Education: GED & WEP
General Educational Development (GED)
A General Educational Development (GED) program is available to clients of Harborcreek Youth Services who have experienced little or no success in traditional educational settings, whose age suggests they will not complete their formal education, or whose placing agencies have requested that they be assigned to the program. Clients study independently in a guided classroom setting and/or in extensive homework contracts in preparation for taking the GED.
Work Experience Program (WEP)
The Work Experience Program (WEP) was established as a part of the agency's educational program for clients who have already earned a diploma or a GED. It also accepts clients who are studying for a GED.
The Benefits of Real-World Experiences
Our Work Experience Program enables clients to:
Gain valuable work skills
Develop a positive work ethic
Develop skills for independent living
Earn money for restitution or savings
Enhance their self-perception
Earn a GED
WEP emphasizes work experience; therefore, most of the clients' time is spent on job sites. While it is more important to develop a good work ethic than to acquire specific job skills, WEP participants gain valuable experience in a variety of fields. These include commercial kitchen/laundry, housekeeping, landscaping/lawn maintenance, general maintenance, painting, demolition/salvage, woodworking, auto detailing, basic construction and general labor.
For the past several years, WEP clients have volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. In this capacity, clients gain a wealth of knowledge related to construction and building rehabilitation; however, Habitat for Humanity projects are much more than opportunities to acquire new skills. Of equal importance is the lesson that all of us have an obligation to contribute to our communities and to help those in need. WEP participants donate an average of 80 to 120 hours a month to Habitat for Humanity and we look forward to maintaining a positive relationship with that organization for many years to come.
The overwhelming majority of clients who participate in WEP leave Harborcreek Youth Services with feelings of confidence, pride and satisfaction in what they have accomplished.
Small Engine Repair Program
What do kids learn in this program?
Science: How gasoline changes from liquid to a vapor, principles of electricity, electron flow, voltage, resistance, AC & DC currents, and electromagnetism
Chemistry: How gasoline provides heat energy
Physics: Linear and rotary motion, torque as a measurement of force
Mathematics: Measuring materials within .001 inch, calculating displacement and compression ratios
Reading: How to read and use repair manuals
Technology: Online learning through researching and looking up parts
Harborcreek Youth Services offers a wide array of therapies, activities, and programs that are available to the youth served here. Thanks to a PACTT grant in 2019, this lineup includes our Small Engine Repair Program. The program provides students with a working knowledge of small engine repair that can help the participants gain employment in that field. Educational instructor Tim Holden also utilized grant funding for training to become a Certified Master Service Technician and leads the program.
Our goal is to assist in the development of entry-level skills required by prospective employers in the field of outdoor motorized power equipment mechanics. This baseline skill development is appropriate preparation for kids interested in both advanced technical training and traditional post-secondary education. In addition, this program helps to reinforce the core educational competencies of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as they are applied in the real world.
The program takes about six to eight weeks to complete. Class sizes consist of four to five students per session. This hands-on program has been a welcomed enhancement to the already diverse programming options we have here at HYS.
For more information about the GED and Work Experience Programs, contact Dr. Ann Marie Lathan, Director of Education, at (814) 899-7664.