Job Corps

About Job Corps

What Is Job Corps?

Job Corps is the nation's leading job training program for youth ages 16 to 24. For 40 years, Job Corps has given young people the tools they need to build successful careers. Each year more than 65,000 students take advantage of the federally funded Job Corps program, where they can earn a high school diploma or GED, get a driver's license and train in a vocation. There are presently 122 Job Corps centers throughout the United States. Connecticut is home to two Job Corps centers. Connecticut's two Job Corps centers are part of Job Corps - Boston Region which encompasses 20 Job Corps centers in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Puerto Rico.

The Connecticut Department of Labor has three full time professionals dedicated to supporting the Connecticut centers and to streamlining services from other state agencies to co-enrolled students. These services include:

  • A full time worker funded by Department of Children and Families (DCF) to register suitable DCF clients into Job Corps, support them while enrolled, and help them gain employment, enroll in college or the military;
  • Court Support Services also funds a judicial liaison worker at New Haven Job Corps Center who provides similar services to Connecticut's court involved youth;
  • Both Centers are linked electronically to CTWORKS;
  • Well over a million dollars in in-kind contributions and resources are provided to Job Corps per year by the State of Connecticut.

Job Corps' academic and vocational training is based upon a self-paced, competency-based curriculum. The academic and vocational training day, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM simulates a workday. Placement into education classes is based on testing completed during the first week of enrollment. Maximum length of stay in the program, with some special exceptions, is two years.

Job Corps uses a behavioral management system of rewards and sanctions to develop the interpersonal skills and personal habits students need to get and keep work. It is a totally voluntary program. Job Corps retains only those students who participate positively in the program. Students absent from the program without cause for ten consecutive days are terminated; those absent without cause for 22 days over six months are terminated. A zero tolerance policy towards drug use and any violence or threat of violence is imposed.

In addition to education remediation, vocational training and social skills training, students receive many additional benefits while enrolled in Job Corps, including drivers' education, health and dental services, an annual clothing allowance and on-site day care for children of non-residential students. Students receive a small stipend payable bi-monthly and receive an allowance of $1200 upon successful completion and termination from the program.

Funded by the United States Congress, Job Corps has been training young adults for meaningful careers since 1964. Job Corps is committed to offering all students a safe, drug-free environment where they can take advantage of the resources provided.

Eligibility

Eligible Job Corps applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 24 (age requirement waived for applicants over 24 with disabilities); be limited in financial resources; be willing to train in a drug-free and alcohol-free environment; be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, legal resident, permanent resident alien, or other lawfully admitted alien; and very importantly, be committed to work hard to succeed. A Job Corps career specialist works with prospective students to help discover their strengths and design a personalized career plan before entry. Job Corps is mainly a residential program but up to 25% of students at each center may commute in. Students are normally sent to the center closest to their home. However, Connecticut youth may be referred to other Job Corps centers within Job Corps - Boston Region if appropriate. Reasons may be the availability of a trade not offered in Connecticut, or the need to remove the youth completely from an undesirable home situation.

In short, to enroll in Job Corps, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Be 16 through 24 (age requirement waived for applicants over 24 with disabilities);  
  • Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident;
  • Meet income requirements; and,
  • Be ready, willing, and able to participate fully in an educational environment.

Apply to Job Corps

If you're interested in joining the Job Corps program or finding out more about it, call (800) 733-JOBS or (800) 733-5627. An operator will provide you with general information about the program, refer you to the admissions counselor closest to where you live and mail you an information packet.

Once accepted into the program, the students choose from a menu of career options depending on the center they have chosen. Students may need to leave the state if they choose trades not offered in Connecticut.

The Job Corps experience also includes:

  • learning money management
  • computer and problem solving skills
  • job search skills
  • on-the-job training at employer work sites

Job Corps will train the student and help them find a job.

Continued Services

Job Corps staff will stay in touch with the students after graduation to make sure that their transition into the workforce is successful. Staff will help connect them to the services they need such as housing, transportation and child care and continue to assist them with these support services for up to one year after graduation. These services are provided by Outreach, Admissions and Placement (OA&P) staff responsible for referring the students to the appropriate centers.

Job Corps Works

Job Corps has proved to be the only large scale program that works for disengaged youth. Job Corps returns $2.02 on every dollar invested in the program. It has the highest placement rates among the nation's job training programs.

Job Corps Information Brochure

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