April is Youth Re-Entry Month

No matter how dark and long our winters are, Spring always has a way of proving there is new life right around the corner. For all of us, the month of April reminds us of the need we have for a fresh start. This is why we can think of no better time to recognize the Youth Re-entry Program and all the ways it provides hope and new beginnings to those who need it most.

The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland and Fayette County started its first Youth Re-Entry Program in the fall of 2020. Since then, many young people have been able to create new beginnings for themselves through education, training and mentorship provided through PIC and its community partners.

The Youth Re-Entry Program is a goal-setting and mentorship program for youth who have been subject to the juvenile justice system. This program includes cash incentives and supportive service funding to help participants meet their goals. Upon enrolling, participants are encouraged to come up with at least 3 goals. Once a youth completes a goal, they receive a check for 100.00 for up to two goals met. They are also given $25 each time they talk or meet with a mentor for up to 10 meetings, as well as a $25 incentive for filling out a pre and post survey to help PIC find ways to improve its services. The cash incentives and stipends one can earn throughout the program amount to a total of $500. This year, participants are also provided with $1,000 of supportive service funding to help them accomplish their goals. For instance, this funding has paid for driving school, assisted with utility bills, rent, work clothes, transportation costs, etc.

Since its start, several Youth Re-Entry participants have completed PIC’s ETI driving school and obtained their driver’s licenses. One young man from last year’s grant even obtained his CDL license. His Youth Re-Entry mentor connected him to paid CDL training through the PA CareerLink and he is now working as a professional CDL driver. Other success stories include homeless youth finding housing and youth who never finished high school obtaining their GED and going on to post-secondary education. Participants are also given support in obtaining any needed legal documents they might be missing and are also connected to essential services such as state health care, SNAP benefits, local food banks and vouchers for clothing or household items.

The Youth Re-Entry Program at PIC has helped justice involved youth create new beginnings since 2020 and we are honored to be continuing on this mission. We all need a fresh start sometimes and this program provides that for youth who often times have very little support in life. During this month of April, we celebrate their new beginnings and remember how honored we are to help them create their new chapter.

For more assistance, please contact Amy Goulding, Youth Re-Entry Program Manager.