H. C. R. 51
(By Delegates Martin, Proudfoot, Beach, Buchanan, Fleischauer,
Collins, Everson, Laird, Louisos, Pino, Riggs, Williams, Caputo,
Fantasia and Prunty)
Requesting that support, cooperation with and consideration of West
Virginia's YouthBuild programs be granted when at all possible
by the bureau of employment programs, the state board of
education, the department of health and human resources, the
private industry councils, the Governor's office and other
entities, as part of the Welfare to Work initiative, the
Schools to Work initiative, or other initiatives or programs.
Whereas, A significant population of young West Virginians drop
out of public school and therefore lack basic education, adequate
work skills and are unprepared for entry into the job market; and
Whereas, Many of these youths suffer from years of neglect,
abuse and misfortune which may render them at-risk for chronic
unemployment, substance abuse, crime and the possible continuation
of this cycle onto their children's generation; and
Whereas, YouthBuild is a nationally recognized comprehensive
program that provides adult basic education, on-the-job
construction training, career and therapeutic counseling, parenting
and relationship training, and leadership development training; and
Whereas, Nationally, YouthBuild places eighty-two percent of
its graduates in jobs at an average wage of over seven dollars per
hour and awards equivalency diplomas (GEDs) to 40 percent of its
trainees who have not finished high school; and
Whereas, The State of West Virginia has three YouthBuild
programs: Mon YouthBuild in Morgantown serving Marion, Monongalia
and Preston counties; YouthBuild North Central serving Barbour,
Tucker, Randolph and Upshur counties; and SALS YouthBuild serving
Fayette and portions of surrounding counties; and
Whereas, Supportive partnerships between various agencies and
West Virginia's three YouthBuild programs would benefit the
agencies and the YouthBuild programs in providing more
comprehensive assistance to West Virginia's young people;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That support, cooperation with and consideration of the
efforts of West Virginia's YouthBuild programs be granted by
various agencies via any means they may have at their disposal when
at all possible; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is hereby requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the
secretary of the bureau of employment programs; the state
superintendent of schools; the secretary of the department of
health and human resources; the directors of the private industry
councils; the director of the human resource investment council;
the Governor; and the directors of West Virginia's three YouthBuild
programs.