Harvard award recognizes innovative job-training program
The Ash Center for the Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) has named Works Wonders, a job-training and placement initiative for foster youth in Rhode Island, as this year’s winner of its Innovations in American Government Award. Works Wonders won the award, which comes with a $50,000 prize, for its success in combating socioeconomic inequality and expanding opportunities to foster youth who have aged out of or are on the verge of aging out of state care. A recent study showed that participants in the program have an 83 percent completion rate and a 58 percent increase in employment compared with foster youth not participating in the program. The initiative is part of Foster Forward, a Rhode Island nonprofit that supports foster youth and families. “Works Wonders is an outstanding program that helps foster kids in Rhode Island reach their full potential,” said the state’s governor, Gina Raimondo ’93. “Through a partnership...