Meridian, ID – Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick met today with members of the Idaho National Guard to discuss details of new legislation designed to benefit a program for high-school dropouts.
During a visit this morning to Gowen Field, Minnick discussed the “National Guard Youth Challenge Enhancement Act” with local Guard officials before touring the facility to learn more about local Guard issues.
“My bill will help get this program off the ground in Idaho," Minnick said. “I'm happy to do what I can to give Idaho National Guard members the resources they need carry out their mission, and to help them get at-risk kids back on track.”
Founded by Congress in 1993, the National Guard Youth Challenge Program is a multi-phased intervention program targeting high school dropouts between the ages of 16 and 18. The Program combines military-based discipline and training with educational instruction, experiential learning and mentoring.
Students spend five months in a residential program, where they learn practical life skills and are educated within a rigorous structure. That is followed by 12 months of post-residential work, where skilled mentors are matched to program graduates.
“This program is successful at 36 sites in 28 states,” said Col. Tim Kelly, with the Idaho National Guard. “It is the right thing to do for kids who may need some help, but funding is the real challenge.”
Minnick’s bill, which will be introduced in January, would help fund such a program in Idaho by authorizing the Secretary of Defense to cover three years of start-up costs for local units interested in founding programs of their own.
Minnick announces bill to help youth, National Guard
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