LAWRENCE, Mass. — Molina Healthcare and The MolinaCares Accord have awarded a $120,000 grant to the Northeast Independent Living Program to support a new initiative for young adults with disabilities in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Valley.
The funding will support the Young Adult Empowerment Support program, a 12-month pilot designed to help participants build skills tied to employment, transportation independence and daily living.
According to the Northeast Independent Living Program, more than half of working-age people with disabilities in its service area are unemployed or underemployed. Many also face barriers involving transportation and independent living skills, which can contribute to isolation and dependency.
The program is intended to help fill a service gap for young adults with disabilities as they transition out of school-based supports. Grant-funded services will include resume building, interview preparation, job placement, help using public transit and ride-sharing, budgeting, cooking and self-advocacy.
“This generous grant from Molina and MolinaCares will enable NILP to expand services for young adults with disabilities, with the goal of achieving meaningful employment, an area our team has identified as a critical gap,” said Matt Pellegrino, CEO of the Northeast Independent Living Program.
“Molina and The MolinaCares Accord are proud to support NILP’s work that provides a continuum of services for one of our most vulnerable populations,” said Bill Graham, plan president for Molina Healthcare. “This partnership creates opportunities for young adults with disabilities to live a life with dignity and purpose by providing them the skills they need to thrive.”
