Project Self-Sufficiency is offering a $100 gift card to those who refer young adults, ages 16 – 24, to the agency’s new Bridges to Employing Youth program; referred individuals must enroll in the program, complete the two-week orientation and be inducted into the program. The Bridges to Employing Youth initiative assists pregnant and parenting young adults with a range of comprehensive supportive services while they work towards educational and employment goals during a 16-week program. Program graduates will be poised to move on to higher education, unsubsidized employment, occupational training, apprenticeships, or military service. The Bridges program will be operated on a year-round basis and be available to young men and women, ages 16 – 24, who reside in Morris County. Initial meetings with prospective students will be held at a location in Morris County, while coursework will take place at Project Self-Sufficiency’s Newton campus. Additional Morris County outreach sites are in development. This is the first major foray into Morris County for Project Self-Sufficiency, which already operates extensive programs for individuals and families in the New Jersey counties of Sussex, Warren, and Hunterdon.

The Bridges to Employment program will operate Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; occasional Saturday sessions may be added, if needed. In addition to high school equivalency instruction, coursework will include employability skills training, community service, and work experience. Supplemental academic and counseling support will be available. Transportation assistance will be provided to participants as needed; students with access to their own transportation will be given a small stipend to defray travel expenses.

“The new Bridges to Employing Youth program will build on the success of Project Self-Sufficiency’s New Jersey Youth Corps initiative for young adults but will allow us to reach those in Morris County who may not have had access to the unique combination of educational, employment and case management services which has been proven to transform the future of our students,” explains Deborah Berry-Toon, Project Self-Sufficiency’s Executive Director. “This program is significantly different from any services currently offered in Morris County. With the help of agency staff, each student will identify and work towards their own unique goals and create systemic, meaningful and lasting change for their young family.”

Eligibility for the Bridges to Employing Youth program will be based on age, pregnancy or parenting status, and education level. Academic services will be provided to those seeking their high school diploma as well as those who have already achieved a diploma but need basic skills remediation. Young adults who do not need educational services will focus on employability skills and workplace experience.

Project Self-Sufficiency is a private non-profit community-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income families residing in northwestern New Jersey. The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to improve their lives and the lives of their children while achieving personal and economic self-sufficiency and family stability. Project Self-Sufficiency serves more than 3,500 families annually.

The Bridges to Employing Youth Program is funded by the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development. Those who are interested in learning more about the Bridges to Employing Youth initiative at Project Self-Sufficiency are encouraged to register online at www.projectselfsufficiency.org or call 973-940-3500 or 844-805-3500.