Carper, Kaufman Announce Federal Funding to Help Youth with Disabilities Find Employment

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (Both D-Del.) are pleased to announce an award of $1.49 Million for the Delaware Department of Labor to help youth with disabilities seek out and obtain employment. The grant, from the U.S. Department of Labor, will fund the Disability Employment Initiative’s (DEI) Team Approach to Reaching Goals through Education and Training (TARGET) Youth Empowerment Project. With a presence in both schools and youth-detention centers, TARGET will focus on the age group of fourteen to twenty-four-year-olds. TARGET will use training as well as self-employment strategies to help young people with disabilities get and keep employment.

“In order to strengthen Delaware’s economy, we must ensure that all Delawareans, including our young people with disabilities, possess the skills necessary to successfully navigate our increasingly competitive job market,” said U.S. Sen. Carper. “This funding will enable the Disability Employment Initiative’s TARGET Program to help these young people receive the training and assistance they need to find and maintain long-term employment.”

“It’s important that everyone, especially young folks with disabilities, is able to get the help they need in today’s job market,” said U.S. Sen. Kaufman. “The Department of Labor’s DEI Program will help youth begin and continue meaningful careers.”