New Mexico Youth Career Services
How can I get started with Youth Career Services?
Get the latest information about our Youth Career Assistance Programs in this quick one-minute video and learn about how we can connect you to job search assistance, tuition assistance, on-the-job-training, and much more!
You can also visit any one of the Central Region America’s Job Centers located in Albuquerque, Los Lunas, Rio Rancho, or Moriarty. We offer no-cost Career Services for New Mexico teens and young adults from ages 16 to 24.
Call 505-843-1900 to learn more.
How do you know if this program will work for you?
Read our Success Stories!
One of the best ways to recognize the program’s benefits is through success stories of others just like you.
Judit's Success Story
At the age of 24, Judit joined the WIOA program in July 2024. Judit qualified for the program due to being Basic Skills Deficient and low income. She was interested in going to school to become a Medical Assistant and requested assistance paying for school. She felt she would benefit from this program because she had never had a job before and was feeling “extremely terrified of studying again after returning from a long pause from college.”
Yazmin's Success Story
Yazmin Miranda, age 18, enrolled in the WIOA Youth Program in July of 2024. She qualified for the program based on her basic skills deficiency and being low income. Yazmin is a high school senior at Moriarty High School . While enrolled in the program, Yazmin sought support for work experience and transportation. Her main goal is to become a lawyer and was placed for work experience at Smith-Parker Holdings in McIntosh, New Mexico so she could experience a business professional environment. She successfully completed her work experience on April 11, 2025. Yazmin will now focus on pursuing post-secondary education at UNM.
Nathan's Success Story
On October 2, 2024 Nathan came into the Workforce Connection; Valencia County office. He was seeking assistance with professional work experience in Maintenance and Groundskeeping. He was excited and ready to learn on the job skills and he considered himself to be good at time management. Upon enrollment in the WIOA Youth Program he was an underemployed high school graduate with no work experience. Nathan, who is also autistic, tested as Basic Skills Deficient in Reading and Math. Nathan completed four hours of Basic Employability Skills Training. Labor Market Information packet and tutoring prior to his work experience placement at Tierra Del Sol Golf Course, as a Maintenance and Groundskeeper.
Meet with our Youth Career Services Staff:
Bernalillo County
Marisa Hudson l 505.263.5877 l mhudson@wccnm.org
Kylara Marsh l 505.203.9172 l kmarsh@wccnm.org
Sandoval County
Eric Jack 505-721-0972 ejack@wccnm.org
Jennifer Martinez 505.907.1401 l jenmartinez@wccnm.org
Valencia County
Marcelina Vargas l 505.388.8463 l mvargas@wccnm.org
Marla Padilla 505-388-8463. mvargas@wccnm.org
Torrance County
Tammy Chavez Email: trchavez@ydinm.org
How can I enroll?
You can email Youth@wccnm.org or get help from staff at an American Job Center nearest you.
Let us help you get paid work experience and new skills!
How do I know if I qualify?
How do you know if you qualify? You qualify if you are in school and…
- Between the ages of 14 and 21
- Attending school (secondary or post-secondary)
- Low income (see details below)
- Meet at least one of the following:
- English language learner
- An offender
- Homeless, runaway or foster child
- Pregnant or parenting
- Individual with a disability
- You qualify if you are out of school and…
- Between the ages of 16 and 24
- Are not attending school
- Meet at least one of the following:
- School drop out
- Within the age of compulsory school attendance but have not attended school for at least the most recent compete school year calendar quarter
- A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and are a low-income individual who is either basic skills deficient or an English language learner
- Subject to the juvenile or adult justice system
- Homeless, runaway or foster child
- Pregnant or parenting.
- Individual with a disability.
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How do you know if you qualify as low income? You qualify as low income if you:
- Receive, or in the past 6 months have received, assistance through SNAP, TANF, SSI, or state or local income-based public assistance programs, or are in a family that meets this requirement
- Are in a family with a total family income that does not exceed the higher of the poverty line or 70% of the LLSIL (see details below)
- Are a homeless individual
- Are a foster child
- Are an individual with a disability whose income meets the requirements
What documents do I need?
What documents will I need to verify my eligibility?
You will be asked to provide the following:
- State-issued ID or driver’s license
- Birth certificate
- Social Security card
- Proof of income (if applicable)
- Proof of Selective Service registration (if you are a male 18 or over)
Get PAID work experience.
If you are eligible, our Youth Program can help you access opportunities for:
- Work-based learning
- Industry-recognized credentials
- Employment in high-demand occupations.
The program can provide:
- Paid and unpaid work experiences (employment, apprenticeship, internships)
- Tuition assistance for education & occupational skills training
- Adult mentoring
- Activities that help youth prepare for and transition to postsecondary education and training
How are Youth Career Services funded?
Funding is provided through The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 enacted a comprehensive youth employment program for serving eligible youth, ages 14-24, who face barriers to education, training, and employment.
Funds for youth services are allocated to states and local areas based on a formula. The WIOA Youth Program focuses primarily on out-of-school youth, requiring local areas to expend a minimum of 75% of WIOA youth funds on them. The program includes 14 program elements that are required to be made available to youth participants. WIOA prioritizes work experience through a 20% minimum expenditure rate for the work experience program element.
Local programs provide youth services in partnership with American Job Centers and under the direction of local Workforce Development Boards (for example, Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico). Learn about funding sources for WIOA programs and services here: www.wccnm.org/funding.
Individuals
Employers
Individuals
Employers
Calling all Central New Mexico Businesses!
Become a Youth Program worksite and help build our talent pipeline in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance & Valencia counties.
Are you interested in learning about the benefits of partnering with the WIOA Youth program?
We invite you to connect with us today!
Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia & Torrance Counties
General Email: youth@wccnm.org
