The Five Hills Health Region Transitions to Employment project received funding from the federal and provincial governments on Monday. Palliser member of Parliament Ray Boughen announced that the federal government will help support Moose Jaw youth who face barriers to employment by providing the initiative with $238,242.

"It can be difficult for young people to get jobs if they lack education and formal training," said Boughen. "With help from (the program), youth in this community are gaining the very necessary knowledge and expertise to move forward."

The federal funding is provided through Skills Link. The Skills Link is part of the federal government's strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. The plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development. "This funding will help youth gain employment skills and break down unemployment barriers," said Boughen.

The program provides pre-employment support to young people aged from 15 to 30 years. "We are protecting the jobs of today while we prepare people for the economy and jobs of tomorrow," said Boughen. "We are proud to help youth gain the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential."

Moose Jaw North MLA Warren Michelson also announced the provincial government will be contributing $70,000 to the program through CanSask. "The program provides vital training to youth that will allow them access to the labour market," said Michelson.

The Transitions to Employment program has been offered in the local Five Hills Health Region since 2001. "We have 60 youth altogether that will be going through the group-based program and will benefit from the funding we received today," said Five Hills Director of Child and Youth Services Mary Lee Booth.

Students who enter the program are referred through agencies and school divisions. "We get most of our referrals from probation services, Social Services and youth corrections," said Booth. "These are folks who could benefit from life skills and employability skills."

Youth who are referred are assessed and interviewed before entering the program. "We help the youth access the resources that they need so they have a better chance at being successful," said Booth.

Justin Hammer, a program facilitator for the Transitions to Employment program, said a lot of the students in the program are kinesthetic learners and learn by doing, not just by seeing. "We try and stay away from the school model and facilitate as much interactive learning as we can provide," said Hammer.