The School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) works with youth with a documented or suspected disability to begin career exploration, to prepare to enter the workforce, and to gain confidence in making decisions about the future.

SWAP participants meet before, during, or after school to engage in a variety of activities that include:

• Interest and abilities assessments
• Job readiness and training
• Job search activities
• Workplace tours
• Job skills practice
• Resume and cover letter writing
• Mock interviews

Woven into all activities is an emphasis on developing essential workplace skills, such as communication, social skills, timeliness, commitment to work, willingness to learn, and accountability.

The SWAP program is made possible through a partnership with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

Potential Youth Participants

SWAP is available to youth ages 15 - 24 who have a 504 Plan or an Individual Education Plan, or a suspected disability. Successful SWAP students have a strong desire to learn more about the world of work and are committed to a minimum of four activities each year. Out-of-school youth will have more involvement while actively pursuing employment, work-related education, or training. For application information, email SWAP@weldre4.org.

Potential Business Partners

“Working with SWAP has been extremely beneficial to me and to my business. I would gladly recommend SWAP to other businesses and will be using them again in the future!”

— Mike Brady, Pelican Jo’s Pizza

If you’re a business owner and are interested in partnering with SWAP, consider getting involved through hosting mock interviews, providing workplace tours, partnering with work experiences to help build work skills, being a guest speaker, serving on an Advisory Board, or recruiting employees. Potential business partners can reach out to swap@weldre4.org with the subject line “New Business Partner.”