THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM IN THE SOLUTION OF RURAL YOUTH MANPOWER PROBLEMS.

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Agricultural Education; Agricultural Laborers; Community Action; Cooperative Programs; Financial Support; Human Resources; Information Centers; Labor Market; Labor Needs; Labor Utilization; Occupational Information; Off Farm Agricultural Occupations; On the Job Training; Rural Environment; Rural Schools; Rural Urban Differences; Rural Youth; Technological Advancement; Unemployment; Vocational Training Centers

SUBSTANTIAL POVERTY IN RURAL AREAS HAS BEEN CAUSED BY UNEMPLOYMENT DUE TO THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION WHICH HAS MECHANIZED AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN THE EXCLUSIVE DOMAIN OF THE FARM LABORER. A WELL-ORGANIZED COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM PROVIDES A MEANS OF EFFECTIVELY COMBATING THE RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT WHICH IS ESPECIALLY HIGH AMONG YOUTH. SUGGESTIONS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM INCLUDE--(1) AN INFORMATION CENTER TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION CONCERNING EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, (2) A PERIODICALLY UPDATED SURVEY OF COMMUNITY, INDIVIDUAL, AND INDUSTRIAL NEEDS, (3) A REFERRAL SERVICE TO PLACE THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE JOB FOR WHICH HE IS BEST PREPARED, OR TO REFER HIM TO THE PROPER PROGRAM FOR FURTHER TRAINING, (4) A COMPREHENSIVE VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN SUCH AREAS AS AGRICULTURE AND RURAL NON-FARM OCCUPATIONS WHICH ARE DEVELOPING ON RURAL FRINGES OF URBAN AREAS, (5) A JOB DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO INITIATE THEIR OWN SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAMS, (6) AN ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH WHO ARE UNABLE TO RETURN TO SCHOOL, AND, (7) A MULTI-COUNTY PROGRAM IN REGIONS WHERE THE SPARSE POPULATION WOULD RENDER LOCAL PROGRAMS IMPRACTICAL. (DA)

1968

ED020068