New Cohort Begins on September 13, 2021

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What is Youthbuild

Dorothy Stoneman started the first YouthBuild program in East Harlem in 1978. Her vision was to get young people off the street and rehabilitate rundown buildings in the city. YouthBuild later received federal funding to help guide the process of replicating and scaling up the YouthBuild program throughout the United States. There are now 274 YouthBuild programs in 45 states, Washington, DC, and the Virgin Islands. One hundred thousand YouthBuild students have built 20,000 units of affordable, increasingly green, housing since 1994.

Bethany Christian Services has offered a YouthBuild program to Grand Rapids since 2011. It is designed to help teens and young adults ages 18 to 24 take the next step toward their own success.

What We Offer

GED Prep

The GED classroom environment and curriculum are developed by the onsite YouthBuild GED instructor and aided by the Kaplan GED Test Prep Guide.  GED preparation occurs four days a week with three-hour blocks of time.  Each day covers all four subjects for GED tests with 45-minute sessions (Math, Science, Social Studies, Langauage Arts).  Our GED Instructor adapts his lessons to be relevant to job training and everyday life.

Additionally, one-on-one tutoring is also available with the YouthBuild GED instructor or volunteer tutors.  GED class and tutoring are each available both virtually and in-person.

“Dave will find ways to explain stuff to you.  He will sift through things until he finds a way to help you learn it.”

Kaleb, Cohort 10

Case Management

The YouthBuild Grand Rapids case management services assist students in developing the skills required for success in the program and beyond. Case management provides the structure for helping students with education, employment, and training needs. Case management works with students on their personal barriers that may jeopardize the completion of the YouthBuild program or the transitioning into the workplace or secondary education and training. The case management system facilitates the achievement of the student’s educational, employment, and personal goals.

Additionally, students receive follow up services for one year after successful completion of the YouthBuild program. Follow up services include, but are not limited to employment development and placement, assistance with post-secondary education, transportation assistance, and internship/job shadow assistance.  As a part of follow up services with YouthBuild, students are asked to continue monthly contact with both case managers, provide paycheck stubs monthly and provide an education schedule.

“YouthBuild helped me change my life for the better, motivated me to do things I never thought were possible, and help me overcome obstacles that seemed too big to conquer on my own.” 

Alexis, Cohort 10

Stipends and Incentives

We understand that life carries on even while students are coming to our daily programming, so we cover the cost of testing and transportation (bus passes). Not only is the cost covered, but students can also earn a daily stipend and weekly perfect attendance bonuses. Students can earn additional bonuses through passing GED tests and credential attainment in the program.