Youth Opportunity Program

Our Pledge…

We ensure that all youth, particularly those most in need, will acquire the necessary skills that will prepare them for academic and employment success.

It is the purpose of the Youth Opportunity Program to provide comprehensive education and employment preparation services via a skills-based design to eligible* youth, ages fourteen (14) to twenty-one (21) years, in-school and out-of-school.

This program vows to improve the long-term employability of youth, enhance the educational, occupational and citizenship skills of youth in a community service environment in alternative school programs, increase the employment and earnings of youth, reduce welfare dependency, and assist youth in addressing problems which may impair the ability of youth to make successful transitions from school to work, apprenticeship, the military, or post secondary education and training.

Vernon Hill

Burlington County One-Stop Career Center

Youth Certification Officer

795 Woodlane Road

P.O. Box 6000

Westampton, NJ 08060

(609) 518-3900

Liliam A. Thompson

Youth Opportunity Program

Youth Development Specialist

795 Woodlane Road

P.O. Box 228

Westampton, NJ 08060

(609) 518-0149

Click Here to view the Burlington County Youth Action Plan

*Posted 7/21/03

TO CONTACT US:

Workforce Investment Board (WIB)

795 Woodlane Road

P.O. Box 6000

Westampton, NJ 08060

(609) 265-5603

Eligibility Requirements

If you are a resident of Burlington Count, between the ages of 14-21, the program is limited to low-income individuals with the following barriers:

¨ High School Dropout

¨ Pregnant or Teen Parent

¨ Homeless, Runaway or Foster Child

¨ Any involvement with the Juvenile Justice System

¨ Due to a disability, requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure and hold employment.

*All inquires are strictly confidential.

The Youth Opportunity Program provides the following comprehensive services:

¨ Tutoring, study skills training, and instruction leading to the completion of secondary school, including dropout prevention strategies;

¨ Alternative secondary school offerings;

¨ Summer employment opportunities directly linked to academic and occupational learning;

¨ Paid or unpaid work experience, including internships and job shadowing;

¨ Occupational skills training;

¨ Leadership development activities, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social behaviors during non-school hours;

¨ Mentoring by a caring adult;

¨ Comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling; and

¨ Follow-up services for a minimum of at least twelve (12) months after completion of the program.

¨ The Burlington County One-Stop Career Center determines youth eligibility.

If you are between the ages of 14 to 21, there are some things you need to be aware of…

If you are under 18 years of age, you will need working papers. Visit the New Jersey Department of Labor or Youth Rules web sites for information on how to obtain working papers, as well as answer your questions about wage and hour laws. To speak directly to a representative from the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Compliance, please contact (609) 292-8168 or (609) 292-8228.

NJ has embarked on a demand-side analysis of the major industry sectors to identify the emerging skill sets of the workplace. This initiative, NJ Next Stop, brought together leading business, labor, education and government leaders to learn to future skills that employees will need to be competitive in the marketplace.

The 5th Annual

Youth Job Fair

Will be held on

May 24, 2006

2:00 - 6:00

at the Human Services Facility

For more information:

Barbara Weir

(609) 265-5603

bweir@co.burlington.nj.us

Are you a youth looking for that great summer job? Check out our list of employers committed to attending the 2006 Youth Job Fair. Last year’s youth job fair drew over 500 youth seeking jobs with many employers ready to hire. We anticipate that this year's Youth Job Fair will be bigger and better!

Open to Youth 16 - 21 years of age*

The Burlington County One-Stop Career Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer with Equal Opportunity Programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.