June 23, 2025 3:20 a.m.

The Boys & Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley has been awarded a $90,000 Community Health Improvement Plan grant from Umpqua Health Alliance to launch a pilot Youth Workforce Development program for students in 4th through 8th grade.

A release said the 2YWD initiative will begin in summer 2025 with a new Workforce Wednesdays series designed to introduce students to a wide range of local career opportunities, including in healthcare, manufacturing and natural resources. The program will leverage the club’s existing STEAM and summer camp structure to build career awareness and skill development in a hands-on, engaging environment.

Funding from the grant will support transportation to off-site career exploration experiences, purchase necessary supplies, and help establish a sustainable program model that will extend into the school year.

The program aims to address a critical need in the community: keeping young people engaged in their own future planning at a pivotal stage The release said research has shown that 4th-8th graders are among the most vulnerable to disengagement from long-term educational and career goals. By fostering early exposure to local pathways and providing age-appropriate guidance, the club hopes to increase long-term engagement, school attendance, and workforce readiness.

In its first year, the pilot will serve members split between two grade-level cohorts, with plans to scale the program over time. Expansion efforts will include adding more age groups, extending services to outlying areas, and deepening collaboration with regional organizations such as Roseburg Public Schools, Umpqua Community College, Aviva Health and Adapt.

For more information about the Youth Workforce Development program or other initiatives at the Boys & Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley, go to: www.bgcuv.org or call 440-9505.