OMAHA, Neb. -- Some 24,000 teenagers in foster care across the nation officially become adults each year; in Nebraska it happens on their 19th birthday.

They are expected to move out and start their lives on their own, yet many do not have a reliable support system. They face many challenges, including finding a job and a place to live.

Aaron Weaver, central access navigator for Nebraska Children's Project Everlast in Omaha, said the holiday season can be especially hard.

"A lot of young people don't have any contact with biological family and were never adopted," Weaver explained. "They might not have a place to go during the holiday season. People who are in dorms oftentimes are asked to leave and may not have a place to go for the holiday season as well."

Studies have found within two to four years after leaving foster care, 40% of young adults experienced homelessness or were incarcerated, 46% did not graduate from high school, and more than half were unemployed.

Weaver pointed out support and resources are available through NebraskaChildren.org, where staff can help connect youth to specific programs by county.

Many young people who have aged out of foster care lack basic life skills, such as how to do laundry or cook dinner for themselves.

Weaver noted adult volunteers can make a big difference, just by being a reliable voice on the telephone or making time to meet up for coffee.

"A lot of studies show that if a young person has one supportive adult in their life for more than a year, so is consistently there to support them for a year or more, that their outcomes are greatly, greatly improved," Weaver outlined.

Anyone interested in becoming a mentor, or helping foster youths in other ways, can sign up through NebraskaChildren.org.

As the holidays draw near, Weaver encouraged young people to check the site for events near them, and to consider creating their own family gathering with friends.

"You determine who is in your life, and you determine who your supports are," Weaver remarked. "And you can choose who you love and who you let love you. And make sure that it's people that are healthy."

Kids' summer camp means horseback riding, hiking and scavenger hunts. But one Indianapolis chef is using the school break to teach youths cooking and business skills.

The Culinary Art Summer Bootcamp instructs participants - generally ages 16 to 22 - on food handling, healthy meal preparation, and table etiquette.

Twelve students attended the first camp in 2023. This year, the enrollment number is 28.

Healthy Soul Indy founder and chef Tawana Gulley saw a niche she wanted to fill.

"The camp initially started with just me seeing that there were just wayward kids that needed some guidance and something to do," said Gulley. "The only thing that I felt like I could bring to the table and offer them was my skill set in the culinary-arts area."

Gulley credited career development teacher Eric Kilbride with creating the camp's blueprint and securing funding. She said previous students have received certification for culinary careers.

According to workforce site Indiana Career Explorer, the average annual salary for a chef is almost $55,000.

Business and food-industry professionals are invited to the camp to share their expertise about financial literacy, marketing, and having a business plan.

The importance of customer service and responsibility are discussed in roundtable talks. Gulley said she strives to provide a well-rounded camp experience.

"So after we train them, and after they go through their morning with an entrepreneur, they go out and they work with these vendors for two hours out of the day," said Gulley. "So, we have a certified trainer that comes and works out with the kids and talks to them about health and wellness."

Another important part of the camp is to raise participants' awareness about food deserts, particularly in urban areas.

The 2024 Survey Report: Food Assistance and Hunger in Indiana, indicates the U.S. Census found the percentage of Black households in Indiana with food insufficiency was twice as high - at 23%, while the general population is at almost 12%.





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Summer jobs are a boost for companies needing seasonal help. But Black and Latino youths are not seeing the opportunities come their way.

A report by the University of Illinois-Chicago Great Cities Institute has found these teens face fewer job prospects than white applicants.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security indicates 16 to 24-year-olds have had the highest unemployment rate among all age groups - including those at retirement age - since 2017.

Great Cities Institute Research Assistant Samantha Sepulveda Santos said some neighborhoods are struggling more than others.

"We can see," said Sepulveda Santos, "that the highest percentages of joblessness among students in Chicago - which is 93% - were found in areas in the South and Southwest. In Hilton, Bridgeport, McKinley Park, Fuller Park, and Back of the Yards."

Recovery time from pandemic-related shutdowns in the Chicago Public Schools system was slower than other area districts, according to the report.

Sepulveda Santos said she believes this data supports the necessity to implement programming for equal employment opportunities.

The report claims more than 163,000 16 to 24-year-olds in Chicago are unemployed and not enrolled in high school or college.

Sepulveda Santos acknowledged that competition is harder for these youths to enter a trade school to receive technical training for in-demand jobs - which could contribute to higher disparity numbers.

"And another factor we allude to as well is that not all people have the same opportunities," said Sepulveda Santos. "Not all people have the same networking, the same preparation for cover letters, for interviews. Most people have a leg up to be able to ask an aunt, an uncle, a neighbor for a job, as other people do."

The institute is seeking funding for a youth employment training program to teach teens about applying for jobs and being productive workers upon hire.

The study also suggests if Illinois spent $300 million on youth employment, crime rates could be reduced.

Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show in July 2023, the unemployment rate nationwide for Black youth was 18%, nearly 11% for Latinos, and 7% for white youths.




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Companies are consistently looking for fresh talent in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

A central Indiana organization is reaching out to encourage young people to consider a STEM career.

The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership is comprised of 65 CEOs of some of Indiana's largest corporations, and a few presidents of the state's major universities.

Partnership CEO Melina Kennedy said for its new See Yourself In campaign, one objective is to educate youth on the possibilities.

"A lot of young people, especially our Gen Z'ers, don't really know 'what does that mean' in advanced industries - like sciences, agbiosciences, tech," said Kennedy. "Even that might be too broad. So, this campaign tries to go a layer deeper, to share with Gen Z'ers the different kinds of jobs and opportunities that there are in these advanced industries."

The campaign highlights life science careers in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, and medical research and testing within health information technology.

The Partnership's youth summit, with the Indiana Department of Education, will be in November. The first one was held last year, and more than 200 students statewide attended.

Other career-focused options include a three-year apprenticeship for participants to earn college credits, gain experience, and build their professional network.

Kennedy said See Yourself In is a great introduction for students to connect directly with industry professionals with a strong Indiana presence, whose companies help drive the state's economy.

"That's a starting point for a lot of information, both about real profiles of real people, and the kind of work they're doing," said Kennedy. "So, people can think about these industries, but also connections to tools and other job openings, trainings, profiles - things like that, that can be helpful."

Last month, the Indiana Department of Education announced the certification of 20 more schools as leaders in STEM education, bringing the total to more than 100.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.




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