Cascades Job Corps Center
Training Today's Youth for Tomorrow's Jobs
Career Development Services System
Career Preparation Period (First 60-days)
Students will:
- Learn about life in Job Corps
- Learn employability and job search skills, including computer fluency
- Work with staff to create individual career development plans
(Students who leave during CCP will receive basic referral services.)
Career Development Period (On-Center)
Students will:
- Learn a trade
- Achieve academic goals
- Learn communication, problem-solving and social skills
- Begin job search
- Prepare for independent living
- Graduate
(Students who leave prior to graduation will receive initial placement services for up to 90 days.)
Career Transition Period (Post-Center)
Graduates will:
- Begin career
- Find housing, transportation and support services with help of Job Corps for 12 months post-placement
- Stay in contact with Job Corps and respond to 13-week, 6- and 12-month survey requests
Career Development Services System
by Pat Putnins, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
What is CDSS? It's Job Corps. New and improved. Streamlined and enhanced. Leaner. Smarter. Better. Career Development Services System (CDSS) is not just another new Job Corps initiative. It is Job Corps. It is an improved way of doing what we do. From top to bottom, everything is changing about the way Job Corps helps students find lasting careers.
Today, Job Corps is matching its training and technology to jobs in high-growth fields in partnership with employers and industry councils. Job Corps centers are forging relationships with One-Stops, developing community education programs, and marketing Job Corps strategically to ensure that the public is fully aware of the opportunities available through America's premier youth training program. More than ever before, Job Corps is about career development for its students. Job Corps is working with each student to tailor-make a plan for career success.
Once on center, students will enter Job Corps' intensive 60-day Career Preparation Period. This intensive orientation front loads the employability training focusing on essential personal responsibility skills. This is an important time for staff to connect with students to ensure that they are fully engaged in planning for their futures. Students will work with staff to design individual Career Development Plans, develop initial resumes, and set long and short term goals. They will also become computer fluent, learning important job search skills during this time period. By planning ahead and beginning with some of the most critical and foundational lessons, Job Corps is helping students ensure long-term career success.
Students then move into the Career Development Period, where they will take full advantage of the technical skills training offered by Job Corps. Training, which will match real jobs in today's work place, will integrate academic, vocational and social competencies and will be offered in the context of real work situations. Work-based learning experiences will give students a chance to learn and practice technical skills in relevant work settings. Students will be able to earn their academic credentials, either a diploma or GED, develop social and work place competencies, identify needed transitional resources, and begin the job search process.
Once they've graduated by completing their education and/or training, students will find a job that's right for them. This begins the Career Transition Period. For 12 months following initial placement, Job Corps will help graduates connect with the support services they need to maintain successful work lives. Job Corps' Career Development Specialists will help find child care, health care, transportation and housing, and, when needed, another job.
All Job Corps students, whether they graduate or not, will be provided with post-center placement assistance. For those students who are unable to commit to the program and leave within the first 60 days, Job Corps will refer them to service providers within their home communities.
Job Corps will assist Former Enrollees, (those who remain at least 60 days but are unable to meet the graduation requirements), by providing initial placement services for up to 90 days after separation.
As Job Corps transitions to the new CDSS environment, students will recognize Job Corps as a source of intensive career preparation, technical and employability skills to get the jobs they desire, and support to begin and maintain successful work lives.
Employers and the public will recognize Job Corps as a source of technically skilled individuals with the personal know-how to become valued employees.
What is CDSS? It's Job Corps. Putting the most important lessons first. Designing a plan for every student. Teaching the skills that match the jobs. Providing the resources students need to succeed. Staying in touch to ensure success.