Empowering Center For Employment And Career Development

TO ENSURE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION THAT PROMOTES SUCCESS IN THE COMMUNITY BY SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION SUPPORT, RELATED SERVICES SUPPORT, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, AND CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT PROMOTES STUDENT'S INDEPENDENCE.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE:THIS PROGRAM BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER 2009 TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. THE FAILURE RATE IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS (DCPS) HAS REACHED UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS ARE PLACED IN SUCH ISOLATED ENVIRONMENTS WITH LOW ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATIONS THAT THEY ARE NOT PREPARED FOR LIFE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.THE STAFF ARE ALL CERTIFIED EDUCATORS WHO WILL PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPECIAL NEEDS PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM 7 A.M. TO 7 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. DCPS WILL PROVIDE A RECENTLY RENOVATED UNUSED DC PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR THE PROGRAM. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE STRONG COMMITMENT TO FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AND EMPHASIZE ITS CRITICAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING HIGH ACHIEVEMENT, ACCESS TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER SUCCESSFUL ADULT OUTCOMES. THEY ALIGN OUR PROGRAM MISSION, POLICIES, PROCEDURE, DATA, AND RESOURCES TO EQUITABLY SERVE ALL YOUTH AND ENSURE THE PROVISION OF A UNIFIED AND FLEXIBLE ARRAY OF PROGRAMS, SERVICES, ACCOMODATIONS AND SUPPORT.BOOTCAMP IS ONE OF THE PHASES OF THIS PROGRAM. THIS PHASE REFERS TO OUR INTENSIVE REMEDIATION PROGRAM TO HELP STUDENTS GAIN THE NECESSARY, BASIC ACADEMIC, PERSONAL, SOCIAL, WORKPLACE, SELF-MANAGEMENT, AND CAREER EXPOSURE SKILLS TO BE SUCCESFUL IN POST SECONDARY EDUCATION OR THE CAREER TRAINING THEY CHOOSE. THE BOOTCAMP PHASE OF THE PROGRAM WILL:1. PROVIDE INTENSIVE ACADEMIC REMEDIATION.2. PROVIDE YOUTH EDUCATION AND PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES PROMOTING CAREER AWARENESS AND EXPLORATION.3. PROVIDE ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC COURSES AND PROGRAMS.4. ESTABLISH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR BENEFICIAL WORK EXPERIENCES.5. ESTABLISH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR VIABLE CAREER PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES.6. ASSIST YOUTH IN DEFINING THEIR INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS, DESIRES AND FUTURE GOALS.ANOTHER PHASE OF THIS PROGRAM IS CAREER TRAINING. THIS PHASE OF THE PROGRAM WILL EMPOWER STUDENTS TO UTILIZE THE SKILLS AND THEIR OWN ABILITIES DEVELOPED IN THE BOOTCAMP PHASE TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY CAREER TRAINING, WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND EMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES WITH THEIR NON-DISABLED PEERS. WE HAVE EXPANDED THIS PHASE TO INCLUDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING WITH JOB SKILLS TRAINING LEADING TO EMPLOYMENT. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN ENHANCED TO INCLUDE A BROADER SPECTRUM OF YOUTH AND FOCUSES ON SKILLS WHERE JOBS ARE AVAILABLE IN LOCAL METROPOLITAN AREAS. WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE VIABLE PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. WE FOCUS ON AREAS OF YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE WORK-READINESS, SKILLS TRAINING, VOCATIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS, PAID INTERNSHIPS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.THE CAREER TRAINING PHASE OF THE PROGRAM WILL:1. ENSURE YOUTH ACQUIRE THE SKILLS, BEHAVIOURS, AND ATTITUDES THAT ENABLE LEARNING AND GROWTH OF SELF-AWARENESS, SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.2. ENSURE THAT YOUTH ATTAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY LIFE.3. PROVIDE YOUTH THE PLATFORM TO DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO INDEPENDENTLY MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND CHOICES.4. FUNCTION AS A MEDIUM TO CONNECT YOUTH TO AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS, SERVICES, ACCOMODATIONS, AND SUPPORT BASED ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLANNING PROCESS.5. ENSURE INCLUSION AND EXPOSURE TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WITH NON-DISABLED PEERS IN COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT.6. HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE TECHNICAL TRAINING THAT LEADS TO INDUSTRY-APPROVED CERTIFICATION AND/OR LICENSURE.