Commissioners pledge support for ‘Community Connections’

By RANDY BARTLEY
Staff Writer

The Clarion County Board of Commissioners Oct. 8 approved a letter of support for “Community Connections” a program designed to help “engage youth in a career pathway.”

The program is sponsored by North West Pennsylvania Job Connect and will benefit Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango and Warren counties.

“The objective of the program is to recruit out of school youth, ages 18 to 24, who were previously in detention or incarcerated and engage them in a career pathway leading to education and training or meaningful employment,” said Clarion County Commissioner Wayne Brosius. “It is hoped the program will reduce recidivism.”

Brosius added, “It is hard for those people to find jobs. It is important because right now the unemployment rate is so low.”

The program will enroll 100 youth (50 subjected to the justice system and 50 previously incarcerated); 34 will be enrolled in a program leading to a high school equivalency; 25 in post-secondary education; 25 will receive a blend of academic and occupational training and 50 will be placed in self- or family-sustaining employment.

Each of the participants will be assigned a joint adult mentoring team for advice through their participation in the program.

A coordinator of services will be hired by the Title 1 provider to help the participants navigate the services and insure participant completion of all of the required steps.