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Department of Labor and Workforce Development
 
Office of the Commissioner

Labor Seeks Youth Council Members

Jun. 8, 2000
No. 00-54

Council to Coordinate Year Round Youth Employment and Training

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) is soliciting nominations from interested members of the public for a new Youth Council as part of the Balance of State Local Workforce Investment Board, responsible for coordinating youth employment and training activities in local areas of Alaska except Anchorage, Mat-Su.

"For many years Alaska provided a summer youth program that would get young people their first paying job. As a result of a welcome change in federal law, the local Youth Council will be challenged to provide youth services year round," said DOL Commissioner Ed Flanagan.

Encouraged to apply are those with special interest or expertise in youth policy, such as educators, employers, human service, and juvenile justice or law enforcement workers. As a subgroup of the larger Balance of State Local Workforce Investment Board, (https://jobs.alaska.gov/) the Youth Council will be charged with four major objectives:

  • improvement of educational achievement;
  • preparation for and success in employment;
  • enhancement of support systems for youth; and,
  • services to help youth develop as citizens.

"This is a great opportunity for those interested in helping Alaska's youth," added Flanagan.

This summer represents the first time since 1964 that summer jobs for economically disadvantaged youth are not authorized or funded as a separate program. The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (https://jobs.alaska.gov/) combined all the former Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Year-round and Summer Jobs programs into one program, designed to offer a comprehensive array of training and employment services.

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