** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN TRANSITIONS FROM EDUCATION TO EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUTH IN RURAL, RESOURCE-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES. TO DO THIS, WE WILL: 1) RESEARCH AND ANALYZE THE PRIMARY CONNECTIONS INFLUENCING YOUTH IN THESE TRANSITIONS (EDUCATORS AND EMPLOYERS) THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS AND DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NECESSARY SKILLS FOR AND BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT IN NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND QUESTIONNAIRES, AND 2) DEVELOP TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES FOR EXTENSION OUTREACH TO EDUCATORS (TREE: TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES AND RESOURCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS) AND EMPLOYERS (TIMBER: TRAUMA-INFORMED MANAGEMENT BASICS AND EMPLOYER RESOURCES). ALL WORK WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH AND INCLUDE DIRECT GUIDANCE FROM AND PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS. SUPPORTING YOUTH TRANSITIONS INTO THE LOCAL WORK FORCE IS A CRITICAL LINK IN RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE NEED TO REBUILD CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND JOBS IN THE WAKE OF LABOR DISRUPTIONS DUE TO COVID-19. KNOWLEDGE AND OUTPUTS GENERATED THROUGH THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES TO CREATE AND EXAMINE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR ADVANCING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH TOOLS AND METHODS FROM THE SOCIAL SCIENCES. OUR ACTIVITIES TARGET LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND OUR RESOURCES ARE AIMED TO HELP ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DIRECTLY ADDRESS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES. OVERALL, THIS WORK WILL PROVIDE INSIGHTS TO OTHER RESOURCE-DEPENDENT AREAS WHILE SUPPORTING YOUTH EXITING SCHOOL WHO CAN REMAIN EMPLOYED AND LOCAL, ULTIMATELY IMPROVING PERSONAL OUTCOMES, WORKFORCE VITALITY, POPULATION RETENTION, AND RURAL COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.