Jewish Vocational Service Programs for Youth with Disabilities

As part of their youth programs, JVS operates seven different programs that help youth with disabilities explore, experience, and transition to the world of work, including the following:

- Work Resource Program (WRP) - a nationally honored, yearlong vocational training program for youth with disabilities offered in Special Education classrooms throughout the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD); WRP covers career exploration, work readiness and job search skills. Additionally, this program provides volunteer internship opportunities through collaboration with the Volunteer Center of San Francisco (VCSF), and employer site visits through collaboration with San Francisco School Volunteers (SFSV).

- Youth Employment Programs - Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services for in-school and out-of-school youth with disabilities.

- Mayor's Youth Education and Employment Program (MYEEP) - year-round internships in public and nonprofit agencies.

- REACH - an eight-week computer skills training program, offered three times per year for 15 youth per cycle, which covers Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet applications.

- WorkLab - a High School/High Tech (HS/HT) Program that includes services such as career exploration, job shadowing, employer site visits, and paid internships; also provides job development, placement, and support activities for youth with disabilities.

The Jewish Vocational Service's (JVS) mission is to bring people and work together. The organization accomplishes this by linking employers and individuals together to achieve the employment goals of the Jewish community by providing the skills necessary for success in today's workplace. JVS links employers and individuals to work together to achieve their employment goals through high quality customer service, innovative program strategies, and the use of new technologies.

-The HS/HT program served 53 youth with disabilities who were enrolled in or who had recently completed high school over the two-year ODEP grant cycle.

-The High Tech Work-Based Learning program provided 43 youth with work-based learning activities, including internships for 20 youth, job-shadowing for 13 youth, site visits for 15 youth, and technology training for 28 youth.

-Accessibility and usability of programs by youth with disabilities increased

-Long-term case management services were provided to 44 youth.

-94% of youth agreed or strongly agreed that their job was a positive experience for them.