This summer, over 4,000 disadvantaged youth in 25 Ontario communities are getting the chance to gain valuable work experience.

Through the province's Youth Opportunities Strategy, Ontario is more than doubling the number of jobs being offered to at-risk youth to help them develop their skills and talents with local employers and police services.

The program is delivered by not-for-profit agencies who match youth with local employers while participating police services recruit youth who are interested in a career in policing. Participants are given one week of training, a six to seven-week paid job placement, and preparation for future employment or education and training.

Expanding the Youth Opportunities Strategy is part of the McGuinty government's poverty reduction strategy, which sets a target of reducing the number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over five years -- that's 90,000 kids.