Bill Overview
Title: YouthBuild for the Future Act
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and revises the YouthBuild program, including by (1) extending from 12 to 24 months the permissible period during which program participants may receive supportive services after completing training, and (2) allowing grantees to count YouthBuild funds toward the matching requirement for National and Community Service grant programs.
Sponsors: Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
Target Audience
Population: Youth who are potential participants in the YouthBuild program worldwide
Estimated Size: 35000
- YouthBuild is a program that targets young people, typically between the ages of 16 to 24, who are from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds and are school dropouts.
- The program provides education and employment skills, along with leadership development and community service.
- Reauthorizing and revising the program will likely impact all current and future participants through FY2028, expanding their access to supportive services for up to 24 months after completing training.
- The provision allowing YouthBuild funds to count toward the matching requirement for other grant programs could enable increased capacity or resources for grantees, potentially expanding the program’s reach.
Reasoning
- The YouthBuild for the Future Act extends supportive services which may lead to improved long-term outcomes for youth participants.
- The target demographic is young, low-income individuals who have dropped out of school, primarily ages 16-24.
- A budget of $150 million in year 1 will allow for reaching several thousand participants given average costs associated with education and skills programs.
- Not all individuals in the target population will experience significant change; however, those who leverage the extended services post-training are likely to see improvements in wellbeing.
- Some participants might not be directly affected due to varied personal circumstances pre- and post-program involvement.
Simulated Interviews
Unemployed (Detroit, MI)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy will help me secure stable housing after training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Part-time retail (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The program could be a stepping stone to a better job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Volunteer (Houston, TX)
Age: 17 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- YouthBuild’s support could help me get skills for a better job market.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Barista (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 20 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An extra year of support services could be a game-changer for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Construction apprentice (Chicago, IL)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Extension of services could be useful, but I’m mostly interested in job placements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Fast food employee (Miami, FL)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy will help many like me stay on track longer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Currently not working (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 16 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m unsure, but any support might redirect my current path.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Part-time web designer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change sounds beneficial but less relevant for someone who’s already completed the structure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Freelance artist (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope to see increased job offers post-program.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Street vendor (New York, NY)
Age: 19 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The extended support is crucial for stability and progress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $130000000, High: $170000000)
Year 2: $155000000 (Low: $135000000, High: $175000000)
Year 3: $160000000 (Low: $140000000, High: $180000000)
Year 5: $170000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $190000000)
Year 10: $190000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $210000000)
Year 100: $250000000 (Low: $230000000, High: $270000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill extends the duration of supportive services, necessitating additional funding for these services.
- Flexibility in funding towards matching requirements could result in increased program engagement and subsequent scaling.
- YouthBuild has a proven track record, but scaling such a program brings the risk of diminishing marginal returns if the integration of services does not sufficiently meet all expanded participant needs.