The University of Michigan’s (U-M) Summer Youth Employment Program is both an opportunity to provide jobs and also to test what works and what doesn’t work with youth employment programs. The U-M’s program aims to push the boundaries on existing best practices and to build a very rigorous evaluation structure to research the effectiveness.
 

U-M is a partner with Michigan Works! Southeast and Washtenaw County in delivering the Summer18 program. Summer18 is a 10-week employment and mentorship program that pairs local businesses with Washtenaw County youth (ages 16-24) to provide on-the-job training that sets the stage for life-long careers, opens doors to new industries, and provides mentorship critical to building professional networks.

U-M will also employ success coaches—recent U-M graduates who will serve as mentors and engage participants in weekly enrichment activities, focusing on skills ranging from effective communication to conflict management resolution.

Over the course of the program, researchers will evaluate the effects of participation in a structured summer employment program at the University of Michigan on the attitudes and behavior of youth and young adults. They will also look at success over the long-term, examining outcomes, including how the experience may impact knowledge about the world of work and personal interests, abilities regarding employment, and the labor market in general, as well as any education or juvenile justice outcomes.

 

Source: University of Michigan Poverty Solutions

More information:

Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan

Julia Weinert

(734) 615-5353  or weinertj@umich.edu