Study Considers MI Youth Program

leap-youth-2
leap-youth-2

A new study from the University of Michigan has found the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates program has a major effect on the students who participate. Youth Solutions Director Kristin Harrington tells WSJM News the 10-year-old program helps young people finish high school, guides them toward post-secondary education, and teaches them soft skills for the workplace.

“Resume writing, interviewing skills to knowing to show up on time at work and resolving conflict on the jobs,” Harrington said.

The U of M study has found Jobs for Michigan Graduates students have a 94% graduation rate, earn more per hour than other students, and have a post-secondary enrollment rate of 57%.

“To see us truly building a youth talent pipeline that Michigan employers can be proud of and seeing the success that young people are having every day, it’s incredible to be a part of this organization,” Harrington said.

Harrington says thousands of students have gone through Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates since it started in Benton Harbor in 2008. Youth Solutions reached out to U of M to conduct the study. You can find out more about Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates at OurYouthSolutions.org.