Youth Forward Program

Youth Forward is a free workforce program run by the Union County Department of Human Services in New Jersey for young people who want help reaching school and job goals. It is funded through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program, which serves low-income youth who face barriers to employment. High school students can join as in-school youth. Services can include paid and unpaid work experience, tutoring, occupational skills training, leadership development, financial literacy lessons, and help preparing for college or training. Participants can also receive adult mentoring and follow-up support for 12 months.

High school (in-school) applicants must be between 14 and 21 when they enroll, be low income, and meet at least one other condition, such as being an English language learner, homeless, in foster care, an offender, pregnant or parenting, having a disability, or needing additional assistance. Young people ages 16 to 24 who are not enrolled in any school can also qualify under separate rules as out-of-school youth. Applicants provide documents proving income and eligibility, such as benefits letters, pay stubs, or free lunch letters. Interested students can contact the program's career counselors for updates.