County Program Teaches Young People Critical Computer and Financial Skills

 

County Program Teaches Young People

Critical Computer and Financial Skills

Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro congratulates 17 local young people who completed the Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services (DCFS) “Youth Financial Literacy & Computer Training Program” two-day session. DCFS held two training sessions this summer in July and August.

Dutchess County Department of Community & Family Services partnered with three local agencies – Dutchess BOCES, TEG Federal Credit Union, and the Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board – to coordinate financial and computer training for local youth, many of whose families receive services from the department. The training teaches them about budgeting and computer programs.

County Program Teaches Young People Critical Computer and Financial Skills

TEG Federal Credit Union taught students about financial literacy, and Dutchess BOCES taught them about budgeting, employment, and computer skills, as well as the dangers of and appropriate use of the Internet and social media.

County Executive Molinaro said, “Dutchess County is proud of these students’ accomplishments so far, and we look forward to their success in the future. Coupled with the support they’ve received from Dutchess County, the skills they’ve learned during this program are key components in helping them reach their goals. Dutchess County encourages these students’ efforts, and want them to know we support their ambition.

Between the ages of 17 and 19, the participants took part in the training sessions; all came from families who receive public assistance or foster care services from the Department of Community & Family Services. Participants must achieve satisfactory attendance and satisfactory grades in school to qualify for the program. The program is funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and the Foster Care Block Grant.

At the successful completion of two full days in the program, each participant earned a laptop computer and printer to help them pursue their goals of attending college and pursuing a career.

Now in its 10th year, the computer training program has served more than 225 youths. Five of the six Foster Care youth enrolled in the last class have now successfully moved on to independence, no longer requiring assistance through DCFS, or have begun attending college classes. Ninety-six percent of youth participating in the program from 2011 to 2015 are no longer on Temporary Assistance. 

This program has been recognized as a best practice for youth job preparation and was show cased at the 2015 summer conference of the New York Public Welfare Association.

Author: Harlem Valley News