Youth Work Experience

Coaching to ensure success

The Goodwill Youth Work Experience program provides work experience and academic activities to economically disadvantaged and at-risk youth between the ages of 14 and 21. The program focuses on areas such as, developing work maturity skills, writing a resume, interview skills, problem solving skills, and counseling and support services.

Youth are referred to the Youth Work Experience program by community agencies or the local school systems. The program is funded through the Comprehensive Services Act for At Risk Youth and Families (CSA).

Program highlights

The Youth Work Experience program will provides:

Paid work experience
Transportation
Leadership development
Supportive services
Occupational training skills
Follow-up services

Benefits of the program include:

Work within the home community leads to understanding of the importance of giving back.
Referral from appropriate agency ensures program outcomes match with youth’s needs.
Provided transportation ensures participation.
Paid community work experience is an educational stipend based on a tier system.
Eight to one ratio ensures personalized attention.
16 hours/week during the school year and 20 hours/week during summer helps create work/life balance.
After 6 to 9 months in the program a follow-up period of 6 months ensures success.
Services are provided as needed in a variety of community settings at times that are agreeable to the youth and his/her family.

For more information on Goodwill's Youth Work Experience Program, e-mail info@goodwillvalleys.com or call (540) 483.0296 ext. 107.

Keith Tolliver was nearing the end of his high school career with little direction as to where his life would go next. A referral from the Department of Social Services brought Keith to Goodwill’s Youth Work Experience program in February of 2007.
The program gave Keith the opportunity to work in the community doing various jobs including working on the crew that cleaned the Farmer’s Market in Rocky Mount. Through ongoing training and support from his case manager, Keith learned the value of earning a paycheck and taking pride in your community.
Keith is now employed part-time by a local hotel in housekeeping, has his own apartment, and lives independently. The Youth Work Experience program gave his the guidance to earn his own way and make it own his own.