Programs preparing at-risk youth for working life are essential for imparting life skills and creating better opportunities for integration into the labor market. The goals of the study were: (1) To learn from the literature about the characteristics of successful programs of this type, based on relevant comprehensive international studies and meta-analyses; (2) To examine one of Israel’s unique programs – Meitar-Susan’s House – in order to learn from it and strengthen it. A telephone survey was conducted among some 40 young people who graduated from the program 2-5 years earlier. The interviews included information on their personal and family characteristics, their experience at the program and their current situation in a variety of aspects.
Meitar-Susan’s House, implemented by the Youth Rehabilitation Service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA), is a rehabilitation-oriented occupational program for youths aged 15-18. It offers the possibility of paid work, as a means of rehabilitation, by creating and marketing decorative pieces and artwork. The youth experience a variety of departments where they learn the secrets of the trade, as well as life skills, soft skills and business basics.
The Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute conducted the study in 2016. The findings provide a broad perspective of the situation of the graduates and highlight the program’s strengths as well as areas requiring improvement.
The literature and the survey gave rise to the following insights:
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The literature indicates some 15 characteristics of successful programs focusing on preparation for working life, as laid out in the report.
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An examination of the outcomes among graduates, aged 19 to 25 at the time of the survey, revealed that:
– The graduates are highly oriented toward employment – most work for pay in a stable job.
– Although a considerable proportion of the graduates are contending with complex emotional difficulties, many demonstrated a high sense of self-efficacy, an ability to seek help when necessary and a positive view of the future.
– Their low level of education (only 28% have a full matriculation certificate) makes it difficult for them to find better employment. -
The findings of the survey and the literature review indicate a number of programmatic directions for improving the outcomes of the intervention.
The findings were presented to the study’s steering committee and will be presented in additional professional forums. They are assisting decision makers to formulate an informed policy to promote interventions of this type.
The study was conducted at the initiative of the Division of Research, Planning and Training in cooperation of the Youth Rehabilitation Service in the Division for Adolescents, Young Adults and Correctional Services at MOLSA, and funded with their assistance.
Citing suggestion: Ben Simon, B., & Kahan-Strawczynski, P. (2016). Youth Employment Programs: Lessons from the Literature and from Meitar-Susan’s House. RR-735-16. Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute. (Hebrew)