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Youth Workforce Programs

​Oregon Youth Works  

Oregon Youth Works is comprised of five workforce development grant programs housed within HECC’s Office of Workforce Investments.  

Oregon Conservation Corps (OCC)

​Senate Bill 762 (2021) established The Oregon Conservation Corps (OCC) Program for the purposes of reducing the risk wildfire poses to communities and critical infrastructure, create fire-adapted communities, and engaging youth and young adults in workforce training.  The OCC grants funding to organizations across the state to aid in reducing wildfire risk to communities while providing workforce training to the next generation of land managers.​​

Oregon Youth  Corps (OYC) 

The Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (OYC) provides grant funding, training and resources to youth-serving agencies across the state to create training and employment opportunities for Oregon youth.

The Summer Conservation Corps (SCC) is OYC’s largest state funded program, with the goal of having a local program in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. OYC​ also provides funding for youth work crews to complete projects throughout the state.

Oregon Youth Employment Program

The HECC received $9 million in 2021 to support the Oregon Youth Corps and implement the Oregon Youth Employment Program (OYEP). HB 2092 (2021) complemented the funding and modernized the program requirements.

​The purpose of the Oregon Youth Employment Program is to provide meaningful paid work experiences – such as internships, apprenticeships, summer jobs, etc. – and workforce preparation to youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24.

Department of Human Services (DHS) Youth Employment Program

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Youth Employment Program (YEP) is run year-round in order to create employment experiences for youth in the Job Opportunity and Basic Skills (JOBS) Program. The focus is on TANF eligible teen parents, non-parenting teens, young parents, and TANF related youth in the Child Welfare Independent Living Program and Vocational Rehabilitation Program between the ages of 16-24.

Oregon WIOA Youth Programs​ ​

The Oregon WIOA Youth Programs provides workforce development training opportunities to young people ages 14-24 through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Through WIOA, youth can gain valuable work skills through a variety of job opportunities such as job shadows, internships, and summer jobs.


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