Q

What we do…

The program is comprised of 4 key components:

• Job readiness curriculum: Our curriculum is aimed at enhancing the youth’s employment readiness. It includes identifying their skills and interests, resume building, interview skills, job search techniques, positive work practices, and workplace safety. When interviews are set up, we coach the youth through practice sessions – responding to typical questions and situations.
• Employment certification: We assist youth to obtain a Social Insurance Number, British Columbia identification, and other relevant employment certification such as Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), FoodSafe, Forklift Operator’s licenses, and First Aid.
• Life skills training: We provide youth with information and opportunities to practice skills in areas such as food preparation, cooking and budgeting. We assist them with getting their personal identification number such as SIN number, birth certificate and BC identification; banking requirements (how to open a bank account); and to use public transit.
• Work experience: We seek out local employers who have the capacity and capability to provide meaningful employment opportunities to the youth we serve. To encourage youth to develop the expected workplace skills and ethics, employers complete a performance review checklist.

How we do it…

• The program is typically 6 months in duration.
• During the initial ten weeks of training, PLEA supports the employer by reimbursing the full wages for the youth.
• After this training period, we provide a partial wage subsidy to the employer for every hour the participant works for 16 weeks.
• After the 6 months, our hope is that the youth will continue to be successfully employed in their workplace

Just like other PLEA programs, the services provided through the Q program are tailored to each youth referred to us. As such, the duration of the program, and each individual component, varies according to the strengths, needs and circumstances of each participant.