Job Corps
Job Corps is a free educational and vocational training program with campuses across the state.
A youth must be at least seventeen and a half (17.5) years old to be placed in a Job Corps center. A memo requesting approval must be submitted from the service region through the Transitional Services Branch to the Division of Protection and Permanency's (DPP's) Director's Office for consideration for a youth to reside at a Job Corps center. The memo should be drafted and submitted by the SSW and reviewed by the independent living specialist (ILS), family service office supervisor (FSOS), service region clinical administrator (SRCA), and service region administrator (SRA) to include the following information:
- Updated DPP-886A;
- Placement search efforts;
- Explanation supporting why Job Corps is the most appropriate placement for the youth;
- Youth's education level;
- History of drug use, violent/aggressive behaviors, mental health concerns, criminal history, or sexual misconduct;
- Youth identified with a disability or IQ of seventy (70) or below; abd
- Additional supports recommended for youth if approved for Job Corps.
The memo must be signed, either hard copy or electronically, by regional leadership.
Foster youth age eighteen (18) or older who are on extended commitment to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS/Cabinet) are permitted to reside at a Job Corps center without additional approval.
The SSW will ensure that the youth has appropriate placement when Job Corps is not in session.
College Campus
The SSW will notify the ILS when a youth plans to live on a college campus. The ILS will conduct a campus consult meeting with the youth and assist the youth in completing the college application process.
Youth must be at least seventeen (17.5) years old to live on a college campus. A memo must be sent to the Transitional Services Branch for youth between age seventeen (17.5) and eighteen (18) years old requesting to live on a college campus. The memo should be sent through the regional ILS, through the Transitional Services Branch Manager, to the director of DPP. Youth aged eighteen (18) and older do not need approval from central office and should follow normal regional placement practices.
Youth planning to reside on a college campus must be placed with a scattered site independent living program (ILP). The SSW should specify ILP search and what school the youth will attend when completing the DPP-886A Application for Referral and Needs Assessment if the youth is requesting to live in a dorm setting.
Military Academy/School
A youth in the custody of CHFS is not permitted to be placed in a military academy or school.
Military Training while on extended commitment
Foster youth interested in enlisting into the military while on extended commitment are typically not permitted to remain in care, however, a request may be submitted to the DPP director for consideration while attending basic training. A memo requesting approval for a youth to remain in care while attending basic training must be submitted from the service region through the Transitional Services Branch to the director of DPP office for consideration. The memo should be drafted and submitted by the SSW and reviewed by the ILS, FSOS, SRCA, and SRA. The SSW will coordinate with the regional ILS to secure payment for a storage unit for the youth's belongings through Youth Development Funds if arrangements cannot be made with the youth's placement. The youth must be willing to communicate with the SSW once a month through email, mail, and/or phone. The youth will be responsible for notifying the SSW timely of the expected return date so the SSW can send out a placement search prior to the youth's return from basic training.