Youth Employment Program Earns Top L.A. County Award

The Youth At Work program was recently awarded the Gold Eagle, the top award given by Los Angeles County's Quality and Productivity Commission (QPC) at its 36th Annual Productivity and Quality Awards Gala. The QPC was created by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to lead the way in carrying out a program of productivity improvement, focusing on the quality of services provided to county residents, as well as productive delivery of those services.

The highly impactful Youth At Work program is offered through a partnership between the Departments of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and Parks and Recreation (DPR). It focuses on youth between age 14 and 24, providing them paid work experience, training, and career development at County parks and recreational facilities. By working on various programs and projects, such as the Parks After Dark (PAD) program and the Puente Hills Landfill Park design process, youth from underserved populations and communities develop skills in customer service, leadership, mentoring, and community engagement. These experiences help participants to become work-ready for immediate and long-term employment opportunities and administrative assignments. 

Youths between the ages of 14 and 24 are in a critical developmental stage that require active engagement in education and employment. Specifically, at-risk youth face additional barriers to employment due to lack of opportunities to develop skills and education, support services, barriers to transportation, and financial literacy. L.A. County recognizes the importance of providing equitable access opportunities for youth that historically have been marginalized from educational, social, and employment opportunities that provide economic mobility.