Blog

The Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth)—which is managed by CSG under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy—seeks to improve employment outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities by helping states build capacity in their youth service delivery and workforce systems. As part of this, we also showcase the promise of young leaders whose efforts are already helping build a more inclusive future workforce.

By Elise Gurney

Governments and school districts across the country are determining how to effectively adapt to COVID-19 and mitigate its effects on student learning and well-being. In particular, they are determining how to design and implement distance learning that meets the needs of all students, including traditionally underserved students who are facing even greater obstacles to learning amid COVID-19. This includes working to provide students with the resources they need to engage in remote learning; supporting teachers in their remote instruction; and addressing the additional social and emotional challenges students may face as a result of the pandemic. While these efforts require engagement and coordination across a range of stakeholders, there are particular areas that benefit most from coordinated state government action, as opposed to piecemeal local initiatives.

 by Dean Farmer

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a massive increase in unemployment throughout the United States. Youth with disabilities transitioning into the workforce were especially impacted by the economic downturn brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the unemployment rate among youth with disabilities ages 16-19 reached 31.2% in July, compared to the 18.8% July unemployment rate of all youth ages 16-19, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Every year, state leaders, policymakers and advocates recognize September as National Suicide Prevention Month. According to data from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Americans ages 10-34, the fourth leading cause of death for ages 35-54 and the eighth leading cause of death for ages 55-64. As suicide rates continue to climb, states across the country have taken steps to reduce the number of deaths by suicide and provide access to mental health care prevention and treatment services, particularly for youth.