History

Jobs for Virginia Graduates (JVG) was restarted in Virginia in 1997. The program is affiliated with the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program. JAG originated in Delaware in 1979 and has been successfully replicated in 26 states and territories in over 725 schools across 400 communites

Overview

Jobs for Virginia Graduates (JVG) is incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with the purpose of serving Virginia’s most disadvantaged and at-risk youth in graduating high school and transitioning from school to work.

Building on the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) national model, and led by a public-private sector Board of Directors with the Department of Education, JVG is one of the state’s initiatives for reducing dropout rate and improving school to work transition. JVG functions through Virginia’s public school system, and in concert with state employment programs.

JVG MISSION

The mission of Jobs for Virginia Graduates is to assist at-risk and disadvantaged youth in graduating from high school and then obtaining and keeping quality jobs.

PROGRAM FEATURES

The method used to operate this program includes a unique combination of in-school and out-of-school servies provided by a job specialist.

Key Elements:

Employability skills curriculum featuring core competencies based instruction - including units on career planning and decision making, job seeking, job retention, basic academics, leadership and self-development, and personal skills.
Virginia Career Association - a motivational student organization which fosters the development of personal responsibility, leadership, decision making, and assertiveness skills and provides recognition for positive achievement.
Job development and placement - meaningful job opportunities with advancment potential are matched with job-ready, motivated graduates involved in the JVG program.
Post graduation follow-up - graduates and their employers are provided twelve months of follow-up assistance to facilitate students’ successful transition into the labor market and/or post secondary education.
Active partnership between government, labor, and business organizations, educational institutions, and the community.