Youth Resources

U LEAD: Young Adult Employment Program

U LEAD (Learn, Earn, Attain, Develop) helps young adults, ages 14-24, prepare for future careers by helping them gain skills, confidence and expereince in the world of work. U LEAD participants work with employment counselors to reach their education and employment goals. While engaged with U LEAD, young adults can:

• Explore career options.
• Get assistance finishing high school, a GED or college.
• Apply for college and financial aide.
• Learn how to search for and secure a job.
• Get placed in a paid work experience for the summer.
• U LEAD Application (PDF)
• U LEAD 2017 Summer Application (PDF), U LEAD Youth 2017 Summer Employment Flyer (PDF), U LEAD Employer Summer Employment Flyer (PDF)

To learn more about eligibility visit job seeker services or call 651-770-4468. 

Youth Engagement Program

The Youth Engagement Program works with families of children, youth and teens who regularly skip school or have a history of running away. On referral, the program helps assess and resolve underlying family or mental health issues that contribute to running away and truancy. The program provides case management services, referrals to other mental health programs and resources for children and their families.

For more information, contact 651-266-4118.

Foster care

Ramsey County foster care is a temporary haven for children who cannot live safely in their own homes. The first goal of foster care is to keep children safe while supporting families' efforts to come back together. Most children who enter foster care in Ramsey County do return to their families. When families are not able to reunite, foster parents provide a safe, stable and nurturing home until a relative is found to care for the children. In some cases, foster families may be asked to provide a permanent home.

Learn more about foster care.