Reconnect to Opportunity is a re-engagement program that supports young people in King County ages 16-24 years old reconnect to education and employment systems. Outreach Specialists work with youth who have experienced educational and professional barriers throughout their journey. They work within the community connecting young people to programs that support youth and young adult-centered needs and growth. Our participant referrals come from various sources: self-referred, parents/guardians, community organizations, and school staff. Our goal is to ensure youth are connected to opportunity no matter their background. Our core beliefs are that everyone deserves a second chance, positive relationships are essential, and there is more than one path to success. Some of the areas that we provide support with are: looking at different re-engagement programs that are most beneficial to the young person’s lifestyle and learning style, helping youth enroll in a program that best fits their needs, connecting youth to resources that may support other needs (college navigator, case manager, mental health services, etc.), providing initial guidance to employment services and internships, providing a warm handoff when looking into different programs, providing post-secondary resources after high school completion.

Youth learn responsible babysitting by studying basic child development, infant and child care, safety, how to handle emergencies, age-appropriate toys, business hints and what parents expect.

Offers a summer youth employment opportunity through the Natural Resource Division of the Parks & Community Services Department. Provides Bellevue youth with education, job skills, and career development training in the field of park resource management. Work focuses on parkland renovation and maintenance; projects may include forest enhancement, wetland restoration, and trail construction. Combines on-the-job work experience, environmental education, and career development training to instill strong self-esteem, good work habits, and sound environmental ethics.

Offers career and education assistance for young adults age 16-24, including assistance with accessing jobs, training and vocational education. Also includes job coaching, college planning, and assistance with accessing internships, tutoring, and mentorship programs. Also includes partnership with Starbucks and Food & Beverage Customer Service training focused on the hospitality, cafe̒ and retail sectors.

Coordinates summer employment opportunities for teens (aged 15-19) who are passionate about community service and demonstrate leadership qualities. Teens are placed on payroll at Seattle Minimum Wage as paid interns working with Puget Sound area non-profit agencies.

Trains ELL (English Language Learners) high school students and their families in the educational, social and professional skills necessary to obtain self-sufficiency.   For the first third of the year, students learn job skills and money management techniques which they then apply to a group project in the second part of the year.   After practicing their new job skills, students are placed in summer-long internships at local businesses.   Throughout the year, students and families receive culturally-specific academic case management to ensure progress towards high school graduation and parent engagement at school.

Offers employment training, counseling and job placement.  Provides homeless and street-involved youth with income as they learn new skills and gain professional experience.

Places teens in paid internships, coupled with college and career readiness training. Provides the teamwork, leadership, and life skills youth need to realize their full potential.

Prepares high school juniors for a career in the aerospace/advanced manufacturing industry. Offers ongoing support and Saturday workshops throughout the students’ senior year to ensure they are on track for high school graduation and ready for college programs in aerospace. Includes up to four quarters of aerospace/advanced manufacturing classes at Renton Technical College, as well as ongoing college and career navigation and support services. Students completing this two-year program will receive an aerospace/advanced manufacturing credential from Renton Technical College and job placement assistance.

Juma’s YouthConnect program offers complete financial literacy workshops, college and career readiness workshops and soft skills development while also participating in internships. Youth participating in this program are hired by Juma to work concessions in the stadiums at minimum wage.

Helps young womxn of color; focusing on Black women and girls, advance in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) career and education opportunities. Meet one-on-one with participants to set goals, check in, and offer any resources they need to get over barriers in their way. Hosts workshops on career readiness like resume/cover letter help, interview tips, and employment soft skills. Interviews women in STEM to hear their journeys, challenges, and do Q&As. Offers workshops on protective factors like self-care, microaggressions at work, and implicit bias in the workplace.

Offers a 4-week long summer program for special education students from diverse cultural and language backgrounds. Focuses on preparing these students to be employment-ready by helping them to increase their job readiness skills.   Topics include resume-building, disability disclosure, anti-harassment in the workplace, job search, money management, social boundaries in the workplace, job interviewing, transportation skills and knowledge.   Each section topic includes hands-on activities, guest speakers, role-play games, individual assignments, interactive group activities and field trips.

Supports young people (ages 16 to 24) from qualifying-income households and communities that experience racial, social and economic disparities. The goal is to increase youth and young adults' ability to pursue careers that pay well and are meaningful to them. There are two components - a school-year program and learning experience, and a summer internship: -- A school-year program (three quarters: fall, winter, spring) where participants identify professional interests, gain marketable skills, are exposed to various career fields and build their social network; -- A summer internship places young people in work settings to apply their knowledge, gain hands-on experience, develop professional connections and build their resume.

Operates a six-month job training pre-apprentice program for youth. Offers GED/HSD (High School Diploma) completion, case management support, job readiness training and pre-apprenticeship training. Youth work on a two-week rotating schedule; one week participating in GED/HSD completion and job readiness training, and the other week learning construction skills in the shop. After students graduate they receive nine months of follow-up from their case manager to continue to help support them in achieving their goals, including placement in apprenticeship programs in the trades. Pays a weekly stipend.

Prepares high school seniors for a career in the maritime industry. Offers ongoing support and Saturday workshops throughout the students' senior year to assure they are on track for high school graduation and ready for college programs in maritime pathways. Includes up to four quarters of maritime classes at area colleges, a summer internship and ongoing college and career navigation and support services.

The Y.E.S. Program gives teens the opportunity to gain professional skills through skateboarding and make a positive impact in their community, all while earning service hours. Applications open in late winter and close early spring. The Y.E.S. program runs throughout the Summer. Candidates accepted into the program will gain valuable job skills they need to be successful community builders and future employees of Skate Like a Girl or similar organizations. The YES Program commitment includes attending workshops/trainings and supporting programs/events for a total of 50 hours of community service. Although some YES trainings/workshops are virtual, YES cohort members should anticipate volunteering about 40 hours in person.

Promote all aspects of youth development including academic engagement, leadership and social skills, community involvement, and pathways to post-secondary education and employment. Helps youth and their families build healthy futures by addressing their entire environment and breaking down barriers that hinder success. Motivating Youth to Succeed in Academics (MYSA) Offers free after-school academic support and individualized plans to decrease or remove barriers to learning for youth, ages 12-21, who are at moderate to high risk of academic failure. MYSA services include individual tutoring and homework assistance, adult mentorship, peer discussion groups and subject specific workshops. Since many students lack access to a computer and internet at home, SFYC provides a computer lab allowing students to complete assignments and do research. The MYSA program helps youth develop a healthy attachment to education and empowers them to take control of their academic future. Youth Leadership program Encourages middle and high school youth to develop leadership and social skills while engaging in community building projects and events throughout the year. This program provides alternatives to risky behavior while fostering a sense of responsibility to the community. Curriculum includes workshops relating to social justice awareness, identity building, volunteerism, and environmental awareness. Case Management Provides prevention and intervention tools for youth who are most at-risk of or are currently involved with gangs and the juvenile justice system. Case Managers provide counseling and act as advocates for their caseload youth and families. Case Management intervention and prevention services include street response and crisis intervention, pre-release visits to detained or incarcerated youth, and risk assessment with ongoing case management. This represents a concerted effort to stop the school to prison pipeline within our communities. Parental Support Provides bilingual services to parents to ensure that youth have wraparound support for their challenges. Parents benefit from workshops, translation services, and other essential services to facilitate family stability. Summer Youth Employment provides high school youth with the opportunity to make money, gain work experience and employment references, cultivate a mature work ethic, and stay connected to social and academic progress while school is out of session. College & Career Preparation Focuses on lessons and activities related to pro-social development, aptitude testing, the current job market, knowledge of education or training needed to move into a particular field of interest, college applications and financial aid, work ethics and professionalism, resume building and interview skills, and exploring paths to post-secondary education and career readiness.