THE WORK GROUP INC

THE WORK GROUP (TWG) IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT CORPORATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO EQUIP AT-RISK YOUTH IN TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD WITH THE SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND CONFIDENCE TO BECOME SELF-DIRECTED, SELF-SUFFICIENT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PRODUCTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. THE WORK GROUP OPERATES THE NJ YOUTH CORPS OF CAMDEN COUNTY, A VOLUNTARY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND WORK READINESS PROGRAM FOR OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH AGES 16 TO 25. YOUTH CORPS PROVIDES HOLISTIC YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTERED PROGRAMMING. IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, THE WORK GROUP PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH WORK READINESS SKILL TRAINING, COMMUNITY BASED SERVICE PROJECTS, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, CUSTOMER SERVICE CREDENTIALING, CASE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, COUNSELING, AND A HOST OF OTHER SERVICES. WE ACCEPT APPROXIMATELY 80 OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH ANNUALLY WHO AT ADMISSION HAVE MET THE MINIMUM ENTRANCE CRITERIA OF A 6.0 READING AND MATH GRADE LEVEL. MOST OF OUR STUDENTS ARE 16 TO 24 YEARS OF AGE, AND HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL AT LEAST TWO YEARS. OVER 90% OF OUR YOUTH CORPS STUDENTS ATTENDED SCHOOL IN CAMDEN CITY, ITS STUDENTS ARE BY DEFINITION AMONG THE LEAST PREPARED IN THE STATE. THEIR LACK OF BELIEF IN THE FUTURE IS EXACERBATED BY ALL THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH URBAN POVERTY: INADEQUATE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, UNEMPLOYMENT, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, VIOLENT CRIME, DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY LIFE, NEGATIVE PEER GROUPS AND SO FORTH. THE WORK GROUP FOCUSES ITS ATTENTION ON THE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OF CAMDEN'S YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY, WORK-CENTERED ACTIVITIES, BELIEVING THAT HELPING THEM BECOME EFFECTIVE IN THE WORKPLACE IS THE CLEAREST PATH TO ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY. THE WORK GROUP'S YOUTH CORPS EXPERIENCE IS A RIGOROUS ONE - A FULL-TIME COMBINATION OF ACADEMICS LEADING TO THE GED, WORK EXPERIENCE THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE, WORK READINESS TRAINING, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT COUNSELING. THIS IS A FULL-TIME EIGHT MONTH PROGRAM WHICH RUNS FIVE DAYS A WEEK, SEVEN HOURS A DAY. THE WORK GROUP IS THE ONLY YOUTH SERVICE AGENCY IN THE STATE OF NJ TO RECEIVE NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ITS WORK IN THE FIELD. 85% OF ALL ATTENDEES COMPLETE THE EIGHT MONTH PROGRAM AND BETWEEN 85%-90% OF THESE STUDENTS ARE PLACED IN JOBS OR POST SECONDARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING. ONE THIRD OF ALL PARTICIPANTS OBTAIN THEIR GED WHILE IN THE PROGRAM, DOUBLE THE NATIONAL GED PASS RATE. ON AVERAGE, THE WORK GROUP'S YOUTH CORPS PROVIDES MORE THAN 10,000 HOURS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY EACH YEAR.