Shoutout FAM First, a program by TrainingGrounds
FAM First is mobilizing young couples to navigate their journey through pregnancy, parenting, and job training to build the future they want for themselves and their families.
“ What’s most important to me about the Youth Master Plan is that it gives New Orleans a shared, citywide commitment that starts where children actually start, at birth.
At TrainingGrounds, we see every day how early relationships, responsive environments, and caregiver confidence shape a child’s entire trajectory. The Youth Master Plan affirms this truth and ensures that early childhood is the foundation of the youth ecosystem.
For me, it’s meaningful because it aligns our work with a broader vision for children and families. It creates the coordination, accountability, and shared language we need so that what begins in our We PLAY Centers connects to the opportunities, supports, and pathways young people deserve as they grow.”
— Melanie Richardson
Executive Director, TrainingGrounds
Eight FAM First participants completed the Committed to Change program through JOB1’s career readiness workshops, building essential skills that open doors to long-term financial stability for their families. The next step in the program includes training, paid work experience, or an apprenticeship through JOB1.
How FAM First is Youth Master Plan Aligned:
✓ YOUTH VOICE
Inclusive Youth Leadership Outreach (YV4)
✓ ECONOMIC STABILITY
Early Exposure to Career Options & Training (ES2)
Community-Based Job Training Sites (ES4)
✓ HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Ensuring Sufficient Services for New Parents (HWB1)
Caregiver Mental Health (HWB 2)
✓ LEARNING
Early Childhood Awareness (L1)
Youth Development Training (L2)
✓ SAFETY & JUSTICE
Culturally Appropriate Prevention Approaches (SJ1)
Caregiver Support Network (SJ5)
Shoutout From the Shoutout:
TrainingGrounds works with so many partners to make FAM First happen:
Café Reconcile, Changing Generations, Clover, Dad-A-Port, Delgado Community College, For Providers By Providers, H.E.R. Institute, Labor and Love, New Orleans Office of Workforce Development, New Orleans Youth Alliance, STRIVE New Orleans, Total Community Action, Wilcox Academy of Early Learning, and Workforce Collaborative Consulting, and counting!
