Jobs For Delaware Graduates Inc

JOBS FOR DELAWARE GRADUATES INC (JDG) IS A DROP-OUT PREVENTION AND SCHOOL-TO-WORK TRANSITION PROGRAM FOR HIGHLY AT-RISK YOUTH. SELECTED STUDENTS ATTEND JDG CLASSES THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGHSCHOOL CAREER. JDG SPECIALISTS TEACH STUDENTS THE "SOFT SKILLS" NECESSARY TO BECOME A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN AND SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYEE. STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR ONE YEAR AFTER EXITING THE JDG PROGRAM.

THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED WHERE STUDENTS WERE INTRODUCED BACK INTO THE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. IT WAS QUICKLY EVIDENT THAT STUDENTS LACKED BASIC CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS AND PARTICIPATION AND RETENTION OF MATERIALS HAD DECREASED SINCE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. TEACHERS WERE TASKED TO IDENTIFY NEW ENGAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND MODIFY TEACHING METHODS TO INCREASE STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND RETENTION OF MATERIALS. THE JDG HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM IS TO TEACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THE NECESSARY EMPLOYABILITY SOFT SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS TO SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE THEIR CAREER PATH THROUGH ENTRY-LEVEL EMPLOYMENT AND/OR COLLEGE OR ADVANCED TRAINING. APPROXIMATELY 2,500 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE SERVED IN THE CLASSROOM AND THROUGH FOLLOW-UP DURING THE YEAR ENDED 6/30/2022. 94% OF OUR MOST AT RISK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT GRADUATES RECEIVED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND 84% ENTERED EMPLOYMENT, THE MILITARY AND/OR COLLEGE/ADVANCED TRAINING BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2022. THE JDG MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES TWELVE MONTHS OF SCHOOL-BASED DROP-OUT PREVENTION SERVICES FOR AT-RISK MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH. A CURRICULUM FOR 6TH, 7TH, 8TH, AND 9TH GRADE STUDENTS IS DELIVERED IN A CLASSROOM SETTING DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR BY FULL-TIME JDG TEACHERS. APPROXIMATELY 1,400 MIDDLE SCHOOLS STUDENTS WERE SERVED IN THE CLASSROOM AND THROUGH SUMMER FOLLOW-UP DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2022. AT LEAST 500 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS HAD AT LEAST ONE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING THEIR REGULAR CLASSROOM CURRICULUM. THE JDG FOSTER CARE PROGRAM IS A COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM TO ASSIST FOSTER CARE YOUTH FROM THE AGES 16-23 IN KENT AND SUSSEX COUNTIES IN OBTAINING AND RETAINING EMPLOYMENT. A DEDICATED CONTRACT COORDINATOR IDENTIFIES JOB OPPORTUNITIES, PREPARES AND MATCHES YOUTH TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDES POST PLACEMENT FOLLOW-UP. OVER 30 YOUTH IN THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM WERE SERVED WITH AN EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND JOB PLACEMENT CURRICULUM. THE CURRICULUM ALIGNS WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL EMPLOYABILITY SOFT SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS; INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT IS CRITICAL; AND CAREER PLACEMENT IS FOCUSED ON HELPING THE STUDENTS BEGIN A CAREER PATH TO SELF-SUPPORT AND SUFFICIENCY.