YouthBuild Elizabeth Offers GED and Construction Training

According to the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth's YouthBuild Elizabeth page and TAPinto Elizabeth's report.

Young adults who want to earn a GED and learn a trade have a new class group starting this fall.

YouthBuild Elizabeth will begin classes Monday, Nov. 2, according to TAPinto Elizabeth. Classes meet Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Housing Authority's program page says it serves young adults ages 16 to 24 who live in Elizabeth.

The Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth, known as HACE, runs the program. Its program page says YouthBuild Elizabeth is funded in part by a U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration grant. TAPinto describes the goal as helping young adults build the skills, knowledge and confidence they need for school and work.

Students get individual help with math, reading and writing as they prepare for the GED. HACE says participants can receive six months of classroom GED instruction. Construction training follows the National Center for Construction Education and Research curriculum and covers safety, construction math, hand and power tools, and career paths in the trade.

The program also offers résumé help, interview practice, job search support and connections with employers. Case managers help with goal setting and finding benefits and resources. HACE also lists Certified Nursing Assistant training, with training and apprenticeship placement through Trinitas Regional Medical Center, RWJ Barnabas Health. HACE says participants who earn national certifications can work as paid apprentices.

HACE encourages young adults ages 16 to 24 who want to earn a high school diploma through the GED to apply, especially residents of the Bayway area. HACE's FAQ page says the program has no cost for eligible participants. HACE says stipends are available for meals, transportation, community service and job training.

To get started, HACE asks people to contact the program and fill out its YouthBuild Elizabeth interest form. Applicants then attend an orientation that lasts two weeks, where they complete an application and take entrance exams.

An orientation was held Oct. 19. Neither source says whether people who missed it can still join the Nov. 2 class, where classes meet, or whether there is an enrollment deadline. For answers, call Director Maurice McClain at 908-965-2400 ext. 131 or email mmclain@hacenj.com. The HACE office is at 688 Maple Ave.

For young adults thinking about the next step, a call to the program before Nov. 2 is the place to start.

Find more Elizabeth events, businesses, and local news on Union County Life.

Source: Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth, HACE YouthBuild FAQ and TAPinto Elizabeth

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