Income Assistance / First Nation Youth Employment Strategy (IAFNYES) is a pilot project under the Social Development Program for the 2021-22 fiscal year with the possibility of extension to 2022-23 fiscal year. This is a partnership between Indigenous Services Canada’s (ISC) First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy (FNIYES) and Income Assistance (IA) programs under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS). By providing youth with mentored work placements and related supports, this initiative complements the existing Pre-Employment Supports (PES) program and will address one of the key Social Development objectives of reducing dependency on Income Assistance (IA) in Nuu-chah-nulth communities.
Opportunity The IAFNYES program provides the opportunity to empower and inspire youth through this unique new mentored work experience program. The IAFNYES initiative complements and strengthens existing Social Development program delivery by specifically addressing the 18-30 age group of community members on Income Assistance. IAFNYES fosters relationships between partner organizations and expands the community connections and opportunities of Nuu-chah-nulth youth participants, as they continue on the path toward their employment and education goals.
- Eligible community members for IAFNYES mentored work placements are youth between the ages of 18-30 living on-reserve, who are receiving Income Assistance (IA).
- The IAFNYES initiative will provide 100% of the wage subsidies for non-profit sector employers and 50% of wage subsidies for private sector employers to hire and retain First Nation youth through mentored work placements.
- This funding will directly support youth by covering costs of wages, as well as additional expenditures related to mentored work-placement experience including travel, room & board, childcare, criminal record check, and work gear.
The objectives of the IAFNYES are to:
- provide short term work placements for youth to increase their access to more permanent employment opportunities;
- support the development and enhancement of essential employability skills;
- promote the benefits of education as key to labour market participation;
- introduce youth to a variety of career options;
- support access to services to help youth transition to and remain in the workforce; and
- reduce long term dependency on IA.
Social Development’s IAFNYES project provides case management and client supports the 11 Pre-Employment Supports Nations:
- Ahousaht
- Ditidaht
- Ehattesaht
- Hesquiaht
- Hupacasath
- Kyuquot/Checklesaht
- Mowachaht/Muchalaht
- Nuchatlaht
- Tla-o-qui-aht
- Tseshaht
- Ucluelet
The FES program provides the opportunity to empower and inspire youth through this unique new mentored work experience program. The FES initiative complements and strengthens existing NETP program delivery by specifically addressing the 18-30 age group of community members living off reserve and not on income assistance. Persons with disabilities (PWD) and women up to the ages of 65 are also eligible for the employment subsidy. FES fosters relationships between partner organizations and expands the community connections and opportunities of Nuu-chah-nulth youth participants, as they continue the path toward their employment and education goals.
- Eligible community members for FES mentored work placements are youth between the ages of 18-30 living off-reserve, who are not on income assistance.
- The FES initiative will provide 100% of the wage subsidies for non-profit sector employers and 100% of wage subsidies for private sector employers to hire and retain First Nation youth through mentored work placements.
- This funding will directly support youth by covering costs of wages, as well as additional expenditures related to mentored work-placement experience including travel, room & board, childcare, criminal record check, and work gear.
Contact:
Dianna Harris Loudon
Income Assistance First Nations Youth Employment Strategy (IAFNYES) Program Coordinator
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
PO Box 1383 (5001 Mission Rd.), Port Alberni, BC V9Y 7M2
O: 778.421.8707|C: 250.735.1633
E: dianna.harrisloudon@nuuchahnulth.org
Vacant, Employment Subsidy Program Coordinator
IAFNYES and Nuu-chah-nulth Employment and Training Program (NETP)
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
