Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. and Commissioner of Labor Albert Bryan, Jr., will host a press conference on Monday, March 29, 2010 to launch the department’s new YOUTHNET initiative. YOUTHNET mirrors the Federal Shared Vision Collaborative Partnership which has given the charge to state agencies across the Nation to implement youth programs focused on serving the neediest youth. YOUTHNET’s vision is to establish an inter-agency, virtual, one-stop continuum of services aimed at increasing levels of self-sufficiency for at risk youth ages 16-24. The news conference will be held at Government House in Christiansted, St. Croix at 10 a.m.

YOUTHNET will be comprised of ten main agencies and community based organizations. These partners will provide the necessary wrap around services as needed by the targeted population. Representatives from these agencies have created a Youth Council that will develop and coordinate the services designed to address the problems of our neediest youth. A demonstration of this virtual system will be made at the conference to demonstrate the three main components of this initiative: prevention, recapture, and rehabilitation.

The pilot program will serve 400 high school students territory wide with a presence at the Charlotte Amalie High School on St. Thomas and at the Career and Technical School on St. Croix. The YOUTHNET site will also serve as an alternative access point for student to apply for summer employment and for employers to post available summer jobs.

If you have any questions regarding this information please contact our offices on St. Croix at (340) 773-1440 or St. Thomas at 776-3700.