PAID PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PILOT · BALTIMORE CITY
Strengthening Families and Communities
SFAC is a 16-week paid pre-apprenticeship pilot for Baltimore City young adults ages 18–24. Participants build the reading, math and work skills apprenticeship programs look for, with real help for the things that can get in the way.
Being developed with support from the University of Baltimore School of Law’s CFCC.
WHO IT’S FOR
Baltimore City young adults, 18–24
PROGRAM LENGTH
16 weeks, with a paid stipend
PILOT SIZE
About 25 in the first cohort
WHERE IT LEADS
Apprenticeships and trade careers
WHY SFAC
Interest Isn’t the Problem. Preparation and Support Are.
Apprenticeships can lead to real careers, but they ask a lot up front: reading technical material, handling math, passing entrance tests and showing up every day ready to work. Many young adults in Baltimore reach that door without the preparation or support to get through it, and stay through it.
71.7%
Four-year graduation rate for Baltimore City Public Schools’ Class of 2025. The highest since 2018, and still more than 1 in 4 students not finishing on time.
31.2% · 12.6%
Share of Baltimore City students proficient in English Language Arts and in math on the 2024–25 state assessments.
2,752
Registered apprenticeship cancellations in Maryland in 2023, compared with 2,016 completions.
Getting into an apprenticeship is hard. Staying in one can be harder. That is the gap SFAC is built for.
Sources: Baltimore City Public Schools, Class of 2025 graduation rate; Maryland State Department of Education, 2025 MCAP results; Maryland Department of Labor, 2023 Apprenticeship Annual Report.
REAL BARRIERS
These barriers are real, and ignoring them does not make them disappear.
A missed bus. No work boots. A phone that got shut off. A hard week at home. Small things can cost someone an opportunity they worked hard for. SFAC plans for them from the start.
Getting There
Transportation
No driver’s license
Childcare
Phone access
Getting Ready
Literacy and applied math
Completing applications
Workplace communication
Professional clothing
Staying Steady
Food insecurity
Housing instability
Mental health
Reentry support
Low confidence
No trusted support
“Someone who needs help with math or reading still has potential. Someone who needs a ride, a mentor or extra support still has ambition. Where someone begins should not decide how far they can go.”
WHAT SFAC PROVIDES
Preparation, Support and a Real Path Forward
Participants receive a stipend while they train. As a pilot, SFAC is being designed to include:
Skills for the Job
Literacy and ELA support
Applied math
Resumes & applications
Workplace communication
Apprenticeship test prep
OSHA and CPR training
Other certifications
Support to Stay In It
Coaching and mentoring
Case management
Transportation support
Professional attire
Food and phone help
Additional barrier support
A Path Forward
Attendance and accountability
Employer and job site exposure
Interview preparation
Apprenticeship pathways
Employment pathways
Follow-up after hiring
WHY IT’S DIFFERENT
Getting someone hired is only the beginning. We are building the support that helps them stay.
HFAC stays in touch after placement. We check in, help solve problems early, and do what we can to give a new job or apprenticeship a real chance to last.
MEASURING WHAT MATTERS
What the Pilot Will Track
SFAC is in its pilot stage. The measures below are what we are building the program to track. They are goals, not results. We will share results as the first cohort moves through the program.
IN THE 16 WEEKS
During the Program
Program completion
Literacy progress
Applied-math progress
Workplace readiness
Certifications earned
Transportation barriers addressed
Growth in confidence
Growth in independence
LONGER TERM
After the Program
Employment placement
Apprenticeship placement
90-day retention
6-month follow-up
12-month follow-up
SUPPORT AND CONNECTIONS
Who SFAC Is Being Built With
SFAC is being developed with support from the University of Baltimore School of Law’s Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC), which has provided a letter of support and assistance connected to program development.
SUPPORT RELATIONSHIP
UB School of Law
CFCC provided a letter of support and assistance connected to program development.
EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIP
Four Twelve Roofing
Skilled-trade employer connected to SFAC as the pilot takes shape.
WORKFORCE CONNECTION
Dominion CDC / Realty
Community and workforce connection supporting SFAC.
For employers and apprenticeship programs, SFAC is meant to be a source of prepared, supported candidates. We are building more of these relationships as the pilot develops. If your company hires in the skilled trades, we would like to talk.