Hull Lifesaving Museum - Maritime Apprentice Program

Track Sponsor: United Way of Massachusetts Bay

Founded: 2004

Current Budget: $495,000

Need

Incarcerated youth have disproportionately higher school dropout rates, learning disabilities, mental illness, substance abuse, and gang involvement than their peers. Without appropriate support, they are likely to pose a greater threat to society as adults, face a lifetime of negative social and health outcomes, earn less, and cost taxpayers more:

Substance use is seen in more than 50% of DYS youth, and their suicide rate is 4 times that of the general population.

Untreated DYS youth are 3.7 times more likely to use a weapon and 13.8 times more likely to face an adult conviction.

The two-year recidivism rate for DYS-committed youth is 37%, with an average individual incarceration cost of $80,000 per year.

The costs to society of an untreated DYS youth are estimated to be between $250,000 and $2,000,000 in social service and incarceration support over his/her lifetime.

About

The Maritime Apprentice Program (MAP) of the Hull Lifesaving Museum is an intensive, multi-year program that prepares Boston’s most high-risk, Department of Youth Services (DYS)-committed youth for adult responsibilities and careers in the technical trades. Working out of its Seaport boat shop, MAP provides hands-on, skills-based training, in combination with counseling and work readiness preparation. MAP’s apprentices are ages 17–22, 100% gang-involved, and many have a history of incarceration. As apprentices’ personal, social, and technical skills develop, program activities become progressively more complex and rewarding. Apprentices are paid a weekly stipend and are required to co-enroll in GED or diploma-granting programs as a condition of MAP participation. Those with high school certificates continue on to college, advanced training, internships, or work. MAP offers an extraordinarily personalized approach to addressing pervasive unemployment, under-education, and recidivism. The staff of professional tradespeople, teachers, and social workers embrace the ethic of “never giving up,” providing apprentices with a lifeline and oasis of safety and support. In a very real sense, MAP is an adoptive family for its apprentices.

Key Accomplishments

MAP currently enrolls 20 apprentices annually—31% of the program’s Metro-Boston target population.

Sixty-nine percent of apprentices have not re-offended since entering MAP.

Seventy-three percent of MAP’s former dropouts have attained a high school credential or remain in school.

Eighty-four percent of MAP apprentices have pursued advanced training, employment opportunities, and/or college.

Seventeen industry and higher education partners offer participants employment, training, specialized education, job shadowing, and internships.

Join the Cause

In-Kind Support

Larger waterfront space to accommodate boat shop

Business, technology, and education consulting

Laptops with software for apprentice job-skills training

Financial Support

$25,000	Stipends for five apprentices for one year
$5,000	Support for development of MAP program manual and impact measurement system
$1,000	Shop and boat tools and equipment