Our Youth Services division is dedicated to providing programs and services that help youth, ages 14 - 21 reach their education and employment goals. By working in partnership with employers, school districts and communities, the Youth Services division engages in activities that focus on academic achievement, employability skills and life skills. The following web links highlight programs and services offered by Youth Services. 
Programs for Youth Young Adults Ages 18-21 Annual Youth Job Fair Annual Youth Symposium Summer Youth Employment Program Connections: Children, Youth & Family Resources
Out of school & out of work? Need a GED? Need support to stay in school? Each year BCOWD supports several programs in the community that provide employment and training services to targeted low-income, in-school and out-of-school youth, ages 14-18. Specific eligibility requirements and services vary from program to program. Click the links to the current programs to see if you qualify. For more information, locations or to register, see the contact information for each program. Back to Top Our Workforce Development Centers are available for young adults to look for a job, choose or change a career or develop new skills. Whether you need information, career consultation, training, computer access or other services, our professional and knowledgeable staff will work with you to help you achieve your goals and succeed in today's ever changing job market. Our center locations are as follows: Workforce Development Center at Eastpoint
7930 Eastern Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21224
410-288-9050 Workforce Development Center at Hunt Valley
11101 McCormick Road, Suite 102
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031
410-887-7940 Back to top
BCOWD will present its 8th Annual Youth Symposium (PDF) on April 28, 2009 at The Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt. This event is designed to support the local network of youth service providers and to ensure that every youth in Baltimore County has access to quality services and resources. With the increasing demands of the 21st century workplace and the sophistication of technology used in the workplace, this full day event will focus on Ready by 21, a national challenge initiated to bring all local entities together to ensure that all youth are ready for work and continued education and training. You will have the opportunity to learn about initiatives already in place and strategies to employ that will guarantee that all youth will be productive citizens. In addition, you can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) while you are learning. We invite you to join us and hear from local and national representatives about successful practices for meeting the needs of all youth. Registration is closed. The following workshops will be offered during the symposium:
Foster Care from the Youth Perspective - This session will allow the attendees to hear from youth, via video who are currently or were recently in foster care. You will also hear some of the challenges they face and ways they have overcome them. Preparing Youth for the 21st Century Workplace - Six employers, who have unique perspectives on young people in the workplace, will present this session. They will discuss the skills necessary for youth to be successful in the workplace and will provide strategies that will be helpful for youth service providers as they work to prepare youth for legitimate employment and continued education and training. These are the men and women who know best what the workplace demands of our young adults. Redirecting Youth Who Have Had Experience with the Juvenile Justice System - This workshop will attempt to answer the question, "Is there life after delinquency?" Client categories within the juvenile justice system will be examined, as well as possible reasons for how youth get caught up in a delinquent lifestyle. The presenters will discuss best and promising practices that lead to effective outcomes. Particular emphasis will be paid to the multi-sensory Why Try program. Prepare to be enlightened! Transition Supports for Students Entering High School - Making the transition from middle to high school and from high school to the world of work or continued education can be a traumatic experience for young people. Presented by school counseling professionals, this session will explore how students are made ready for the high school experience, what challenges exist and ways to overcome them. Adolescent Mind and Brain Growth - This workshop will focus on what we have learned about the physical development of the brain of adolescents with special consideration of how that might form our expectations for youth. We also will explore what we know about psychological development in teens, especially how this affects their ability to handle and their strategies for dealing with the stresses in today's world. Using this developmental information, we will talk about strategies that may help youth to prepare for the responsibilities of adulthood. Establishing a Mentoring Program - A mentoring program may be one of the most effective ways to help prepare youth for what lies ahead, either in the work world or in the world of higher education. Establishing a mentoring program is no easy task, if one wants to do it right. This session will describe model programs and processes for establishing a mentoring program that will have lasting effects on youth. Mental Health Services for Youth - Mental health issues affect people of all ages. Youth are especially vulnerable when affected by poor mental health since their coping mechanisms are not fully developed for the most part. The availability of mental health services in Maryland is limited. This session will look at the various mental health services available for youth and how and when to access them. Back to top Thanks to funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), BCOWD will sponsor a six-week summer employment program for 1,000 eligible youth, ages 14 - 24. The program will provide the opportunity for youth to gain valuable work experience at public and private sector businesses. Participants will work 30 hours per week and earn a starting wage of $8 per hour. The selection of participants is based on the eligibility criteria set by ARRA. Registration is now closed. Employers interested in providing an opportunity for youth to gain meaningful work experience skills, can submit their request by downloading a worksite request form. Back to top Connections is an interagency cooperative project of the Baltimore County Public Library. This web-based directory provides resources regarding childcare, pregnancy, jobs, legal rights and other areas of concern to youth and families. http://www.bcplonline.org/commpg/connections/jobs.html  (Need PDF help?)
Revised June 9, 2009 | 
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