CHESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION

THE SUCCESS TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM HAS TWO COMPONENTS, SUMMER AND SCHOOLYEAR. THE 6-WEEK SUMMER STEP PROGRAM'S FOCUS IS THE PAID INTERNSHIP. PARTICIPANTS ARE PLACED WITH LOCAL NON-PROFIT OR PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYERS FOR WHICH THEY ARE PAID 10.35/HOUR BY CEF. THE EMPLOYERS PROVIDE ENTRY LEVEL JOBS; ON THE JOB TRAINING; MENTORING AND FEEDBACK TO THE STUDENT AND CEF. THIS IS OFTEN THE STUDENTS' FIRST PAID EXPERIENCE AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT WORKPLACE EXPECTATIONS, TEAMWORK AND MANAGING A PAYCHECK, ALL OF WHICH ARE GUIDED BY CEF'S MONITORS WHO VISIT WORKSITES DAILY. STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE STEP SCHOOLYEAR PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT CHESTER HIGH SCHOOL, STEM HIGH SCHOOL, CHESTER CHARTER SCHOLAR'S ACADEMY, AND SEVERAL PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS. SCHOOL-YEAR STEP ALSO INCLUDES A PAID INTERNSHIP OF 6-10 HOURS/WEEK PLUS AFTER-SCHOOL SESSIONS. MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO ASSIST WITH AFTER- SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND TUTORING IN CHESTER'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. EACH PARTICIPANT ALSO AGREES TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR ACADEMIC, PERSONAL OR COLLEGE PREPARATION GOALS, INCLUDING THE BOTVIN LIFESKILLS TRANSITIONS PROGRAM (LST), TUTORING, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, CREDIT RECOVERY, JOB AND CAREER READINESS TRAINING. STEP PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE BASED ON FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR LOW INCOME AND AT LEAST ONE BARRIER TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS WHICH CAN INCLUDE PREVIOUS OR CURRENT INVOLVEMENT WITH JUVENILE COURT, LEARNING DISABILITIES, TEEN PREGNANCY, TRUANCY, AND LOW ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS (BFS) IS AN INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OPERATED BY CEF THAT SEEKS TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH AGES 18-24 WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF CHESTER AND/OR DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. PROVIDING OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH WITH A STRUCTURED AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH INTENSIVE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT SERVICES THAT ASSIST THEM IN DISCOVERING AND PURSUING CAREER PATHWAYS, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING IN IN-DEMAND FIELDS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THEIR SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRAJECTORY. THE SUCCESS OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM RELIES ON STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND EMPLOYERS COMMITTED TO HELPING YOUTH SUCCEED.