Youth in central Iowa, particularly those living in poverty, are much more likely to graduate high school and earn more money throughout their lives if they’re well prepared to succeed from the start. According to the Urban Institute, over a third of youth contribute over 20% of the total annual income of their households, and one tenth contribute over 50%. 

Compared with other counties in central Iowa, youth unemployment in Polk County is high.

Polk County

  • 20.3% unemployment rate for 16–19 year olds
  • 10.9% unemployment rate for 20–24 year olds

Warren County

  • 12.4% unemployment rate for 16–19 year olds
  • 5.7% unemployment rate for 20–24 year olds

Dallas County

  • 2.0% unemployment rate for 16–19 year olds
  • 4.0% unemployment rate for 20–24 year olds

The unemployment rate for African American youth is more than double that of white youth in the United States.

National-Youth-Unemployment-Race-1.jpg 

Youth Readiness Programs in Central Iowa

Here are three examples of how organizations have implemented innovative solutions to help youth prepare for future careers.

Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families

The Evelyn K. Davis Center is a non-profit organization in Des Moines that offers education, job training, and career opportunities for families and individuals of central Iowa. The Summer Youth Experience Program focuses on serving young adults, ages 14–21, by giving them summer work experience, opportunities to volunteer, and educational experience where they can build useful skills for the workforce.

iJag

Each month, Principal Financial Group in Des Moines sends 80 volunteers into high school classrooms to host workshops that provide students (who are at high risk for dropping out of school or disengaging from school) with a six practical but crucial skills:

  • Leadership
  • Personal
  • Job attainment
  • Job success
  • Communication
  • Career development

Over the years, iJag has effectively and cost effectively increased academic performance, school attendance, graduation rates, job placement, and continued training/education. 

Central Campus – Des Moines Public Schools

Central Campus was the first Iowa high school to be designated by the United States Department of Labor as a pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship. It offers a number of advance career academies with dozens of specially designed programs that can help students go to college and prepare them for their future careers. Training programs allow students to earn college credit and work towards a two-year associates degree from a community college.

To learn more about types of programs that address poverty and help encourage, train, and prepare youth for their futures, contact United Way of Central Iowa, or visit our website to find various volunteer and education opportunites.

Check out another article we've written, Central Iowa Students Need to See Many Paths to Success, to explore the issues covered in this article on a deeper level.

 

LiveUnitedDSM.org

 

Topics: Education, Financial Stability

Seth Johnson

Written by Seth Johnson

Seth Johnson is the former program director of OpportUNITY.

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA
1111 9TH ST  •  Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 246-6500   •   contactus@unitedwaydm.org

Need Help? Dial 2-1-1

211 Iowa - Get Connected, Get Help
 

 

 

Charity Navigator four star rated charity badgeUnited Way of Central Iowa is proud to have earned a four-star rating for 18 straight years from Charity Navigator, an American independent charity watchdog organization that evaluates charitable organizations in the United States. This record places United Way of Central Iowa in the top 1 percent of charities nationwide. Click the logo to review our complete evaluation.

candid-seal-platinum-2024United Way of Central Iowa has received a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, the world's largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. The seal is given to nonprofits who have achieved the highest level of transparency through disclosures, information made available to the public, and accuracy and frequency of updates. Click the logo to learn more.

© 2024 United Way of Central Iowa. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy