Employment and training programs: A context for reaching out of school youth with mental health and other health programs

Youth who have dropped out of school engage in risky health behaviors and have limited access to health care. It is difficult for health experts to develop programs that successfully reach this population. Employment and training programs for youth who have dropped out are a potential venue for addressing the many health needs of these youth. This article reviews the history of such programs and the available evidence about their health services and health outcomes. It also describes the development of a mental health intervention in an employment and training program in Baltimore and the lessons learned from that experience.