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New programs to help youth in ESD 113

ESD 113 Youth Programs has recently added two exciting endeavors to its list of services: summer jobs for low income and at-risk students and counseling for boys leaving a state juvenile correctional facility.

“We have approximately $1 million to provide 500 summer jobs for young adults who are 14 to 24 years old,” Lee Buscko, ESD 113 director of youth programs, said. “We’re lining up jobs in Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific and Lewis counties with such organizations as schools, parks, fairgrounds and non-profit agencies.”

The jobs are happening thanks to federal stimulus money being channeled through ESD 113 and the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Board. The money is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) passed by Congress.

To be eligible for the jobs, students must be low income or meet other criteria for at-risk youth, such as being in a drug or alcohol treatment program, having gone through counseling, being in foster care or having a physical or learning disability. These students will also be eligible to take a number of classes for high school or college credit at no cost.

ESD 113 Youth Programs is also working with Maple Lane High School, a state juvenile correctional facility for boys in the Rochester School District, on a 6-month pilot project to provide a counselor who will work with students getting ready to leave the correctional facility and return to their home communities. The program is funded by a grant from OSPI.

Jennifer Bennett, a trained counselor, has been hired by ESD 113 to work with each student to help assure he has lined up the resources needed when he leaves the structured environment of Maple Lane.  She will assist with activities such as school enrollment, mental health counseling and medication, employment training and finding housing. The goal is to support these students so that they don’t reoffend and end up back in an institution. She expects to work with approximately 75 young men during the six month pilot project.

This project is in addition to providing Jim Dailey, an ESD employee, to teach a work readiness class at Maple Lane. This class also helps the students prepare for the transition to living back in their communities.

For addition information, contact Bucsko at lbucsko@esd113.k12.wa.us or (360) 464-6850.

Judy McDaniel
ESD 113 Communications