Hamilton County is one of five counties in Ohio trying out a program that pays bonuses to young adults for keeping a job.
The Wage Pathway Program helps low-income, low-skilled people ages 18 to 24 find a job and keep it. The goal is to help them gain financial stability and job experience so they can take the next step to a better job and self sufficiency.
Section Chief April Barker is happy we’re involved. She likes that the program is a switch from the usual model of training a person first, then helping them find a job. This way, she said, people are more interested in working because they’re seeing decent money right away.
“It’s quick,” she said. “You don’t have to work a year to see something.”
Two of our providers, Santa Maria and ResCare, will enroll youth in the program and monitor them for eligibility for incentives. Youth can earn up to $3,000.
The program is funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Check back here for more details.
