While many high school students not already back in classrooms would much rather think about catching a few more waves before school starts again, county officials are encouraging them think a few more steps forward — and into life after
While many high school students not already back in classrooms would much rather think about catching a few more waves before school starts again, county officials are encouraging them think a few more steps forward — and into life after high school.
Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste announced recently that county leaders, armed with funds from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, have expanded the About Face! program.
By giving students enrolled in the program help with highschool completion, work-readiness training, career exploration and post-secondary educational opportunities, the program’s leaders, since January, have already placed more than a dozen youth in paid employment, and helped many more prepare for life after high school.
The students, age 14 to 21, also receive job-search and placement assistance through Work Wise! Kaua‘i’s One-Stop Job Center.
“We are making an ongoing investment in a very effective program,” said Baptiste in a statement. “We are now at a point where we can offer the program at all three (public) high schools, as well as the Armory in Kapa‘a.” About Face! works in conjunction with the state Department of Education.
Workforce-development programs, such as About Face!, are designed to prepare youth for life after high school. Students learn academic planning and study skills, general business perspectives, computer literacy, career planning, interpersonal and group-communication skills, life-coping skills and work maturity skills — all of which will enable them to become productive employees upon program completion, About Face! leaders said.
“Employers play a central role in the About Face! program; they provide the real-world work experience,” said Darney Proudfoot, who serves on the Kaua‘i Workforce Investment Board (KWIB) and is charged with overseeing workforce development for the county. “My job is to help those in the business community recognize the value of programs such as this, so that they can support them.” Proudfoot, who also serves on the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, explained that the business community has a major stake in making sure that Kaua‘i has a well-prepared workforce.
“This means looking down the road 10 years and trying to predict what we’ll need,” said Proudfoot.
“While it’s hard to know what industries will emerge, we know we will need people who have a good work ethic, who show up on time and put their best effort into the task — and this is at the core of the About Face! program.” Retired Army Col. Theodore A. “Ted” Daligdig III serves as the About Face! program coordinator.
The program also employs a program manager and an instructor.
