Residential Life
Cascades Job Corps students live in four dormitories. One of these will be your home at Cascades and we have designated procedures to ensure your safety and comfort. We have weekly dorm meetings, residential advisors, a dorm leadership program, and problem-solving procedures.
Counselors
You will have a counselor to help you succeed at Cascades. Your counselor's office is located in the dorm and a schedule of hours is posted. Your counselor is available to assist you with educational or vocational matters, adjustment concerns, goal setting, discipline, personal problems, or other questions and concerns. Dorm counselors conduct support groups to talk about themes relevant to your professional and personal growth. The counselors also attend dorm meetings and help mediate group discussions and problem solving.
Social and Employability Skills
Social and employability skills are as important to getting and keeping a job as are vocational and academic skills. The Social Skills Training (SST) program at Cascades Job Corps covers skills that are essential to succeed at work and in your community. You learn such skills as resolving conflicts and expressing your feelings in constructive ways, as well as discussing contemporary issues.
Staff and students on campus participate in weekly SST sessions. All students and staff practice and reinforce these social skills on campus at all times.
Employers often report how pleased they are with employees that were formerly Cascades Job Corps students because they demonstrate social skills so successfully. We expect all staff and students to attend SST sessions and practice the highest level of social interaction at all times.
Leadership
We want all students to complete leadership training. You will be scheduled into the Phase One Leadership training your 4th week on the Center. This session lasts a full day. Student leaders and staff participate in advanced leadership training annually.
Leadership program graduates are eligible to serve as Dorm Aides and to run for Student Government positions.
Leadership status is considered one of the Center's highest achievements and earns the respect of all staff and students.
Recreation
During the evenings and on weekends you may participate in a variety of cultural, recreational, educational, and athletic activities. You can get involved with Student Government, play intramural sports, attend movies screenings, or just relax. Cascades Job Corps' activity schedules reflect the varied interests of our students.
Student Newspaper
The Cascades Insight is published every month. You may submit stories, poetry, and articles. Our student editor is a member of the Student Government Executive Committee. Click on the above link to view poetry, staff and student information, and stories about how Job Corps changes peoples lives.
The deadline for all items for the paper is on the 15th of the month. You are welcome to submit your typed or carefully handwritten items for publication in the Cascades Insight.
Student Community Volunteers
If you want to do community service work after regular class hours or on weekends, you will earn points for your dorm and for yourself. For each hour you complete, 5 points are awarded to your dorm scores for the month. 25 incentive points per person are earned for each day of service, except by those students who have Work-Off hours.
If you complete 100 hours of community service, you are eligible for a free dinner at a local restaurant of your choice. A Volunteer Student of the Month award certificate and $10 is awarded each month.