Program Implementation

Tips to Implementation: The program is a community effort (including service providers, employers, and schools). Partnerships are crucial to the success of the JET program. Other agencies provide the expertise to address barriers to employment. It is also imperative to have individualized programs for participants. Participants differ in their backgrounds, including education, skills, family issues, personal issues, and access to resources. A barrier to implementation is transportation, so it is important to bring the necessary resources to participants by having them on site.

Keys to Success:

• Partnerships with other agencies
• Focus on personalized, individual attention for participants
• Providing education at multiple levels
• Bringing resources to participants

Challenges: Limited funding is a challenge. Securing grant money in addition to State and Federal funds has helped. Service provider staff turnover is another challenge.

Other Lessons Learned: Having a timetable will make program implementation easier. Also, constant fine tuning of the program negatively affects service providers.