We hear these similar stories at JEVS Human Services. Over and over.
“I don’t know what I want to do with my life. I don’t see myself in a career.”
“I can’t afford to go to college. I don’t want to go into debt.”
“I decided to go right to work after high school. Didn’t seem like many other options for me.”
“I dropped out of high school. It wasn’t for me. But now I want to get my life back on track.”
“I tried [college, training, etc.] before and it didn’t work out. I’m scared to go back.”
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for these scenarios. There’s not one magic program we offer that can solve the personal challenges of all of our clients. But, what JEVS has put into place is an expanding portfolio of career and technical education (CTE) offerings that:
- teach skills-based careers
- create opportunities for individuals to “enter into” JEVS and take advantage of multiple options—paving a pathway—of success.
All with the goal of preparing them for meaningful next steps in life. February is celebrated as Career and Technical Education Month in America, acknowledging a nationwide commitment to equipping students and workers with the skills necessary to fill the jobs our economy is creating and to enable them to reap the benefits of successful careers.
> Meet our new senior VP of Career & Technical Education
CTE Post-Secondary Offerings
While JEVS’s hallmark CTE programs aim for post-secondary success, we also offer a variety of other initiatives targeting those who may want to eventually obtain a degree, as well as programs working with unique populations toward the goal of self-sufficiency. (See “CTE Programs” section below.)
JEVS’ Orleans Technical College
JEVS’s flagship CTE program operated since 1974 is Orleans Technical College, recognized in 2018 with a national “School of Distinction” honor by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. This post-secondary school prepares adults for careers in the building and construction trades. Students receive intensive, real-world, hands-on training in a curriculum that is informed by local employers and evolves as new technologies, new tools, new ways of doing things, come along. Orleans Tech also partners with local high schools to provide career exploration opportunities in the skilled trades.
Orleans Tech has forged partnerships with service companies and contractors throughout the region to provide entry-level jobs to graduates of the school. As an example of this commitment to workforce development, 78% of the 60 graduates* of one of the school’s training programs were placed into related employment. (* Began electrical training between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.)
JEVS EduConnect
Whether an individual wants to launch a new career or advance in his/her current job, JEVS EduConnect truly has options for everyone! The program connects individuals in Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware (and beyond!) to short-term or accelerated career education.
With access to accredited degrees—associate, bachelor’s and master’s—through University of Massachusetts Global, certification programs through Clarion University, and training offerings through education partnerships, JEVS EduConnect provides individuals with flexible, affordable, and achievable post-secondary learning that, in turn, may lead directly to in-demand industry credentials, job placement in higher wage positions, or coveted apprenticeship opportunities.
Both online and hybrid modes are available, and courses include a variety of in-demand fields, such as health care, business, management, communications and education. Working with a personal success coach from JEVS, students will be supported toward graduating/completing the career education program with low or no tuition debt.
JEVS will expand its IT training offerings this spring—thanks to a partnership with Jobs for the Future’s initiative to provide access to education in today’s high-wage, high-demand careers. The certification program is free to students, who will train online for 12 weeks, prepare for the leading industry credential CompTIA A+, and have a direct pipeline to employment.
CTE Programs
JEVS Human Services also offers several career and technical education programs where students experience career pathway/career exploration through a comprehensive curriculum, including:
• hands-on skills training
• mentorship & career coaching
• professional development
• community work experiences & internships
These programs combine in-classroom instruction, as well as work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom. In most cases, at the end of the program, participants—many of whom are youth or of disadvantaged populations—may be equipped with certifications, credentials and skills to then move on to a registered apprenticeship, employment and/or higher education (including JEVS’ Orleans Technical College and JEVS EduConnect Program). Some programs are open to young adults without a high school diploma and help them to prepare to take the GED test or high school equivalency, before they complete the program and move on to the next stage.
More information can be found on each by clicking on the program name:
JEVS IT Pre-Apprenticeship Program
CTE Connections
JEVS operates several programs that provide employment support and services, while connecting clients to career and technical education opportunities—whether they are seeking new skills or need to upgrade their skills to succeed in a competitive job market. Examples include hireAbililty, E3 Power Center City, Work Ready, and The Choice is Yours. PA CareerLink in Suburban Station, Center City Philadelphia, operated by JEVS, also connects individuals who have been laid off or who are out of work to JEVS programs or other CTE providers throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.
Still not sure if CTE is right for you? Meet Melissa and learn how CTE worked for her!
Meet Melissa, a mother of four who decided at 43, that she wanted to hone in on her passion for working with her hands so she took a leap and enrolled in JEVS’ Orleans Technical College’s A/C Refrigeration & Heating program in 2018. Watch her video below and read her story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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As JEVS Human Services continues to partner with employers—throughout Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey—to facilitate opportunities and hiring solutions for the regional skills gap, we will also continue to evolve Career and Technical Education offerings and connections to prepare students from all walks of life for high-demand employment and/or pathways to career success.
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