Skills and job training program for Sault youth will now offer one-on-one support

The Sault Community Career Center will continue a skills training program for youth after recently receiving an additional $1.07 million in funding from the federal government.

The Transition to Independence Program, run by the Sault Community Career Center (SCCC), is a personalized program for youth ages 15 to 30 that has helped nearly 100 youth so far, Executive Director Adam Pinder said.

The program aims to assist young people who may face certain barriers to employment, such as lack of experience, mental or other health issues, and trauma, among others.

“People who need a lot more help than just a resume, cover letter or interview preparation and maybe a little coaching here and there,” Pinder said.

The latest funding announced Friday includes $1.07 million for SCCC over four years to operate TIP with the goal of helping an additional 66 youth.

The funding is provided through the federal government’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) program, delivered through Employment and Social Development Canada.

Sault Deputy Terry Sheehan, who attended the announcement, said YESS had an 80 percent success rate of young people finding employment or returning to school following their participation between June 2019 and December 2022.

“Helping young people in our community who face barriers to employment and developing skills for the future workforce is the way to ensure we remain a prosperous and thriving city,” Sheehan said.

Pinder said some of the young people who participated in the program gained experience in many industries, including construction, sales and marketing, and healthcare, among others.

Nathan Muto, TIP’s program director, said one of the changes in the next iteration of the program will be a shift from operating in small groups of youth to a new one-on-one model.

While many youth thrive under the group model, Muto said some require a more focused approach.

“Some unfortunately have not been able to achieve some of their goals, and I believe this approach of meeting them where they are and perhaps keeping up with their pace will help us meet their needs.”

“We want to make sure we get over those hurdles,” Pinder said. “To build some confidence, help them gain some experience and knowledge and enable them to expand opportunities for themselves in the future.”

While some youth find the program through SCCC’s outreach, others are referred by other agencies.

Pinder said SCCC is always looking for more agencies to partner with to find youth who can be helped through the program.

“We are very happy to form partnerships and see if there is a way we can support these customers on this journey,” he said.