KAPA’A — If seven young Kauaians who received paychecks yesterday for being associated with a new program designed to turn young lives around means success, then the new About Face program is off to a good start. The first Hawaii
KAPA’A — If seven young Kauaians who received paychecks yesterday for being associated with a new program designed to turn young lives around means success, then the new About Face program is off to a good start.
The first Hawaii National Guard About Face, in-school program in the state and western United States was launched at the Kapa’a Armory here yesterday, and Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona and Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste were among the dignitaries on hand to see how the program works.
The program is for low-income youth 14 to 18 who are deficient in basic literacy skills (math or reading or both), and are currently enrolled in school.
There are in-school programs, after-school workshops and a summer program for up to 18 participants, with seven already gainfully employed on Kaua’i through the program.
They are paid $15 per after-school workshop, $6.75 per hour for after-school, work-experience sessions, $6.75 per hour for Saturday work-experience sessions, and $6.75 per hour for the 15-day summer component.
The in-school training includes smoking prevention, life skills, computer literacy, career directions and more.
After-school training includes pregnancy prevention, more life skills and career training, while the summer session will cover among other components business perspectives, careers, employee skills, and other items.
The program utilizes federal funds.
“This innovative program, the first of its kind in the western United States, allows us to partner with the National Guard, parents, employers, educators to prepare our youth to succeed in the workplace,” said Baptiste.
The mayor’s long-term vision is for About Face to serve as a model for the youth services on Kaua’i and even statewide. About Face programs already serve youth in Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Mississippi, Kentucky, Florida, Connecticut and Alabama.
Jonathan Chun, who serves on the Kaua’i Workforce Investment Board (KWIB), which is charged with overseeing workforce development for the county, explained that Baptiste’s leadership, along with the public- and private-sector support, will be central to the success of the program.
“Companies can give a young person an opportunity to work up to 120 hours at their business, with no cost to the employer,” said Chun.
“Local employers are important partners in the effort,” continued Chun. “There are lessons about the value of hard work, diligence and integrity that can only be taught in the workplace by employers,” Chun said.
“This program places the young person in a real job where he or she can learn these lessons.”
Retired Army Col. Theodore A. Daligdig III is the About Face program coordinator.
For more information on the About Face program, please contact Jonathan Zeigler, program manager, 823-6077.
Appointed by the mayor, members of the Kaua’i Workforce Investment Board help to implement the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 at the local level.
Board members include individuals from the Office of the Mayor, A&B Properties, Alu Like, Inc., American General Financial Group, Bank of Hawaii, Belles Graham Proudfoot & Wilson, state Department of Human Services Benefit, Employment & Support Services, county Agency on Elderly Affairs, state Department of Education, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Hale ‘Opio Kaua’i, Inc., Hanalei Surf Company, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, ILWU, JJ’s Broiler, Kaua’i Chamber of Commerce, Kaua’i Community College, Kaua’i County Council, Kaua’i Economic Development Board, Kauai Economic Opportunity, Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative, Kauai Lagoons Resort Co. Ltd, M. Kawamura Farm Enterprises, Inc., M. Miura Store, PMRF, Unemployment Division, Ventures Associates, Inc., state Vocational Rehabilitation & Services for the Blind, Wilcox Memorial Hospital, and state Workforce Development Division.
These volunteers provide leadership and help carry out the mission to support the economic development of Kaua’i through the workforce development system. Board members appoint a Youth Council whose members coordinate activities for youth that are prerequisites for success in the workplace.
The volunteers who serve on this council provide expertise in youth policy and assist the Kaua’i Workforce Investment Board with developing and recommending local youth employment and training policy and practice; broadening the youth employment and training focus in the community to incorporate a youth-development perspective; and establishing linkages with other organizations serving youth in the area and taking into account a range of issues that can have an impact on the success of youth in the labor market.
Workers at the One-Stop Center, at 3-3100 Kuhio Hwy. in Lihu’e, can refer qualified applicants to prospective employers.
The Web site is www.workwisekauai.com.
