Youth Engagement, Skills, and Resilience Act
Prepare young people ages 13-21 for success. This law gives employers tax credits up to $5,000 for hiring youth apprentices. It funds job training in the trades. It teaches young people how to navigate social media and AI safely. Peer mentors help with cyberbullying and digital wellness. Community service builds real-world skills. Pay-for-Success means taxpayers only pay for programs that work. 10-year sunset.
🎯 What This Act Does
Preparing youth ages 13-21 for work, life, and the digital world
Workforce Training
Tax credits for employers who hire youth apprentices. Pre-apprenticeship programs for ages 14-18. Virtual reality training for welding, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and construction. Real skills for real jobs.
Digital Resilience
Teach young people how social media algorithms work. Help them understand AI. Build skills to spot manipulation and fake content. Balance screen time with real life.
Peer Mentorship
Train older teens (16-21) as Digital Ambassadors to help younger students. Stop cyberbullying through peer support. Build confidence and help-seeking skills. Adult coordinators supervise.
Face-to-Face Service
Encourage 40+ hours of in-person community service before graduation. Help at senior centers, food pantries, disaster relief. Build real connections and soft skills. States get bonus funding.
💵 Employer Tax Credits & Training Grants
Incentives to hire and train young workers
Youth Apprentice Tax Credit
Employers get up to $5,000 per year for hiring youth apprentices ages 16-21. Credit available for each of the first 3 years of apprenticeship. Youth must be in registered apprenticeship and enrolled in school.
Pre-Apprenticeship Grants
$75 million per year for pre-apprenticeship programs serving ages 14-18. VR/AR training equipment. Job shadowing. Multiple trade rotations before specialization. Pathway to registered apprenticeships.
Digital Ambassador Grants
$50 million per year for Digital Ambassador programs in schools. Train peer mentors. Curriculum on AI literacy, cyberbullying, and digital wellness. Adult coordinators to supervise.
📱 Digital Resilience & AI Literacy
Teaching young people to navigate the digital world safely
Algorithm Awareness
Understand how social media captures your attention. Learn how recommendations and notifications are designed to keep you scrolling. Recognize FOMO and manipulation.
AI Literacy
Learn what AI can and can't do. Spot deepfakes and AI-generated content. Understand algorithmic bias. Use AI responsibly for learning while valuing human creativity.
Cyberbullying Prevention
Bystander intervention training. How to support victims. Document and report incidents. Change social norms online. Protect yourself and others.
Screen-Life Balance
Manage time between screens and real life. Sleep, exercise, friends, and school come first. Self-monitoring tools. Limit-setting strategies. Build habits that last.
🤝 Digital Ambassador Corps
Trained peer mentors helping younger students navigate digital life
Peer Mentors (Ages 16-21)
Older teens trained as Digital Ambassadors. They mentor younger students on digital citizenship. Monthly sessions during school year. Leadership experience for college and jobs.
Mentees (Ages 13-15)
Younger students get peer support from Digital Ambassadors. At least one session per month. Easier to talk to someone close to your age. Help when things get tough online.
Adult Supervision
Licensed counselors and social workers supervise the program. One Adult Guidance Coordinator per 20 peer mentors. Crisis intervention support. Professional oversight.
Help-Seeking Skills
Learn to recognize when you need help. Overcome barriers to asking. Identify trusted peers and adults. Know when to escalate to professionals. Seeking help is strength.
Self-Confidence Building
Build self-worth independent of social media likes. Handle criticism without falling apart. Tell the difference between feedback and harassment. Real confidence from real achievements.
Ambassador Benefits
Digital Ambassadors get leadership credentials for college apps. Academic credit or service hours. Training builds their own skills too. Resume-ready experience.
🌱 Face-to-Face Service Learning
In-person volunteer service builds real skills and community connection
Senior Centers
Volunteer with older adults. Intergenerational connections. Learn from experience. Build empathy and communication skills across generations.
Food Pantries & Shelters
Help at soup kitchens, food banks, and homeless shelters. Real work that helps real people. Understand your community's needs.
Community beautification. Trail building. Habitat restoration. Work together outdoors. Make your community better.
Help coach younger kids in sports. Learn leadership by teaching others. Build confidence. Give back to your community.
👷 Who This Helps
Young people ages 13-21 and the employers who train them
👨🎓 Youth Ages 13-21
If you're 13-21, this law helps you. Job training in real trades. Digital skills for the AI age. Peer support when online gets hard. Service that looks good on applications. A path to good careers.
Ages 13-21🔧 Trade Employers
Get $5,000 per year tax credits for hiring youth apprentices. Pre-apprenticeship programs send trained young workers your way. Fill the 2 million skilled trades jobs gap. Train the next generation.
$5,000 Tax CreditApprenticeship tax credits work for you through age 21. Get paid while you learn. Registered apprenticeships lead to certified careers. College alternative with real earning power.
Earn While You Learn$50 million per year for Digital Ambassador programs. Train students to help students. Evidence-based curriculum. Adult coordinator support. Address the youth mental health crisis through peer power.
Peer Programs