Bootstraps refers to the impossible action of “pulling oneself over a fence by one’s bootstraps”.
In today’s economy, most young people get their first few jobs through connections. These connections consist of relatives, teachers, coaches, friends, and parents of friends. Young people from foster care can come from families and social networks which are unable to provide entry to employment. As a result youth have a hard time finding work.
Bootstraps includes supportive employers, skills development partners, and wage subsidy opportunities for youth. Youth are provided with individualized employment supports, job placements and mentorship prospects. As a result, these supports allow youth to journey forward towards sustainable employment.
In addition, Bootstraps provides support from Aunt Leah’s youth services, such as:
SEFFY (Supporting Education for Foster Youth), The Link, Support Link & Dan’s Legacy.
Bootstraps aims to remove barriers to employment, enable youth in and from care to explore, and advance skills to find sustainable jobs. Above all, Bootstraps takes a holistic approach to addressing barriers to employment youth may face, while also coaching in critical employability skills.
Participants will devise Individual Employment Plans with an employment specialist. While each will have distinct needs, each participant will have the opportunity to receive employment assistance services, skills training, financial supports, and employment experience.
Are you looking for a different employment service? Are you unsure if you are eligible for this program? You can still access employment services with Aunt Leah’s Bootstraps: Employing Youth from Care Program
For more information, or to set up an appointment please contact [email protected] or call 778-228-9143.
For more information on how your organization can get involved, please contact Aunt Leah’s Bootstraps Employer Engagement Officer Monique Michaud, directly at [email protected] or call 778-773-8639.
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS)
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