Many young people, ages 16 to 25, are high school non-completers. There have often
been problems which impacted that circumstance including: drugs, involvement in the
juvenile justice system, young parenting challenges and teenage pregnancy,
supervision by the Division of Youth and Family Services, shattered family structures,
homelessness, and peer pressures. The time comes when a second chance is
wanted. When the young person realizes the need to make changes in his/her life
and also in his/her community, it is time to investigate enrolling in the New Jersey
Youth Corps / Newark—Essex County at the International Youth Organization (IYO).
When enrollees first enter the program, instructors assess their skills in various
areas. Student candidates take the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) in reading
and math. For successful completion they must test at or above the 8th grade level in
reading. They must also meet WIA eligibility standards. During Orientation month,
an educational plan for GED test preparation is developed according to each
individual’s needs.
ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS
The daily routine includes punching in every morning before 8:30 A.M. for morning
meeting which may include physical activity and uniform inspection. This is followed
by attending and participating in the Learning Center for 3 hours every day. Academic
progress is monitored daily and retests are given periodically. There is also the
chance to acquire life-long learning habits, practice public speaking skills, learn life
management and work maturity skills, and make long term career plans in order to
facilitate job placement. Staff sets up counseling and activities for participants.
Corpsmembers who achieve competencies in employability skills benchmarks may
be awarded an Employability Skills Certificate. This serves as recognition of the
participant’s reliability as a potential trainee or employee. Corpsmembers
successfully completing all program components may be rewarded for their service
and hard work with various incentives to attend an accredited college, training school
or to secure employment. N.J.Y.C. invites guest lecturers and takes the
Corpsmembers on excursions to civic and cultural events, as well as visits to local
businesses to show them career options.
POSITIVE ATTITUDES SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES
Corpsmembers are required to commit nine months to a year in service to others.
For 3 to 4 hours every day, crews of 6 to 8 Corpsmembers accomplish service/work of
real value to the community such as: graffiti removal, housing rehabilitation, code
enforcement, feeding the hungry, clearing out abandoned buildings, working with the
elderly and indisposed, hospital work, building renovations, landscaping, public parks
beautification, mentoring, day care assistance for children as well as seniors. From
time to time, Youth Corps schedules “Signature Projects” events where sometimes
several programs may join together to work on a special project. They help make the
Newark area a better community and receive a bi-weekly stipend.
Youth Corps legislation was enacted by the state in 1984, inspired by the success of
the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s). Many other states began their
corps after the National Service Act of 1990.
Youth in the New Jersey Corps are:
- 3 times more likely to receive a high school diploma compared to
traditional programs (22% vs. 8%)
- 5 times more likely to be placed in jobs training (37% vs. 8%)
The philosophy of Corps is best expressed by the motto of N.J.Y.C. / Newark-Essex
County: "It's attitude - not aptitude - that determines altitude.”
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