YES Program Closing, DWS Takes Over Contract

A YES participant holds his High School Diploma with Case Manager

Youth EmployAbility Services will be closing by mid-September due to the Department of Workforce Services assuming the federal contract for Work Investment Act programming in Salt Lake County. DWS will take on the case management services in the area and will be contracting out other services, such as leadership, mentoring and tutoring.

To celebrate the successes of the YES program throughout the past 11 years, clients, former clients, agency partners and the media are invited to an Open House today, August 10 from 3-5 PM at the YES offices, 1385 South State Street in Salt Lake City.

DWS manages federal funding for WIA programs in 9 regions; YES, a Salt Lake County Youth Services program, was one of only two programs that DWS did not manage internally. The other program, run by Mountainlands in the Utah County area, will also be taken over by DWS by mid-September.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the youth and seeing their successes over the years. While we are disappointed to see this program end, we would like to remind the community and invite them to join us in celebrating the accomplishments and success of our youth,” said Youth Services Division Director Pat Berckman.

YES Participant during a Service Project

YES is a job training and education program for low-income youth ages 16 to 21. YES has assisted nearly 10,000 youth in the past 11 years and consistently led the state in a number of performance measures. The fiscal year ended on June 30, 2011 with YES exceeding all of the program goals set by DWS, including:

• # of Youth Served: Goal – 600, Achieved – 734
• # of Youth who Completed Job Shadows: Goal – 40, Achieved – 121
• # of Youth to complete a Portfolio Certificate Program: Goal – 80, Achieved – 190
• # of Youth to Complete Internships: Goal – 60, Achieved –162

YES and Mountainlands were also the only two service areas in the state this year to achieve all of the WIA Performance Outcome Levels, which are to increase the participant’s basic skills to at least a 9th grade level, youth exit the program either in school or employed and youth obtain a certificate during the program, such as a GED or CNA license.

“The YES case managers have been really helpful because they are there for the clients. They want to help us succeed and that in itself is one of the most comforting parts about the YES Program for me,”  said Summer Rogerson, 19, a YES participant. 

Youth currently enrolled in the YES program will be transitioned to a DWS case manager by mid-September. YES participants and staff will be available for comment during the open house.