Workforce Development Grant to Support Young Parents

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced the availability of approximately $5.5 million to support intensive mentoring services to low-income parents from ages 16-24 through the Young Parents Demonstration Program. Applicants must currently be operating a program for young parents that includes educational and jobs skills training, case management and supportive services that are focused on developing family economic success. DOL estimates that there will be four to six grantees receiving between $500,000 and $1.5 million each. Selected grantees for this demonstration project will be expected to enroll at least 400 new participants to their existing programs within a two-year period.

To be awarded a grant, an applicant also must provide mentoring services or partner with an organization that provides these services and must partner with a workforce investment board. Grantees will then be required to participate in a random assignment evaluation designed to test the impact of intensive mentoring services. Participants in the grantee programs will be divided into two groups, half of whom, in addition to core services, will receive intensive mentoring services. The remaining half of the enrolled participants will receive only core services. All 400 participants will be randomly determined to either receive the additional mentoring services or not.

The deadline for applications is April 29, 2011. The full notice can be found here.