved, homelessness, or at-risk of becoming homeless
·         Involvement in the youth justice system
·         Limited attachment to the labour market
·         New Canadians, members of visible minority groups, Aboriginal youth
·         Poor self/behaviour management abilities
 
Youth accepted into the program will first participate in 2 weeks of structured, group-based employability and life skills workshops, for which they will be paid minimum wage ($10.25/hour) for 30 hours/week. Upon completion of the employability skills component, participants may receive a paid work placement, up to a maximum of 10 weeks in duration.
 
Who is eligible?
All participants selected for the program MUST meet the following Skills Link criteria:
·          between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the time of intake
·          out of school, with less than high school completion (those who have completed grade 12 must have significant barriers to  
           employment)
·          a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a Convention Refugee
·          legally entitled to work in Canada
·          not in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits
·          in need of assistance to overcome barriers to employment (see above)
 
Participants will be expected to attend group-based employability and life skills workshops, as well as to actively participate in their job search, demonstrating strong motivation throughout.
 
Sessions will run approximately once/month. Please contact Whitney Pyper, Coordinator for more information.