DAS Requests Public Comment for California Youth Apprenticeship Grant

The grant will focus on creating pathways for opportunity youth to access pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships in sectors across the economy

Oakland—The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) are seeking public comment on the California Youth Apprenticeship Grant (CYAG), a new funding source to develop and test innovative practices to increase the participation of opportunity youth in pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. DAS is overseeing the grant program and is seeking public comment through July 14, 2023.

Opportunity youth includes 16- to 24-year-olds who are at risk of disconnection or are already disconnected from the education system, are unhoused, in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or criminal legal systems, living in concentrated poverty or facing barriers to labor market participation. It also includes those who attend schools in communities of concentrated poverty.

“Public comment is open to all and we are especially hoping to hear from community based organizations with experience serving opportunity youth,” said DAS Deputy Chief Adele Burnes. “We want to be sure that the structure of the grants enables us to fulfill the objective of creating pathways for opportunity youth into the earn-and-learn pathway that pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship can offer.”

DAS will present the opening CYAG’s framework to the California Youth Apprenticeship Committee at its June 26 meeting and invites discussion and public comment in that virtual public meeting, in addition to the opportunity to share written public comment.

The Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Apprenticeship Standards consults with employers to develop a skilled workforce, by establishing innovative apprenticeship programs that offer training, to create viable career pathways for Californians.

Contact: Communications@dir.ca.gov, (510) 286-1161

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