Helping Young People Find Meaningful Careers in Rhode Island
The Journey to Success Campaign advocates for federal policy change to achieve better outcomes for youth who have experienced foster care. Many of our recommendations include policies and practices that are already being implemented in states and communities across the country, but could benefit from being available to all youth who spend time in foster care. Our Spotlight on Success series highlights programs and policies that exemplify the recommendations in the Journey to Success policy framework.
Works Wonders® is a career readiness program designed specifically for young people ages 16-26 who are in or have experienced foster care, housing instability/homelessness, or involvement in the juvenile justice system. Participants in Work Wonders® receive skills training, one-on-one career coaching, and paid work-related experiences. The program was co-created by young people in foster care and Foster Forward, a community-based non-profit organization in Rhode Island, leveraging a five-year grant from the federal Children’s Bureau.
In 2018, Works Wonders® and its state partners were unanimously awarded an Innovations in American Government Award from the Ash Center at Harvard University for their success in helping young people access skills training and job opportunities. An independent evaluation found that Works Wonders® effectively prepared participants for careers/education, reduced barriers to their workforce participation, and increased their employment from 38.3% to 52%. Today, Works Wonders® continues as a public-private partnership in Rhode Island, with other jurisdictions, including Indiana and Nashville, implementing the model with similar success.
Works Wonders® participants receive a combination of services designed to help them build skills, explore career pathways, and access career networks. Services include a minimum of 12 weeks of 1:1 career coaching, 12-16 hours of career readiness skills training with a stipend, and paid internships, including job shadowing and other work-based learning opportunities. Foster Forward develops relationships with employers who are interested in having interns that are paid by the organization, providing a space for work-based learning, and supporting the local community. Some young people are hired directly by internship employers, while others use the skills they have learned as a building block to their next step along their career/educational pathway.
All Works Wonders® participants are eligible for Foster Forward’s ASPIRE program, which includes financial education and financial coaching, together with a $100 initial contribution to seed a bank account. Young people can use their savings – together with a dollar-for-dollar match from Foster Forward, to purchase an asset that helps them with work, school, housing, or other goals. This may include a computer, car, down payment on an apartment, and more. Foster Forward also offers mentoring, Rapid Rehousing, onsite clinical support, access to basic needs through a drop-in center, and other programming.
the works wonders® Program is a Shining example of these Journey to Success priorities:
