Foster Kids Job Training Program To Partner With Local Non-Profit

QUEENS, NY — With the support of local non-profits, one of which is in Queens, the city is starting a program to help nearly 100 young people in foster care launch their careers, Mayor Eric Adams announced.

The new program known as V-CRED will offer job training, certification courses, and internship or apprenticeship opportunities to 90 young New Yorkers in foster care over the course of a two-year pilot, after which the city hopes to expand the program, the mayor announced Tuesday.

As part of V-CRED, Commonpoint Queens, a social services non-profit with offices in Little Neck, will offer classes to help youth prepare for the General Educational Development (GED) test, so that they are better able to achieve their professional goals.

"I’m thrilled that Commonpoint Queens, which does incredible work supporting families across ‘The World’s Borough,’ is partnering in this program," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards in a news release. "I know this critically important effort to help them cultivate the life skills and career training they need to succeed will make a world of difference for so many young adults."

Adams said that the program, funded by the city and the Kellog Foundation, will particularly aim to support foster youth, who are often left behind. Young people in the foster care system are more likely to be unemployed, fall victim to a crime, or come in contact with the justice system, he said.

"If we don't educate, we incarcerate, which is why one of my most important jobs is advocating for our youth who have been in foster care or had contact with the juvenile justice system," Adams said. "We are not going to just let them wing it, we are going to take them under our wing."

The V-CRED program will focus on helping those between 16 and 24 years old find jobs in information technology, allied health, building trades or as electrician helpers or pharmacy technicians, according to the city.

In addition to the training at Commonpoint Queens, the city will work with Kingsborough Community College to offer pharmacy tech and EMT classes, as well as Metro Placements, a leading job placement organization.

These trainings will be offered before the youth are set up with internships or apprenticeships with private companies like USIS, Health Max, Walgreens, CVS, according to the city.

"Children in our foster care system have proven themselves to be strong and resilient. These training programs will help them funnel that strength and energy into quality careers in high demand fields," said New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, whose district encompasses parts of Bayside.

"The V-CRED program will help create brighter futures for these young men and women, and a more competitive workforce within our city."

Patch editor Anna Quinn contributed to this report.