The Youth Employment Program of Support To At-Risk Teens (START) is a ministry for out-of-school youth ages 16-21. The mission of START is “to promote healing through Christian service and advocacy with youth who are hurting, displaced and forgotten.” YEP has provided individualized instruction and a creative learning environment focused on issues relevant to youth since 1997. Its mission is to assist the entrance of youth ages 16-21 into the world of work by offering basic education, job readiness training, self-sufficiency skills and job placement. YEP entered into a collaboration between two other agencies to form a Youth One-Stop Center that has successfully helped over 160 youth yearly. The Center is able to incorporate all the services that youth need to move out of poverty and into successful citizenry.

Valerie Czerwien, Director, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 216.426.8469

The Youth Employment Program emphasizes training in the areas listed below:

• Life-Skills Training—this training permits students to build high self-esteem, and instill positive life values that will help them in all aspects of their lives. Some of the course work includes but not limited to training in these areas, Self-esteem, Goal Setting, Personal Values, Problem Solving, Communication, Parenting, Drug and Alcohol Prevention, Sex Education, and Conflict Management.

• Workplace Skills—this training provides students with the tools necessary for a successful job search. Course work for this segment includes but not limited to Work Ethics, Dressing for Success, Job Application, Resume Building, Networking and Interviewing Skills.

• Certified Nursing Assistant Training and State Certificate Testing provided for the 4 week program at American Red Cross or Cuyahoga Community College.

YEP’s objective is to discover each student’s unique learning styles and abilities while providing a nurturing and non-threatening environment aimed at helping the students reach their full potential.

In 2005, YEP came back to its beginnings by working with juvenile offenders in a demonstration project with local community providers involved in the Cuyahoga County Community Collaborative for Employment Services for Youth Offenders.