U.S.

grant aids job hunt for younger parents

BY LINDSAY RUEBENS

LITTLE ROCK — Five months ago, 20-year old Antoinette Racy, was homeless and became a
single mother.

Now, she’s off the streets and will start attending Baptist Health Schools Little Rock for nursing
in two weeks.

“I’m just so excited,” Racy said.

Racy’s turnaround was made possible by money from a 3-year, $848,452 grant to the Little
Rock Workforce Investment Board through the Young Parents Demonstration Grant Program.

The group announced Thursday at a news conference that it had received the money.W.J.
Monagle, executive director of the Workforce Investment Board, said that even though the grant
was given in June 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor, the grant donor, has been very
particular about ironing out details before announcing information.

“We are very, very happy and elated to receive this grant,” he said.

The money will be split between three groups to help teach parents from the age of 16 to 24
about different trades, finding jobs and providing medical care for their children.

Arbor Education and Training, which is a provider in 20 states of work-force development

services, will receive $537,031 from the grant.

Monagle said that most of the money Arbor receives will go toward professionals who help
participants with the educational track they choose. He said Arbor will use the money to pay for
other education costs, such as paying for Racy’s nursing-school tuition.

Arbor also has plans, Monagle said, for some companies to provide job training and then to pay
for half of a person’s salary for a certain amount of time.

The Centers for Youth and Families, an Arkansas-based nonprofit that provides help for
emotionally and behaviorally troubled youth and prevention services to at-risk youth, will receive
$238,634 from the grant.

Monagle said the organization will use funds to help provide transportation for young parents, to
ensure they are aware of how to access health care and to conduct home visits to make sure
the children are living in safe and healthy conditions.

The Little Rock Workforce Investment Board, a workforce-development organization for low-
income youth, will receive $72,787 to administer the grant.

Yolanda Williams, Racy’s personal mentor through the program, sat next to Racy at the news
conference.

Williams met Racy in April, and she said Racy typically calls her four to five times a day with
questions ranging from how she’s going to pay for schoolbooks to what workshops are available
to attend.

“She calls me around the clock,” Williams said with a smile. “But that’s what I’m here for, to build
her up and encourage her.”
Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, who also spoke at the news conference, said there are many
job-related opportunities young parents can receive through programs from this grant,
mentioning the nation’s need for workers in health fields.
This article was published June 25, 2010 at 4:32 a.m.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 06/25/2010