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Youth Services
If you've visited
"The Renewal Story" page, you know that
Renewal Unlimited's first
efforts targeted
young people who needed to finish their secondary education and develop
employment skills. Participants in the 1977 Renewal program worked toward
a high school equivalency certificate while renovating older homes, which
were then sold to low-income families.
Renewal has
remained dedicated to this population and to the success of this type of
programming ever since. With experience now spanning four decades, Renewal
offers a variety of options to eligible youth and young adults who have often
struggled in a "traditional" school environment, who need to develop marketable
work and employability skills, or who want assistance exploring career and
educational options.
A grant from the
South
Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board,
supports the Youth Services
Program for Columbia,
Dodge,
and Sauk counties.
The Workforce Investment Act of the late 1990s did away with the JTPA youth programs, creating smaller regions and more flexible
programming to help eligible
youth develop and complete academic and occupational goals -- and successfully join
the workforce.
In
Renewal's three-county region, the agency has created
a network of mentors, educators and employers to support our
participants. Both
in- and out-of-school
youth aged 14-21 receive tutoring, job
readiness and retention training, and both paid and unpaid work experiences with
local businesses. We
provide at least 12 months individualized guidance, targeting graduation or
GED/HSED completion, and full-time, stable employment or secondary education.
Providing
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Support toward attaining a
high School diploma |
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Job search for full or
part-time work that is compatible with one’s interests and skills |
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Assistance with setting goals |
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Job retention assistance
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Opportunities to connect with
other youth through Job Club and community service activities |
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GED/HSED Preparation support |
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Post high school career
awareness and goal setting |
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Opportunities to connect with
job and community mentors |
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Connection with community
services needed to achieve goals |
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Development of employability skills through
participation in the Community Garden Project. |
The involvement of parents/guardians is
greatly encouraged. Program participants and parents/guardians will have
opportunities to evaluate the Youth Services Program’s effectiveness.
Youth Services Program Manager,
Shirley Tollaksen, and Youth Services Case Managers, Jacob Johnson and Michelle
Kirsh, provide full-time services for youth and employers from our offices in Baraboo,
Beaver Dam, and Portage.
They or other staff can answer your questions at:
Shirley Tollaksen,
Youth Services Program Manager
Renewal Unlimited, Inc.
2900 Red Fox Run
Portage, WI 53901
608-742-5329 ext. 13
stollaksen@renewalunlimited.net
In Columbia & Sauk County:
Jacob Johnson
Youth Employment & Training Specialist
Sauk County Job Center
522 South Blvd. P.O. Box 730
Baraboo, WI 53913
608-355-2090
jjohnson@renewalunlimited.net
In Dodge County:
Michelle Kirsh
Youth Employment & Training Specialist
Dodge County Job Center
138 Front Street
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
920-887-4270
mkirsh@renewalunlimited.net
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