We work with youth to obtain pre-employment
skills training to prepare them for the
workforce. When they are of age (16 years and
older) we assist them with finding and
retaining employment. We offer ten program
elements, which are:
Tutoring
Alternative Secondary School Services
Summer employment opportunities that are directly linked to academic and occupational skills learning
Paid and un-paid work experience
Supportive Services Leadership development opportunities
Follow-up services Adult mentoring
Occupational Skills Training
Comprehensive guidance and counseling
We have the discretion to determine which
specific program services will be provided to a
youth participant based on each participant's
objective assessment and individual service
strategy.
This is not just a summer program. This
is a year-round program. Most services
are offered during the summer months for youth
that are still in school. We offer summer
training, activities, and work experience in
the summer and the youth's academic performance
is monitored while they are in school. We also
offer tutoring assistance, guidance and
counseling and many other components during the
school year. The youth have activities here at
the Center each day both Little Rock and
Pulaski County schools are out simultaneously.
In 1998 President Clinton signed a law that
turned JTPA (Job Training Partnership Act) into
the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which
provides more extensive services. This is not
the Y.O.U. (Youth Opportunities Unlimited)
Program.
Our office is located at 300 South University
(University Mall), Little Rock, AR. You can
reach us by phone at 907-1934. Office hours are
8:00 - 4:30. We do not accept appointments or
applications after 4:00
Youth are strongly encouraged to stay in the
program for at least one year though there is
no service contract. You are in the program
until you are 21 years of age or you have
successfully exited meaning you have graduated
high school, gone on to post secondary
education, or secured gainful employment. Youth
are required to attend at least one training
activity every three months. If you do not
attend activities within three months you may
be exited unsuccessfully.
Youth ages 14 to 21 may apply for the program.
Youth 18 to 21 years of age will also be
encouraged to register for adult services and
with the Arkansas Employment Security
Department (AESD).
Sign in at the registration desk and obtain an
application. Once the youth's application is
complete a case manager will review it, making
a recommendation for services. The Coordinator
will determine their eligibility. If the youth
is eligible for services you will be given an
assessment package to complete within 30 days.
If the youth is not eligible for services we
will provide a referral to another agency that
may be able to serve you.
Anyone can pick up an application for you but
when it is returned a parent needs to be
present if you are under the age of 16. The
parents' social security numbers must be on the
application to verify eligibility. The
application will not be accepted without
parental signature and eligibility information.
A case manager will review the application when
it is returned.
In order to qualify for WIA youth enrollment
you must be 14 to 21 years of age, low-income
and have at least one barrier. The AWCLR Youth
Program can only serve City of Little Rock
residents. If you live outside of the City
limits, we will be happy to refer you to the
appropriate Workforce Center for the area in
which you reside.
To find the nearest Workforce Center to you,
please use the link from our State Workforce
Board's website: "Your Local Connection"http://www.arworks.org/local.html
WIA is federally funded grant. The United
States government dictates in its laws and
regulations how WIA dollars are to be spent and
who it can and cannot be spent on. WIA dollars
are intended for low-income individuals and the
income guidelines have been set by the
Department of Labor called the Lower Living
Standard Income Level (LLSIL)
You must be considered low-income and have a
barrier to be enrolled for WIA services. We
will still be able to assist you with core
services and issue you a referral to another
agency that may be able to serve you if you do
not qualify for WIA enrollment
Yes, even if the family of the disabled youth
does not meet the income eligibility criteria,
the disabled you may be considered a low-income
individual if the youth's own income meets the
income criteria established in WIA section
101(25)(b) or meets the income eligibility
criteria for cash payments under any Federal,
state or local public assistance program.
We do not guarantee jobs. We seek business that
have employment opportunities and refer our
clients to those places that match the client's
skills and abilities. You must apply for the
position and go through the application process
the employer may have. Several employers hire
through our agency. We notify our clients when
these opportunities become available.
No, we do not encourage 14 or 15 year olds to
work nor do we employ or seek employment for
them. We do offer them pre-employment training
courses in the summer months called Project
Infinity where they learn work readiness skill
and get paid a stipend for their attendance.
The training classes are held for six weeks in
the summer months.
We offer the applications in our online library.
However, we do not accept their applications once they
are completed. They must be taken to the
Department of Labor. Any questions or comments
regarding work permits need to be directed to
the Department of Labor. Their number is (501)
682-4500
Math, Life Skills, Problem Solving, Integrity,
English, Financial Management, Abstinence, Job
Search, Etiquette, Job Interview, Teamwork,
Dance, Career Planning, Resume Writing,
Communications, Culinary Arts, Auto Mechanics,
Computer Maintenance, Carpentry and Choir
During PI we also have:
Career Speakers - Little Rock
professionals come and talk to our youth about
their occupation, educational requirements for
their field and the demand for their occupation
in Arkansas. Military Day - All branches of service
make a presentation about their branch and how
the military can be an excellent career choice,
an aide for post secondary education, and many
other benefits. College Day - At least 10 universities
and vocational school from across the state of
Arkansas come and talk to the youth about post
secondary education and the benefits of
attending their school Field Trip - One educational field trip
will be taken to expose the students to a work
environment. Graduation - Students will participate
in a graduation ceremony for completing the
courses offered where they will receive
certificates of completion.
Courses may vary each year. Classes are held in one of the many Little Rock schools.
All youth will attend Project Infinity their
first year with us regardless of their age.
After they have completed their first year they
will have summer work experience and attend PI
one day a week. There are some exceptions.
Exceptions are handled at the Youth
Coordinator's discretion
Summer work experience lasts for six to eight
weeks beginning in June. Youth are paid every
two weeks through a grant we receive through
the City of Little Rock. The work experience
clients are required to attend Project Infinity
Friday of each week. The Friday in-services are
not paid however they are REQUIRED.
We do our best to match an individual's
interest and skill level with an employer that
has an employment opportunity. The
opportunities are not limited to a certain type
of industry.
If the youth is 16 years of age or older we
will assist them with job placement. We issue a
Hot Jobs listing each month especially for
teens and we have a resource lab located in the
Comprehensive Center. We do monitor the youth's
performance while they work and try to assist
them with maintaining a positive grade point
average while they work.
No, we are not a state agency such as the
Department of Human Services (DHS). The
services provided to youth are funded by the
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) federal grant;
PSI who manages the youth center and the
Arkansas Workforce Center at Little Rock is a
private contractor for the Little Rock
Workforce Investment Board
