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OPA News Release: [02/12/2002] Contact Name: Kate
Whitman
New Faith-Based Cooperative Agreement Announced
Five Job Corps
Sites And Five Faith-Based Organizations Partner to Help Youths
WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao signed a
cooperative agreement that supports collaboration between Job Corps and
Public/Private Ventures, a Philadelphia-based think-tank that specializes in
research and demonstration projects dealing with high-risk and at-risk youth.
The cooperative agreement supports community-based networks of mentors for
at-risk and high-risk youth in Detroit, Indianapolis, Brooklyn, Bronx and
Washington, D.C.
“This is the Department’s first test in linking one of
our most important programs – Job Corps – with a community
collaboration of faith-based organizations, community organizations, police and
local officials,” Chao said. “It’s a simple idea, give
someone a little help, and you give them a lot of hope.”
The cooperative agreement announced by Chao studies and supports
faith-based and community mentoring networks including the East of the River
Clergy-Police-Community Partnership in Washington, D.C. Public/Private Ventures
will oversee the implementation of the contract.
The partnership is unique in its community origin, which has been
credited in reducing the number of murders among adolescents in S.E.
Washington, D.C. The partnership will refer students with mentors to Job Corps.
Applicants for Job Corps who are found to be ineligible for services will be
referred, on a voluntary basis, to the mentoring networks.
Chao also announced a Department initiative to remove impediments to
volunteering, encourage department employees to increase their volunteerism,
and review workplace legislation to make sure it does not harm volunteers or
the organizations they serve.
Public/Private Ventures is a Philadelphia-based national nonprofit
organization whose mission is to improve the effectiveness of social policies,
programs and community initiatives, especially as they affect youth and young
adults. In carrying out this mission, Public/Private Ventures works with
philanthropies, the public and business sectors and nonprofit organizations.
Public/Private Ventures networks are currently operating in Boston, Bronx,
Brooklyn, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, San
Francisco/Oakland, Seattle, Tulsa, Baton Rouge, Fresno and Washington, D.C.
For more information please visit www.dol.gov
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