FY27 TLS Journey to My Better Self Career Academy

The Journey to My Better Self Career Academy (JTMBS-CA) is a program designed to facilitate youth development and deliver intensive employment training and supportive services to help youth (ages 16-20) become job-ready for entry-level employment. The program consists of two phases: Career Development and Internship. The Career Development phase includes a four-week workshop providing soft-skills training, career-readiness workshops, and career coaching. The Internship phase involves a six-week workplace internship with support from program staff. The program aims to promote permanency by maintaining, strengthening, and safeguarding the functioning of families, preventing substitute care placement, promoting family reunification, stabilizing foster care placements, facilitating youth development, and ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. • The program will serve youth ages 16-20 with an open DCFS case. • The program will provide a stipend to participants upon completion of Phase I and every two weeks during Phase II. • The program will include data collection, career coaching, and job placement assistance. • The program will be evaluated based on outcomes and metrics, including the percentage of participants completing Phase I and II, pursuing post-secondary education, and achieving career goals.