Strengthening Rockland’s Future Workforce
Here in Rockland, we’re not only thinking about today, but we are also looking ahead to tomorrow. Which is why we are regularly investing in this county’s future workforce.
Last year our Youth Bureau trained and employed over 250 individuals ages 14 to 20 years old who earned over 35,000 hours of paid employment with local companies under our Youth Employment program.
Our Teen Employment Education Network (T.E.E.N.) also celebrated 30 youth graduates in their 4-week pre-employment summer training program. This program helps young adults develop soft skills for employment including effective communication, problem solving, and strengthening their ability to be self-sufficient and responsible in their careers. I’m proud to say 98% of youth placed in employment successfully completed their job placement.
Rockland County is also empowering local teens by introducing them to opportunities that make their community stronger in our Rockland Conservation and Service Corps (RCSC). This is a program that takes individuals far beyond the classroom and gives them a unique opportunity to gain hands-on work experience while earning money and making a lasting contribution to the County they call home. The community service program gets young adults involved in various public service efforts including environmental conservation and emergency and disaster response or relief.
Last year the initiative dedicated over 8,000 hours to environmental and conservation service at 11 sites.
RCSC also coordinated 30 Get Fresh deliveries, totaling over 1500 hours, to provide fresh and nutritious food to local food pantries.
The Get Fresh Program distributes fresh food to food pantries and meal programs in Rockland County. This is a collaborative effort of my office, the Youth Bureau, the Health Department and Rockland Community Against Hunger which is made up of non-profits like TOUCH – Together Our Unity Can Heal, BRIDGES, Meals on Wheels of Rockland, and the Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center.
We are continuing to accelerate this program, which we started when the pandemic began, so we could distribute food to pantries every week.
All these programs are ensuring the next generation of Rockland County has the tools and skills to tackle whatever lies ahead.
We encourage families to head to our website and take advantage of the all the opportunities the County is offering for our youth:
