Jobs for Delaware Graduates Expansion of Youth Services for the Prevention of Drop-outs

The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).

The Jobs for Delaware Graduates (JDG) program is a Graduation and School-to-Work Transition Program with the primary goal of graduation from high school for each JDG student. The JDG program is a Delaware Department of Education approved career pathway. JDG Specialists provide school-to-work transition services in public high school throughout Delaware. Eligible students in grades nine through twelve may be scheduled for JDG class. Upon successful completion of the class, students receive an elective credit. JDG curriculum helps students reach academic, career, and personal goals. Students are taught job attainment and retention skills, as well as life skills such as budgeting and time management. Career counseling and placement assistance are provided with follow-up service continuing for a minimum of twelve months after graduation. JDG students have the privilege of belonging to the Delaware Career Association (DCA), a youth organization that is an integral part of the JDG curriculum. The goals of the DCA are: Leadership Development, Career Preparation, Civic Awareness and Social Skills. Using the current JDG data management system, reports will document the outcomes in the areas of: competencies completed, graduation rate, return to school rate, and placement rate after graduation. NCA/NCF