The Skill Up Program

In 2022, DYS developed a new program, Skill Up: Career, Technical and Workforce Training and Employment Services.

The Commonwealth Corporation, a long standing partner to RYI, invited the agency to participate in delivering these services and we now have 2 Career Navigators.  Their role is to help each DYS youth plan out a career path through advice and support by systematically assessing their interests, strengths and needs, advising on career, vocational and job training courses, assisting with resume development and interview preparation, helping youth overcome the barriers preventing them from succeeding in the world of work, directly placing DYS youth in internships, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, supported employment, or permanent employment, and working with the DYS case management team to provide wrap around supports.

Skill Up Vision

  • Provide all youth a variety career supports throughout the continuum of care

  • Reduce employment barriers and provide career, technical and workforce training that improves opportunities and reduces access and engagement barriers for youth as they transition back to the community from their residential treatment programs

  • Strengthen and enhance the infrastructure for the provision of workforce navigation services that provide guidance and support to DYS youth as they progress in their career and technical skills development and job seeking

  • Increase career, technical and workforce training and employment opportunities for DYS youth by building employer partnerships

  • Provide youth with the transferable skills, pro social behaviors and credentials that will enable them to secure and advance in employment with family sustaining wages

Career Navigation Goals

  • All youth will be assigned to a Career Navigator to support youth career pathway throughout the continuum of care

  • Career Navigators will provide youth career awareness, exploration, and immersion activities as well as connect them to appropriate opportunities that are directly connected to youth interests and aptitudes

  • Effective communication between regional partners and youths caring adult team including case workers, youth service coordinators, education and career counselors, as well as DYS staff, provider staff, and single service providers