Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) is proud to announce the beginning of the Breakthrough Youth (BY) program in five Maine counties, including Aroostook. BY is a service designed program to help individuals age 14-24 acquire the tools needed to succeed into adulthood. Led by ACAP, in cooperation with Penquis CAP and Downeast Community Partners, the program is available in Aroostook, Hancock, Washington, Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties.
The youth involved in this program will develop a strong sense of community with their fellow participants as they learn critical skills. The program offers strategies to better their personal health, safety, resilience, work force readiness, career success, financial literacy, and economic stability. Through four components carried out over 12 two-hour sessions, youth will work with evidence-based activities to: build necessary soft skills for employment and workplace leadership, learn financial literacy skills, explore career opportunities, access prevention services, and become educated on preventing unplanned pregnancies and STIs.
“My goal for Breakthrough Youth is to empower young people in Aroostook County to build skills that will give them a leg up in becoming successful adults, while building a strong sense of community and having a great time, “ said Brynn Wilcox, ACAP Community Educator for ACAP.
The four components of BY are: Money Start – teaches personal finance basics such as opening checking accounts and apartment budgeting; Soft Skills to Pay the Bills – which uses hands on activities to teach interpersonal skills that improve work performance; Prime for Life – helps youth understand preventative measures of drug and alcohol related problems; Making Proud Choices – provides information about affirmative consent as well as contraceptive use to prevent unplanned pregnancies and STIs.
Participants can expect to connect with peers in a relaxed environment. Those who register will also be able to identify a resource to assist them in achieving their career goals up to $100. In Aroostook County, MSAD 1 Adult and Community Education has a new session in Presque Isle that runs from 5:00 – 7:00 pm and starts on January 26, 2022. To register, visit: msad1.maineadulted.org/classes/ or call ACAP at 207-764-3721. There is also a session at PI Housing Authority in the Community Room which begins on February 1, 2022 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. Please e-mail prevention@acap-me.org or call 207-764-3721 for registration.
