Empowering Antelope Valley Youth Through Workforce and Wellness

Youth economic advancement

Antelope Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) recognizes that youth in the Antelope Valley—particularly low-income, BIPOC, justice-impacted, and housing-insecure youth—face significant barriers to economic opportunity. These challenges include limited access to job training, few pathways to jobs, underinvestment in local youth infrastructure, and the ongoing impact of trauma, poverty, and systemic inequality. Many young people lack both the hard skills and wraparound support systems necessary to succeed in today’s world, and rural geography further isolates them from regional opportunities. AVPH understands that economic advancement must go beyond training and employment—it requires healing, empowerment, and equity-centered investment. That’s why AVPH approaches youth economic advancement holistically, integrating trauma-informed care, mental health supports, and community-rooted career pathways to ensure that young people are not just job-ready but life-ready - starting in high school.

Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) will launch the Empowering Antelope Valley Youth Through Workforce and Wellness, a trauma-informed, equity-driven initiative designed to advance economic mobility for underserved youth ages 16–24. The program will provide a cohort-based model of training, mentorship, skill development, supportive services, and mental health support to empower youth.
Over a 12-month period, participants will receive:
Training (Hard Skills): Hands-on job readiness workshops, industry exposure (e.g., warehouse, social services), resume support, mock interviews, and skill development.
Paid Internships: Placements internally, and with local businesses/nonprofits, offering work experience to build economic resilience.
Financial Literacy & Life Skills: Interactive sessions on budgeting, credit, taxes, and independent living skills.
Mental Health & Mentorship: Access to mental health professionals and one-on-one mentoring to support emotional well-being, goal setting, and personal growth.
In partnership with local high schools, Antelope Valley College, and employers, AVPH will identify youth who are disconnected from school, foster, systems impacted, or facing barriers such as trauma. Youth will receive stipends for participation, transportation assistance, and support with basic needs—ensuring equitable access regardless of circumstance. The program will be housed at AVPH’s new permanent headquarters in Lancaster, a central hub for youth.

If successful, AVPH’s proposed project will transform the AV into a model for inclusive youth economic advancement. Dozens of youth will gain more than just training and jobs—they will gain confidence, purpose, and the support systems necessary to thrive. By addressing both the economic and emotional challenges young people face, this program will help break intergenerational cycles of poverty, reduce unemployment, and strengthen community resilience in a underserved regions. This initiative will amplify and build upon AVPH’s past and current youth programs, including Ready to Rise, CACHI, and Elevate Youth, which offer trauma-informed case management, mentorship, and youth leadership development. While these programs provide critical emotional and behavioral support, the proposed project adds a new and essential dimension: training and stipends. Together, these offerings create a comprehensive ecosystem—supporting youth not only to survive adversity but to lead and build futures.