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STEP Pathways

Community Collaboration

Increased resources for individual and community success.

Pathways

Youth Enrichment for Success (YES)

Purpose:  The STEP Youth Enrichment for Success (YES) Program helps youth in Lycoming County by providing intensive case management services to evaluate needs, establish a network of local support resources, and support them as they develop the life, employment skills, and knowledge to achieve self-sufficiency.

Vision:  To assist youth in overcoming barriers to success and developing skills that will prepare them for self-sufficiency.

Program Overview:  The Youth Enrichment for Success (YES) Program is a 12-to-18-month program for Lycoming County youth between the ages of 16 to 20 who are motivated to earn a GED/high school equivalency or graduate high school, train for a career, and want to learn additional skills to promote self-sufficiency. The program is a partnership between Lycoming Children & Youth Services, Lycoming County Juvenile Probation Office, Lycoming County CareerLink, the Lycoming County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, and STEP, Inc. 

The program includes three phases: needs assessment and basic skills development, on-the-job training or job shadowing, and technical training. In the initial phase, strengths and barriers are assessed, goals are developed, and the youth is connected to services that will help them to achieve their goals. In the second phase, youth participate in on-the-job training or job shadowing and work toward completing their GED or high school. In the final phase, youth have the opportunity to participate in a technical training program, enroll in college, or secure full-time employment.

Eligibility Requirements:  In order to be eligible for the program, participants must be between the ages of 16- 20 years old, be willing to work towards obtaining a GED or graduating high school, and be motivated to gain additional life skills goals that would lead to self-sufficiency. *Eligible youth must be Lycoming County residents.

Benchmarks of Success:

  • Youth attain their GED/high school equivalency or graduate high school.
  • Obstacles to success- such as budgeting, childcare, transportation, and housing- are addressed.
  • Life skills are acquired that will promote self-sufficiency.
  • Positive job shadowing or on-the-job training experience is gained.
  • Youths gain employment within the community or enroll in secondary education.

Don't know if you qualify?

Use the Form Fillable pdf and send your completed form to  yesprogram@stepcorp.org.

Success Story

N.M. entered the Youth Enrichment for Success (YES) Program on October 13th, 2021. A Family Navigator worked with N.M. to develop a goal plan that consisted of graduating from high school, applying for secondary education, applying for financial aid, obtaining a driver’s permit, then a license, and obtaining a replacement social security card. Additionally, N.M. wanted to create a resume, obtain part-time employment, and open a checking account.

Since enrollment with the YES Program, N.M. attended school regularly and graduated from the Williamsport Area High School on June 8th, 2023. With the assistance of the Family Navigator, N.M. created a resume and completed an active job search to obtain part-time employment with Trail Inn Restaurant while still enrolled in school.

As N.M. got closer to graduation, the Family Navigator was able to help N.M. research colleges of interest and walk N.M. through the process of applying for financial aid. The Family Navigator was also able to assist N.M. with registering for a required credit recovery course that would be needed for graduation purposes.

Upon completing the YES Program, N.M. applied for multiple colleges of interest and was accepted to enroll with West Chester University for Fall 2023 with financial aid assistance.

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Youth Enrichment for Success

In order to be eligible for the program, participants must be between the ages of 16- 20 years old, be willing to work towards obtaining a GED or graduating high school, and be motivated to gain additional life skills goals that would lead to self-sufficiency. *Eligible youth must be Lycoming County residents.