Project Empower and Employ
Project Empower and Employ (EMP2) is a community-engaged study designed to create equitable employment opportunities for transition-age youth with disabilities who have or are at-risk of justice involvement.
Who We Serve
“At-risk” youth are those who face individual, community, and systemic challenges such as chronic absenteeism and/or truancy, poverty, and unemployment—factors known to increase the likelihood of justice involvement. EMP2 aims to proactively address these barriers.
Our Approach
EMP2 is an evidence-based, preventative program integrated into school curricula to equip eligible youth with essential employment skills post-graduation. EMP2 offers:
- Soft Skills Training: Enhancing communication, problem-solving, and teamwork abilities.
- Employment Readiness Preparation: Resume building, interview skills, and job search strategies.
- Positive Psychology Intervention: Strengthening resilience and personal growth.
- Peer Mentoring: Providing peer support and encouragement.
- Work Experience Opportunities: On the job experiences to develop practical skills.
- Wrap-Around Services: Holistic support to ensure long-term success.
Conducting focus groups with youth and professionals to shape program.
Testing and refining the program with small youth cohorts.
Finalizing the program and sharing it with a broader audience.
Our Team
Learn more about the team members behind EMP2.
Our Partners
EMP2 is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and is part of a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) program. The project is led by the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor School of Social Work, in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University.
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