lUWMItU A California egional a-cility LOS ANGELES JOB CORPS Center for Women Residential and training headquar- ters for Los Angeles Job Corps. New arrivals check into Center Introduction T WAS APPROPRIATE that one of the nation's first Job Corps Centers was located in Los Angeles where new ideas are tradition- ally given a fair trial, for in this receptive climate the bold and innovative educational experiment known as the Job Corps concept has had the opportunity to develop and blos- som into fruition. It was also appropriate that the YWCA with its 112 year history of service to young women and its tradition of pioneering in controversial social issues should be named by the Office of Economic Opportunity as the prime contractor to operate this pilot Center. This is not to say that the YWCA of Los An- geles claims that it is operating a perfect program at the Los Angeles Job Corps Center for Women, or that all of the problems have been solved. The proper implerpentation of any brand new concept is never achieved easily or quickly. It is to say that the Los Angeles Job Corps Center's experience and accomplishment to this point reaffirms: — The basic premise of the need for Job Corps was correct. — The program can be effectively and successfully implemented. The Los Angeles Job Corps Center for Women was opened on June 11, 1965. As the Center passed the two-year mark, it was performing at one of the lowest cost per Corpswoman of any women's Center in the nation, was aver- aging 75% placement of its graduates, and was credited with having outstanding hold- ing power of its enrollees. New found friends in Los Angeles celebrate commencement exercises with graduates. Through arrangements with the city's trade and technical schools, some Corpswomen have an op- portunity to train in unusual vo- cations, such as this Corpswoman in dress designing. What is Job Corps? Looking toward the future. Corps- women are trained in data pro- gramming. Job Corps is a training program for young men and women from 16 to 21 years of age who are looking for a better way of life. They are unskilled, school drop-outs, or unable to find employment. They enroll in Job Corps voluntarily. Some come from broken homes, from poor schools and economically deprived communities — they have low or no skills, but normal and often above aver- age intelligence. Job Corps is a residential program, a 24-hour a day training program. Enrol- lees live in Centers located away from their immediate home environments so that they will be physically removed from the defeatist attitude which may have been the backdrop for their entire lives. The purpose of Job Corps is simply to provide these young people with train- ing so that they are qualified to obtain and to hold jobs and become responsible, productive, tax-paying citizens. The Los Angeles Job Corps Center, located at 1 106 South Broadway with a capacity of 320 young women, is one of eighteen women's urban centers operat- ing in the U.S.A. There are ten urban centers and 91 conservation centers for men in the nation, and two special Job Corps Centers. RESULTS As the Los Angeles Job Corps Center celebrated its second anniversary, over 300 women had been graduated. Naturally as the program progressed and was refined, the caliber of training ad- vanced, Corpswomen were activated into performances of higher quality, and the job placement ratio increased Because of its Los Angeles location, the L.A. Job Corps Center has been able to offer a diverse training program, rang- ing from veterinarian's assistant to data programming. The nation's first Job Corps graduate to become an airline stewardess trained at the Los Angeles Center. It was the L.A. Center that pro- duced Job Corps' first lady barber and its first radio-television servicewoman. The Los Angeles Center also developed Job Corps' first Licensed Vocational Nursing program, and this is fully accredited by the State of California. However, despite its wide range of vocational training and its noteworthy "firsts", the Los Angeles Center strives continuously to match training with employment opportunities, and the majority of Los Angeles Job Corpswomen have been graduated in the clerical and business training fields, are clerk-typists, stenographers and file clerks in both private and government jobs. Corpswomen are treated to a free day at the zoo. Concern for the Total Woman Administrators of the Los Angeles Center learned early that Job Corps training at its best should be involved with the total development and growth of the woman. Today, only budget re- strictions prevent this philosophy from being carried out as completely as would be desired. Within the framework of the allocated budget, however, the Los An- Women live at the Center throughout their entire Job Corps training. Center Director Miss Mary E. Doolittle helping Corps- women decorate the building for Christmas. geles Center eflfects a program of concern for the total woman — operating a "ther- apeutic community" that integrates all experiences from orientation to gradua- tion, including basic education, voca- tional instruction, counseling and guid- ance, health education and recreation and health services. Orientation Training in home and family life is an important part of Corpswomen's instruction. Training of a Coqjswoman begins the moment she walks into the Center with a comprehensive orientation pro- gram designed to acquaint her with all facets of both the responsibilities and the opportunities awaiting her. The orienta- tion period was intensified when it be- came obvious that most of the drop-outs occurred during the first month. With the new orientation system, the Los An- geles Center increased its retention to 91.7 percent. '^^^.^/i1i. Heart of the basic education system is the reading laboratory. Basic Education Classes in basic education are de- signed to meet the individual educational needs of each Corpswoman as related to her vocational training courses, includ- ing instruction in language skills, math, public affairs, science, and health edu- cation. Special emphasis is placed on home and family life training including cooking, nutrition, personal and family health, hygiene, home nursing, clothing, family finance, grooming and insights into the inter-personal relationships of a family unit. A program that will enable a Corpswoman to receive the equivalent of a high school diploma (General Equivalency Diploma) is provided for those Corpswomen with the ability and when it is a requisite for vocational train- ing courses. It is difficult to draw a composite picture of the education assets and liabil- ities of the entering Job Corps enrollees; however, expressed in averages the typi- cal Los Angles Corpswoman would be 18'/2 years old and have completed 10.5 grade levels in school. Often there is little correlation between the last grade completed in school and scores on edu- cational achievement. The range of scores is very wide. In reading for exam- ple, there are some who are non-readers or functionally illiterate. At the upper ranges, there are some enrollees who read at an appropriate grade level. The profile of a typical Job Corpswoman, as measured on standardized tests, would on the average be as follows: Reading, language and social studies — 6th to 7th grade Mathematics, 5th to 6th grade level At the Los Angeles Center, students from the surrounding colleges and uni- versities serve as volunteer tutors, supple- menting the work of the full-time educa- tion staff. An innovation of the Los An- geles Center is "Operation Spearhead" which is a prevocational world of work type experience in which Corpswomen assist in the cafeteria for a period of sev- eral weeks. This program seeks to begin the development of those on-the-job characteristics sought by employers and also to acquaint Corpswomen with the area of food services as a possible voca- tional goal. Los Angeles Job Corpswomen also work in the Center as a part of their basic education and vocational training pro- grams. The kinds of jobs which follows: Art Room Aide Big Sister (orientation) Canteen Aide Clean-up Project Front Desk Assistant Graduation Assistant Home and Family Aide Library Assistant they do are as Physical Fitness (Gym Assistant) Resident Advisor Assistant Student Newspaper Aide Student Speaker and Panelist Swimming Pool Aide Tour Guide Weekly Calendar Assistant Vocational Training Corpswomen have an opportunity for vocational exploration through tours of local business and industrial companies. Corpswomen are exposed to the world of work through tours, speakers, film strips, demonstrations and discussion groups with advanced Corpswomen and alumni during the orientation and basic education periods. Following this, appro- priate staff meet with each Corpswoman to help her determine her vocational goal and ascertain her continuing basic edu- tional needs in relation to this. About 70 percent of the Los Angeles Job Corpswomen are trained in the Cen- ter at 1 1th and Broadway, while 20 per- cent take on-the-job training, and the other 10 percent are enrolled in the city's trade and technical schools. IN CENTER Vocational training in health servi- ces including instruction for nursing aides, nursing assistants and licensed vo- cational nursing are offered in the Cen- ter. Clerical skills offering a wide range of job levels including file clerk, clerk typist, steno clerk, dictating machine op- erator, duplicating machine operator and business machine operator are also taught at the Center. Electronic training is made avail- able to women who show interest and ap- titude. The Center places almost a 100% of the LVN's. Nursing Director, GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL "Two employees . . . both Licensed Vocational Nurses. They are doing a very good job, measuring up to LVN's from other training. They are also motivated to continue train- ing and education and have registered for R. N. Training. They have been on the job for seven months. This is also first job obtained." OFF CENTER On the job training has been devel- oped to help meet special needs of indi- vidual Corpswomen. Some 150 local business companies and groups in Los Angeles have cooperated with this phase of the vocational program, training wo- men to be: Accounting Clerk Trainee Bank Teller Contact Lens Lab Technician Duplicating Machine Operator Electronic Assembler Food Service Floral Arranger Laboratory Assistant Medical Assistant Nursery School Aide Physical Therapy Aide Photo Finisher Reservation Clerk Sales Veterinarian Assistant Wig Styling Local business men participate in graduation ceremonies. This Corpswoman is taking her work experience in the nursery aide program by working with a Head Start child. Contract Schools Corpswomen with special skills or needs are placed in the city's trade or technical schools in such fields as bar- bering, cosmetology or dental assistants. The specific kinds of training which Los Angeles Job Corpswomen may receive under this arrangement are listed: Barbering Bookbinding Color TV and Radio Cosmetology Data Processing Dental Assistant Fashion Design Girl Friday Grocery Checker Home Catering Laboratory Technician Legal Secretary Library Assistant Nursery School Teacher Power Sewing Registered Nurse Theatrical Arts All training programs are provided with a work experience of at least one month out of the Center before place- ment, and this may be extended if the Corpswoman's performance necessitates it. The vocational training department also operates a job placement service for graduates. A majority of women choose the clerical field for their vocational training. Cosmetology is another area for which Los Angeles Job Corps women are trained. Corpswomen preparing to participate in the Governor's Youth Conference. An important part of the Corpswomen's lives are weekly group counseling sessions. The physical fitness program encompasses an opportunity for the Corpswomen to develop creative outlets in dance. Counseling and Guidance 10 Undergirding the overall training program as an integral part of the thera- peutic community is the counseling and guidance staff. Young people everywhere have problems, unique to their age-group — ask any parent. Job Corpswomen are no different, excepting their particular backgrounds tend to intensify and in- crease their problems. Some of these sit- uations are more easiy remedied than others of a more serious nature. Exper- ience has shown however, that all Corps- women must make some kind of personal and social adjustments if they are to reach their vocational goals. It is the res- ponsibility of the counseling and guid- ance staff to help Corpswomen make these adjustments successfully. In order to accomplish this, professional coun- selors and resident advisors are as- signed to each residential floor where they have their offices and work as a staff team with Corpswomen providing both group and individual counseling. The counseling and guidance de- partment also sponsors the Student Coun- cil and organizations from each of the six residential floors, and through this means is able to guide and direct the Corpswomen into constructive channels of learning activities such as conducting elections, holding officers training ses- sions and conducting center wide as- semblies. Counseling and guidance personnel are also responsible for handling prob- lems involving Corpswomen's parents, boy-friends, contact with the WICS (Women in Community Service who handle screening of Job Corps appli- cants), and work very closely with all other departments within the Center. Constructive coeducational activities are ar- ranged for Corpswomen. Fitness expert Jack LaLanne helped establish the Center's "Pounds A-GoGo" facility. Health Education and Recreation Women are encouraged to develop avocatlonal interests in arts and crafts as a part of their total development. Los Angeles Job Corps officials learned early that to maintain a healthy and stable environment in the 13-story facility housing some 300 young wo- men of varied interests and background that a structured program of health education, recreation, and avocational interests was a must for a successful Job Corps operation. At the Los Angeles Center the rec- reation and activities department holds regularly scheduled classes in physical education in team sports, individual sports, modern dance and physical fit- ness. Opportunities for creative expres- sion and constructive use of leisure time are provided through special interest groups such as modern dance, swimming, art, drama, and crafts. Volunteers from the Los Angeles community assist the professional staff in providing a well- rounded program. This department is also charged with the responsibility of organizing co-educational activities with community agencies, military bases, and men's Job Corps Centers. An important part of the center life is the participation of corpswomen in service projects for the community. Corpswomen are also en- couraged to become a part of off-center activities so that they may become more integrated into the community. 11 Community Relations Because of the public's continuing interest in Job Corps, a community re- lations person coordinates requests for speakers, tours of the building, answers inquiries and works with the Community Relations council. ' Health Services Health services are a vital part of the Job Corps operation and are a far more important budget item than was ever anticipated when Job Corps was conceived. About 7 percent of the total operating budget is allocated for this purpose. ITT-GILFILLAN, Personnel Director — ABOUT JOB CORPS TRAINEES "Corpswomen working out well, ex- tremely pleased with performance — impressed with capability of people coming from Job Corps — training ex- cellent." +iiai- r +1+1, +1 + Los Angeles community women take an active interest in Corpswomen such as this group who donated Bibles. Corpswomen and Job Corps teacher selected to represent the U.S.A. at the World's Fair. r. Health services also help to introduce Corpswomen to the health field as a vocation. 12 TV personality Ann B. Davis at the "Miss Job Corps" contest. Mayor Sam Yorty of Los An- geles is presented with a "Thank You" citation by Job Corpswomen. Officials Visit Los Angeles Job Corps The Los Angeles Job Corps Center For Women encourages both the pubHc and the elected officials to visit the Center and learn about the program and how it operates. Corpswomen usually serve as guides for these tours. Mrs. Robert G. Blanchard, YWCA president, with Sar- gent Shriver, director of the Office of Economic Oppor- tunity. Representative Alphonzo Bell talking to Job Corpswomen. Congressman Edward Roybal visiting the Center at Christmas. The Los Angeles Job Corps Center has devel- oped an innovative exit program for some of its grad- uating Corpswomen: Corpswomen in advanced vocational training have an opportunity to reside at the YWCA's Clark Residence. This provides an integrated program with women outside the Center as well as a planned pro- gram of guidance and counseling aimed toward job and full community entry. As a result of this pilot program, the National YWCA developed a plan whereas graduates from other Job Corps Centers will be living in similar situations in twenty-seven YWCA residences across the nation. All Corpswomen participate in an exit program that includes job interview techniques, preparation of applications, how to find job information, exit testing and counseling, and use of community re- sources such as health, legal, recreational and edu- cational. Corpswomen in advanced training who live at the YWCA's Clark Residence. 14 L':" S-Dl/THfRN Hf|,|-|f^i, ,,c;c.c.. -. D 000 528 671 "'T The place of the Job Corps in social planning is still somewhat tenuous. Somewhere, somehow, however, the Los Angeles Job Corps Center and its sponsors, the YWCA of Los Angeles, hopes there will be provision for those women who say: "To me the Job Corps means hope, opportunity, education, a better job someday, and a brighter fu- ture." "To me, Job Corps is like a path — a path lead- ing to the future — a future which gives an indi- vidual equal opportunity to compete with the world around him. Then again Job Corps is hope; hope that one day I'll be able to make my own evaluations about life and successfully make them work for me". And so on the second anniversary, the YWCA of Los Angeles and the Job Corps Center staff dedi- cate this Center for young women ... to courage . . . to freedom ... to vision ... to learning ... to ac- complishment. Questions People Ask About Job Corps! Yes, the women must adhere to certain rules and regulations. If they do not, they are sub- ject to discipline by the Center's Review Board. No, women living in Los Angeles do not come to the Los Angeles Job Corps. They are sent to other Centers away from their immediate home environment. Los Angeles Job Corpswomen come from 33 states and are from varied ethnic back- grounds, including 32% Caucasian, 32% Negro, 16% Mexican American, 3% Indian, 16% Hawaiian, and 1% Oriental. No, Job Corps is not a correctional program for juveniles. The problems which most of them have emanates from their lack of ac- complishment or opportunity to achieve, not from any deficiency in their moral character. ^\ Yes, a Job Corpswomen receives an allowance of $30. a month, minus taxes. Pay may be deducted if the Corpswoman does not adhere to rules. Yes, there is a professional staff of 78 per- sons plus a support staff who administer the Job Corps program. Yes, tours of the building and Job Corps speakers for your group may be arranged, contact Community Relations. Business companies and groups wishing to cooperate with the Job Corps program by providing work experience for trainees or permanent jobs for graduates are asked to contact the Director of the Vocational Train- ing Department. Los Angeles women who are interested in joining Job Corps should contact the Los An- geles Women In Community Service (WICS), 654 Ardmore Avenue, L. A. 90004, telephone 661-2154 to apply for admission, NOT the Los Angeles Job Corps Center. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 495 Hilgarii Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. SRLF OCT 051^92 TheLo 1106Soutl Telephone Miss Mary PRIME CC Y WC A Y prs Universit^^ Southe; Librai 16