Program aims to increase high school graduation rates
Youth Connections, a program of Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County (CAP Sonoma), is bringing their high school diploma, work readiness preparation, college and career mentoring and entrepreneurial development program to Healdsburg to serve at-risk youth. CAP Sonoma has identified the need to provide additional educational support to Sonoma County young adults who are between 16 to 24 years of age and out of school. The Youth Connections Healdsburg campus is now taking applications to launch on Aug. 24, 2015.
“We’re really trying to be a support system for the entire region of the county,” said Youth Connections Program Manager Jason Carter.
Youth Connections has been working on an expansion effort that aims to increase high school completion rates through a high school diploma program, prepare students to enter a competitive workforce and pursue their post-secondary educational goals and have access to entrepreneurship opportunities in the areas of small business development and certification. The program is based in Santa Rosa, and Healdsburg will be its second location.
Carter said that almost 70 youth in north county school districts drop out of high school every year. He added that around 46 percent of north county Latinos over the age of 25 do not have high school diplomas. The new Healdsburg campus aims to address these issues, and will be based at the Healdsburg Community Center – the former Foss Creek School.
Additionally, Youth Connections provides a range of support services including: case management and counseling, financial literacy, parenting development, sex education and disease prevention, social and behavioral health and transition support.
HUSD Superintendent Jeff Harding said in a press release, “The expansion to Healdsburg is very much welcomed and will provide the opportunity for our community’s disconnected youth to continue developing the necessary skills to enter a competitive workforce, pursue their academic goals, support families by earning a living wage and contribute to our local economy.”
Youth Connections is currently recruiting a fulltime teacher, fulltime college coordinator and part-time career coach for both the Santa Rosa and Healdsburg campuses. For more information, contact Jason Carter at 535-3349 or
jc*****@ca*******.org
. If interested in applying to Youth Connections, call the program at 578-2034.
Youth Connections receives support from CALSERVES, John Jordan Foundation, John Muir Charter School and the Sonoma County Office of Education.
