Schools face a shortage of social workers – but Howard University has a plan that helps

Sweden has, and continues, to receive a lot of asylum seekers, leading to the need for successful integration of these new immigrants. Certain programs have been developed, such as one that when completed asylum seekers will be able to gain employment faster, or others that help young immigrants understand their new culture.

Game of Life Mentoring (GOL) uses basketball and other sports as a bridge to build mental health skills, improve emotional regulation and open employment pathways for at-risk youth ages 12–26. Founded in response to gun violence and youth suicide in the community, the program pairs physical activity with intentional life skills instruction, conflict resolution and job training. Over 2,000 young people have participated in the program, and 160 participants have secured employment — including 65 who got their first job through GOL.

Evanston's free Mental Health First Aid training program has equipped 169 residents with skills to recognize and respond to mental health crises. This helps distressed individuals connect to professional resources more efficiently, though challenges remain in ensuring adequate follow-up mental health services are available in the community.

Before DOGE cut the program’s funding, Charting My Path for Future Success was helping students with disabilities learn ways to successfully transition from high school to college or the working world with greater self-sufficiency. Before it was canceled, 1,600 high school juniors enrolled in the program, learning how to set goals, take care of themselves and build their confidence and self-determination skills.

A partnership between Essex Tech North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School, and Local 22 trade union members is teaching students union norms and trade skills early in their career, connecting them to apprenticeships and greater career opportunities. Other states, including Maryland and Louisiana, have similar programs and students report feeling a greater sense of job security and that they can command higher pay from employers due to the expertise gained from the program.

The Zruc Mental Health Team for Children and Young People provides free mental health care to youth in schools in the Czech Republic's Kutna Hora district. These teams of traveling psychologists are making mental health care more accessible by meeting students where they are and are helping to reverse the standard method of labeling children with mental health issues as “problematic,” instead ensuring they get the care they need.

The Youths United for God Global Foundation trains youth in various skills and trades, such as cutting hair, farming and working with computers, to help them become better equipped to secure jobs and income. Training sessions run every three months, and so far over 1,000 youths have been directly impacted by the program, many of which have gone on to forge careers and gain a sense of financial security with their newly-learned skills.

The Surge Project and EmpowerED Birmingham uplift local youth by providing mentorships, tutoring, healthcare resources, workforce development programs and educational opportunities in various fields. In the program's 2023 pilot partnership with the National Training Institute for Healthcare technicians, 32 of the 40 participants graduated with a phlebotomy or EKG certification, and 19 of them were local high school students.

The student-led SzKTP program provides peer mentorship and application help to high school students interested in attending Corvinus University, with the goal of improving higher education opportunities for students from low-income and disadvantaged areas. Once they’re accepted to Corvinus, students in the program continue to receive support and guidance, as well as a stipend to help lessen the burden of university-related costs.

San Francisco's Black Early Childhood Educator pilot program covers tuition and provides stipends for Black students, as well as support from a case manager and necessary supplies such as laptops. Since the program launched two years ago, 62 participants have received their associate teaching permits from the City College of San Francisco.