Positive Youth Development I Diana Hammer, Youth Development Educator
Life Skills Launchpad is a program designed to prepare young people for managing their finances and making big life decisions such as buying a vehicle, finding work, paying for education, navigating housing and paying their bills.
Young people in Wisconsin are facing increasingly complex financial decisions at an earlier age, yet many lack the knowledge and confidence needed to successfully navigate these choices. From selecting a financial institution and managing credit to understanding the costs of postsecondary education, transportation, housing, and everyday living expenses, youth are expected to make decisions that can have long-term impacts on their financial well-being and future opportunities. At the same time, employers, educators, and communities recognize the importance of equipping young people with practical life and money management skills that support successful transitions into adulthood.
To address these needs, Diana led a five-day series in Sheboygan County Juvenile Detention on August 24-28. 12 youth in grades 8-11 participated in lessons on buying a vehicle, career skills assessment (Holland’s Code), career exploration, renting an apartment, and understanding money personalities. Diana set the tone for the class using inclusive group processes to build trust, safety, and mutual respect. Additionally, state 4-H STEM Specialist Joanna Skluzacek led activities for social-emotional learning using Lego blocks.
Highlights from the participant program evaluation include:
- 7 felt it’s important to be passionate about the work they do.
- 8 felt this program helped them explore future career options.
- 8 felt encouraged to plan for the future.
- 8 felt that adults in the program cared about them.
- 8 felt safe in the program.
- 8 felt liked by others in the program.
- 6 felt the program helped them explore future career options.
But in their own words, participants shared these take aways:
- Be careful who you rent from and the more expensive houses aren’t better.
- Don’t just look at one job or house. Look at more than one.
- It’s a lot more to housing than face front
- What jobs would I like: Welding and mechanics
- house/rent: smaller houses are smart because of your budget
- look at rent and ask to get an estimate & price
- I learned I’m a stockpiler. I like to save my money and not spend.
- I learned my strengths and what I like to do