IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v155y2023ics0190740923004875.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

COVID-19 impacts on youth and young adult workforce development programs: A local perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Palmer, Ashley N.
  • Patel, Mansi
  • Sledge, Shellye L.
  • Kitchens, Katherine
  • Cassano, Kaiden

Abstract

In the United States in 2020, an estimated 12.6% of individuals ages 16 to 24 were disconnected from education and employment – up from 10.7% in 2019. While the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 authorizes several youth-focused workforce development programs that target services toward disconnected youth, COVID-19 and ensuing mitigation measures exposed structural inequities in access to educational systems, workplace environments, and employment opportunities. This qualitative study examines the impact of COVID-19 on five local youth and young adult (YYA) workforce development programs, providers, and YYA participants in an urban county in Texas. Study participants included 12 youth-serving staff representing 5 programs, and 7 YYA representing 1 program. Semi-structured interview protocols guided three focus groups and four individual interviews. Data were analyzed in Dedoose by three researchers using thematic analysis. Impacts on programs included amplified recruitment and retention challenges related to safety protocols, disrupted interagency connections, access to technology, and YYAs competing priorities. Impacts on providers included changes in work-life balance and perceived organizational support, self-efficacy, and job satisfaction. Impacts on YYA included disruptions to education and employment, increases in (a) the need for mental health services, (b) unstable and/or unsafe living situations, (c) availability of resources like food and housing assistance, and a decrease in access to critical resources like transportation and government IDs. Recommendations include planning for flexibility in performance requirements for future crises, building a community coalition to target barriers to participation in these programs, and providing access to YYA mental health services within programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Palmer, Ashley N. & Patel, Mansi & Sledge, Shellye L. & Kitchens, Katherine & Cassano, Kaiden, 2023. "COVID-19 impacts on youth and young adult workforce development programs: A local perspective," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:155:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923004875
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107291
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740923004875
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107291?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Netta Achdut & Tehila Refaeli, 2020. "Unemployment and Psychological Distress among Young People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Psychological Resources and Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Collins, Mary Elizabeth & Spindle-Jackson, Adrianna & Yao, Mengni, 2021. "Workforce development systems efforts for system-involved youth: Opportunities and challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    3. Maria Sironi, 2018. "Economic Conditions of Young Adults Before and After the Great Recession," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 103-116, March.
    4. Ruff, Saralyn C. & Linville, Deanna, 2021. "Experiences of young adults with a history of foster care during COVID-19," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    5. Alex Abramovich & Nelson Pang & Amanda Moss & Carmen H Logie & Michael Chaiton & Sean A Kidd & Hayley A Hamilton, 2021. "Investigating the impacts of COVID-19 among LGBTQ2S youth experiencing homelessness," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-16, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dávila, Dayana & Alvarado, Rafael, 2022. "Análisis del impacto de la Ley Orgánica para la Promoción del Trabajo Juvenil, Regulación Excepcional de la Jornada de Trabajo, Cesantía y Seguro de Desempleo, sobre el desempleo juvenil en Ecuador," MPRA Paper 113709, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. LUPPI, FRANCESCA & Rosina, Alessandro & Sironi, Emiliano, 2020. "On the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the intention to leave the parental home," SocArXiv 9y6s5, Center for Open Science.
    3. Ruff, Saralyn C. & Linville, Deanna & Kjellstrand, Jean, 2022. "Experiences during COVID-19: Needs of college students with a history of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    4. Line I. Berge & Marie H. Gedde & Bettina S. Husebo & Ane Erdal & Camilla Kjellstadli & Ipsit V. Vahia, 2021. "Age and Emotional Distress during COVID-19: Findings from Two Waves of the Norwegian Citizen Panel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Marcelo Parreira do Amaral & Jenni Tikkanen, 2022. "Governing the Life Course through Lifelong Learning: A Multilevel and Multidimensional View," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-13, May.
    6. Udomsak Narkkul & Jun Jiet Ng & Apisith Saraluck, 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Female Sexual Function Index and Female Behavioral Changes: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study in Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-13, November.
    7. Yolanda Marcén-Román & Angel Gasch-Gallen & Irene Isabel Vela Martín de la Mota & Estela Calatayud & Isabel Gómez-Soria & Beatriz Rodríguez-Roca, 2021. "Stress Perceived by University Health Sciences Students, 1 Year after COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-10, May.
    8. Evans, Rhiannon & Cunningham, Emily & Stabler, Lorna & Vaughan, Rachael & Davies, Brittany & Cummings, Aimee & Boffey, Maria & Wooders, Charlotte & Mannay, Dawn, 2024. "Acceptability, feasibility and perceived effectiveness of online and remote mental health and wellbeing interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study with care-experienced young peop," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    9. Mathur, Sarup R. & Clark, Heather Griller & Grayson, Annee & Robertson, Kristin Scott, 2023. "Preparing justice involved youth for transition: Employer perceptions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    10. Lewańczyk, Agata Marta & Langham-Walsh, Eleanor & Edwards, Lisa & Branney, Peter & Walters, Elizabeth R. & Mitchell, Paul & Vaportzis, Eleftheria, 2023. "Back Onside protocol: A physical activity intervention to improve health outcomes in people who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    11. Manon Duay & Margot Morgiève & Hélène Niculita-Hirzel, 2021. "Sudden Changes and Their Associations with Quality of Life during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study in the French-Speaking Part of Switzerland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-17, May.
    12. Johnston Richard & Hogg Ryan & Miller Kristel, 2021. "Who is Most Vulnerable? Exploring Job Vulnerability, Social Distancing and Demand During COVID-19," The Irish Journal of Management, Sciendo, vol. 40(2), pages 100-142, December.
    13. Melissa J. Wilmarth, 2021. "Financial and Economic Well-Being: A Decade Review from Journal of Family and Economic Issues," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 124-130, July.
    14. Canan Oyku Donmez Kara & Ilknur Karaaslan, 2022. "Covid-19 Pandemisinin Universite Ogrencilerinin Issizlik Kaygisi Uzerine Etkileri," Journal of Social Policy Conferences, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 0(82), pages 155-194, June.
    15. Seulkee Heo & Miraj U. Desai & Sarah R. Lowe & Michelle L. Bell, 2021. "Impact of Changed Use of Greenspace during COVID-19 Pandemic on Depression and Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-18, May.
    16. Shaher H. Zyoud, 2023. "Analyzing and visualizing global research trends on COVID-19 linked to sustainable development goals," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 5459-5493, June.
    17. Xuanxian Chen & Massoomeh Hedayati Marzbali & Aldrin Abdullah, 2024. "Urban Parks and Office Workers’ Health: Considering the Influence of Marital Status and Different Qualities of Urban Parks," Societies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, September.
    18. Inês Mendonça & Franz Coelho & Paulo Ferrajão & Ana Maria Abreu, 2022. "Telework and Mental Health during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-23, February.
    19. Julie Zissimopoulos & Johanna Thunell & Stipica Mudrazija, 2020. "Parental Income and Wealth Loss and Transfers to Their Young Adult Children," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 316-331, June.
    20. Goodyear, Trevor & Chayama, Koharu Loulou & Oliffe, John L. & Kia, Hannah & Fast, Danya & Mniszak, Caroline & Knight, Rod & Jenkins, Emily, 2024. "Intersecting transitions among 2S/LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:155:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923004875. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.