DC Youth and Young Adult Update 9-20-2024

News at NYEC: 

• Thank you for joining us at Youth Days!: We were so happy to see many of you at Youth Days last week! Your participation resulted in more than 65 meetings with legislators on Capitol Hill and federal agency staff, amplifying our collective voice for opportunity youth in D.C. We were also grateful to have impactful and inspiring speakers and panelists throughout the event, all of whom left a lasting impact on those in attendance. At the conclusion of Youth Days, participants created an action plan to continue their advocacy efforts in their communities. If you are interested in creating an action plan, you can find our template here.  

• WIOA Programs can Help Participants Register to Vote: As we approach the 2024 election, NYEC wants to remind its members that the Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance in 2022 sharing that programs receiving WIOA funds may engage in voter registration activities. Specifically, DOL stated that the following partners of American Job Centers may engage in such activities: WIOA Title I Youth, YouthBuild, Indian and Native American, National Farmworker, and Reentry Employment Opportunities programs and Job Corps operators.  

Legislative Branch:  

• Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) Introduces Bill Creating a National Employment Corps: The bill would direct the Secretary of Labor to establish a renewable energy transition grant program and to establish a National Employment Corps. The bill text will be available in the coming days.  

• Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Brad Finstad (R-MN) Reintroduce the 21st Century Workforce Partnerships Act: The bill would establish grant programs at the Department of Education to introduce middle and high school students to career exploration and career pathway opportunities. It would also fund grants to foster partnerships between higher education institutions and businesses to provide career training programs that lead to postsecondary degrees. 

 

Executive Branch: 

• White House Press Release on Roundtable with Youth Voting Leaders: The White House hosted a roundtable discussion to hear directly from youth leaders about their nonpartisan efforts to promote youth civic engagement across the country. College and high school student leaders from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas discussed their nonpartisan efforts to help eligible young Americans register to vote and cast their ballots. Participants discussed barriers to voting that young Americans face, including unfamiliarity with the voting process, lack of access to and information about voter registration opportunities and convenient ballot polling locations or ballot drop boxes, voter suppression such as laws that limit the ability of students to use their school IDs to vote, and the chilling effect of state restrictions on voter registration activity.  

• Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Treasury Issue Final Rules Strengthening Access to Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder Benefits: The rules build on the departments’ commitment to achieving the full promise of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The act requires group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group and individual health insurance coverage that offer mental health or substance use disorder benefits to cover those benefits in parity with medical and surgical benefits, without imposing greater restrictions on mental health or substance use disorder benefits as compared to medical and surgical benefits. 

 

Federal Funding Opportunities: 

• National Rural Transit Assistance Program: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $3,250,723 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Rural Transportation Assistance Program funds through a competitive cooperative agreement award. FTA is soliciting proposals under the agency’s Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program to select an entity to administer a National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP). The National RTAP will carry out activities to design and implement training and technical assistance projects and other support services tailored to meet the specific needs of transit operators in rural areas, including tribal transit services. Applications due November 12, 2024.  

 

Previously Shared 

• The Department of Education Seeks Funding Applicants for the Transitioning Gang-Involved Youth to Higher Education Program: The funding aims to support organizations that work directly with gang-involved youth to help them pursue higher education opportunities. Applications are due September 30th, 2024. 

• HUD Grant: Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing: Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) empowers communities that are actively taking steps to remove barriers to affordable housing and seeking to increase housing production and lower housing costs over the long term. Applications due October 15, 2024. 

• High School Equivalency Program: The HEP is designed to assist migratory or seasonal farmworkers (or immediate family members of such workers) to obtain the equivalent of a secondary school diploma and subsequently to gain improved employment, enter military service, or be placed in an institution of higher education (IHE) or other postsecondary education or training. Applications will be available on September 3, 2024 and will close November 15, 2024. 

• Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 AmeriCorps State and National Competitive Grants: AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations that engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions to strengthen communities. AmeriCorps members may receive a living allowance and other benefits. After successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans. Applications are due by January 23, 2025. 

• Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant: The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant programs provide funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. Applications are due June 30, 2025. 

From The States: 

• Connecticut: the city of Hartford awarded $150,000 from the Small Business Administration to the Women’s Business Development Council, which focuses on providing grants and mentorship to women entrepreneurs of all ages. One of their success stories was the launching of a 22-year-old former foster-involved youth’s first food truck.  

• California: in West Newton, six interns will receive an opportunity to repurpose an abandoned food truck into their own small business. They will receive start-up capital, mentorship, and will be paid as employees. This is a part of the Economic Discoveries and Growth through Experiential Education Program, which is funded mostly through WIOA dollars 

For The Youth: 

• NAMI’s Next Gen Advisory Group:  NAMI’s Next Gen Advisory Group to make an impact on mental health! 

• Shape the future of mental health programs 

• Connect with passionate peers 

• Develop leadership skills 

• Get paid for your valuable input ($20/hour!) 

• Deadline: September 30th, 2024 

Resources: 

• How Community Members, Advocates, and Policymakers Can Make the Most of the Remaining American Rescue Plan Dollars for Children and Youth: This blog post from the Children’s Funding Project highlights the urgency for communities, advocates, and policymakers to strategically utilize the remaining American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds dedicated to children and youth. With deadlines approaching, the article emphasizes the importance of thoughtful planning and collaboration to ensure these funds create lasting positive change.   

• How to Support Employees with Non-Apparent Disabilities: When employers consider disability, they often picture visible examples. However, not all disabilities are readily apparent. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines disability broadly, encompassing both mental health and physical conditions that significantly impair major life activities. This includes many “non-apparent” disabilities, often invisible to others. As a result, individuals with non-apparent disabilities must disclose their conditions to receive support and accommodation. To learn more about how workplaces can assist individuals with non-apparent disabilities, visit Workforce GP’s Related Content section.