Burger King, Broward County Animal Care among employers helping students overcome barriers to employment through Youth Links program
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA (JUNE 18, 2024) – Forty Broward County teens and young adults with developmental disabilities and other barriers to employment took the first steps toward gainful employment and celebrated their six-week summer internship placements through Youth Links, part of Arc Broward’s continuum of services that provide transformative opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
On internship signing day, students celebrated their placements with employers including Publix, Burger King, Walmart, Chili’s, Broward County Animal Care, the City of Coral Springs and Walgreens.
“Youth Links prepares students to transition successfully into adulthood by fostering independence and improving social and employability skills through an afterschool program and paid summer internships,” said Jennifer Saint Louis, Arc Broward vice president, workforce services. “The six-week paid summer internship is often their first step into the workforce and sets these young adults on a path toward financial well-being and career success.”
Multiple studies have shown that employment training and work experiences in high school predict a successful transition from school to the workforce for youth with disabilities. Funded primarily by the Children’s Services Council of Broward County, Youth Links is an experiential learning program for students ages 16 to 21 that addresses career development, social skills, life skills, self-determination, and advocacy through a combination of classroom and real-life settings during the school year. In the summer, students have the chance to participate in paid summer employment, ranging from 16 to 30 hours per week.
For more information about Arc Broward, visit arcbroward.com or call 954-746-9400.
