Youth Academy Components
Community Development and Improvement Corporations (CDIC) Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Program is designed for high school seniors, who are deficient in basic literacy skills in achieving greater academic success by supplementing traditional methods of acquiring knowledge with innovative approaches. The purpose of CDIC’s Youth Academy is to assist high school seniors who are at risk of not completing school.
The objectives of the program are to (1) improve the
participant's academic standing, (2) help participants
graduate from school, and (3) enhance the chances for a
successful transition from school to unsubsidized employment, post-secondary education,
advanced skills training or enter military services.
The program incorporates after-school academic sessions,
augmented skill training opportunities (which includes
leadership and life skills), intensive case management,
supportive services, and follow-up services.
Academic
CDIC Youth Academy assists 29 WIA eligible high school
seniors residing in Aiken County, South Carolina. The
Youth Academy supplements traditional methods of
acquiring knowledge with innovative approaches.
The sessions are held weekly on each Thursday at the newly renovated Hahn Village Resource Center. Each participant receives and minimum of 50 hours of BSAP/HSAP (exit exam), SAT, and Test-taking preparation activities from September to May, paralleling the academic school year. These training hours are also augmented with 11 hours of academic learning; occupational learning; developing leadership skills; developing citizenship skills; developing life coping skills; developing community service skills; developing decision making skills; ongoing adult mentoring; continued supportive services; incentives for recognition and achievements; and preparing for further education, additional training; and eventual employment.
Summer Work Experience
Summer work experience is provided to youth who successfully
meet or surpass the successful completion criteria of
the Academic phase. Participating youth will be placed
on work sites that are compatible with the youth's academic
and employment interests and goals. Youth are paid non-taxable
minimum wage for a maximum of 240 hours during the summer
months.
Follow-Up Services
All youth registered into the program will receive 12
months of follow-up services. During follow-up, the
youth will receive leadership development activities,
supportive services, and adult mentoring.
Adult and Dislocated Worker Program
The purpose of the Adults and Dislocated Workers Program is to assist WIA eligible adults and dislocated workers in acquiring unsubsidized self-sufficient employment by providing them with Intensive and Training Services.
The program activities intensive will include but will not be limited to: (a) program orientation, (b) individualized counseling and career planning, (c) development of the Individual Service Plan (ISP), and (d) Short-term pre-vocational skills training. The goal of the program is to provide case management services adequate to meet the employment, educational, and Supportive Services needs of all eligible residents of Aiken County.
Opportunities will be afforded to each participant of the program through an amiable and unique case management approach designed to prepare the participant to compete in the labor market, increase earnings, and self-sufficiency. The intensive and training services provides basic literacy skills remediation, GED preparation, occupational skills, on-the-job training (OJT), job readiness, and job retention skills training.
Out-of-School Youth
The Workforce Investment Act's (WIAs) Older Youth is
a program designed to assist 16-21 year olds with
obtaining their GEDs and occupational skills training.
Through the older youth program youth are able to gain
valuable work skills through workshops (resume writing,
interviewing, career exploration, labor market research,
etc.) and on the job trainings in related fields of
interest. The older youth program also provides
opportunity for individuals coming into the program with
a GED or High School Diploma to receive up to two years
of occupational skills training at a technical school.
In order to get into the program individuals must:
be at least 16 years old, fit economic guidelines, and
be ready and willing to gain lasting relationships as
well as obtain valuable skills.