Contributed by Roger Hamacher, Nine Star Education & Employment & Allison Kear, Covenant House Alaska
Covenant House Alaska has recently received a national award and support through the Annie E. Casey Foundation to deliver the JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) Program. The JAG program is an innovative curriculum-based program specifically for young people aged 16-24 who have dropped out of high school designed to help them receive their GED or H.S. Diploma and connect them with employment or advanced training opportunities.
Covenant House Alaska has contracted with Nine Star Education and Employment services and in addition to providing this service to young people residing in Anchorage, they are pleased to also offer this program to young people in the Mat-Su.
Enrollees of the JAG program are instructed in twenty core competency areas that have been determined to be indicators of future success. Competencies are organized in the following six categories: Career development, job attainment, job survival, basic skills, leadership and self-development, and personal skills competencies. In addition to mastery of the core competencies, youth will also explore career and employment options and the pathways to attain those goals.
Outcomes for the program are:
• The youth has returned to school and attained either a GED or Diploma
AND
• Entered employment full-time or part-time
OR
• Entered College or Advanced Vocational Training
OR
• Entered Military Service
Enrollment is open now for qualified youth who wish to attain the above outcomes. Instruction will occur at the MYHouse building at 300 North Willow in Wasilla. For additional information or questions please contact Roger Hamacher, Youth Services Director of Nine Star Education and Employment Services at 907-743-6074.
