YouthCare’s newest workforce development program launched last month with expanded employment skills training

“We are thrilled to launch our newest vocational program: the Customer Service Training Program! Each year, we will be offering multiple 6-week cohorts during which young people will learn essential customer service skills, with a focus on retail, hospitality, call center, and food and beverage industries. We are grateful to our partners, such as the Seattle Kraken, for joining us in supporting these young people as they work to gain skills and employment in the customer service field.”

Audra Laymon, Senior Director of Engagement and Workforce Services

Young adults ages 18-24 interested in gaining customer service skills and experiences can join the program–no experience necessary! Participants are paid a bi-weekly stipend as they work through 4 weeks of workforce readiness and technical skills training. They can expect to learn cash handling, food handling, barista skills, customer service, resume writing, interview skills, and financial literacy. Once training is complete, participants engage in a two-week paid internship with one of our community partners–Seattle Kraken, AllBirds, Happy Feet Soccer, and Fran’s Chocolates, to name a few.

The Customer Service Training program is a natural evolution of YouthCare’s former Youth & Young Adult Barista Program. The Barista Program was popular for many years, sustained by the support of local coffee shops, who partnered with YouthCare to provide internships and employment to program participants. This new program expands on and diversifies what was offered in the Barista Program to include an exploration of hospitality, food service, and other customer service industries, offering youth a wider variety of both skills and experiences to apply to the workforce upon graduation.

We are delighted to add this expanded training to our repertoire of vocational programs that promote long-term stability and empower young adults to achieve their potential. Our growing community partnerships within our employment programs create an ever-widening net of support and empowerment for our youth. If you are a local business interested in learning more about partnering with YouthCare in this way, please contact Tess at tess.sebastian@youthcare.org.

For more information on signing up to participate as a student in the program, please contact Spencer at spencer.anderson@youthcare.org.

For more information on the Customer Service Training Program, visit this page.