Linking Innovation, Knowledge, and Employment (@LIKE) Program

The @LIKE program provided life coaching, career exploration, education, employment, and work readiness preparation. @LIKE provided youth with trained life coaches who focused on personal goals and helped youth build self-efficacy to solve problems and work toward their individual goals. Career exploration included activities such as exploring interest, setting goals, developing portfolios, and career decision making. Education opportunities included GED preparation, adult basic education, vocational training, apprenticeships, and postsecondary education for certificates and other credentials. Employment activities included job shadowing, paid work experience, internships, and on-the-job training. All participants had to complete and receive the ACT, Inc.’s National Career Readiness Certificate. In addition to life coaches, @LIKE participants also had case managers who were responsible for coordinating service needs and helping them meet program requirements. @LIKE participants were able to proceed through the program at their own pace and determine their own goals with assistance from life coaches and case managers. @LIKE program staff were responsible for following up with youth 30, 60, 90, and up to 180 days after they left the program to see whether they were still employed or enrolled in school. As of 2020, @LIKE continues to offer similar services to eligible participants. To be eligible for the program, youth could not be in school, working, or serving in the armed forces, and they had to have low income, be gang-involved, have prior justice system involvement, receive public assistance, or be a recently separated veteran. @LIKE was implemented in Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties in southern California.