As summer rapidly draws to a close and fall approaches, I want to thank you all for the hard work you continue to provide toward our students’ futures. I am honored to have each and every one of you as a colleague and am thankful for your dedication to improving the lives of our students and building a future that they can be proud of.
And speaking of pride, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, which recognizes the achievements of Hispanic Americans who have achieved greatness in their community. Some17%of all Job Corps students are Hispanic or Latino, and we want to celebrate their culture and history during this month.
From famous artists and musicians such as Noro Morales and Laurindo Almeida to leaders in our government such as Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor, we are so thankful for these Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced our nation and heritage. Check out theofficial websitefor more information, including virtual events that help celebrate this special month.
National Suicide Prevention Month
On a serious note, I want to talk about an issue that is not talked about enough, especially among young people: our mental health. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, one in three young adults (ages
18–25) experienced a mental illness in 2020. The National Institute of Mental Health also found that suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people ages 10–34. These are statistics that have affected everyone’s lives personally in one way or another.
I want to be very clear with every single staff member here at Job Corps. It is OK not to be OK. It’s more than OK to ask for help. We’re doing our part to destigmatize counseling and mental health support services by offering them widely, talking about them, and encouraging staff and students to use them. Because they are needed, now more than ever.
Mental Health Resources Available to Job Corps Students
Job Corps proudly provides various ways to help our students learn to manage symptoms and behaviors associated with mental health through our Mental Health and Wellness Program, using an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach. You as staff members can help provide several different resources to support them.
Every Job Corps center has a Center Mental Health Consultant (CMHC), who are licensed mental health professionals (psychologists, social workers and professional counselors). Please encourage students to take advantage of their presence and reach out to them whenever they are struggling or just need someone to talk to.
Students may rely on your Trauma-Informed Approach (TIA) training, which promotes a culture of safety, collaboration and empowerment to promote mental health and substance recovery.
CMHC has also added tele-mental health services through videoconferencing, telephone calls and text messages. We have also launched a 24-hour toll-free telephone number for urgency-based counseling, behavioral health and problem solving for students and staff. The Job Corps Safety Hotline is always on at 844-JC1-SAFE or through the JC1SAFE app. Please do your part in making sure our students know how to use this hotline.
While not a Job Corps resource specifically, in 2020, Congress designated the new 988 phone number to help people who are experiencing a crisis or thinking about suicide. While the number is new, the service is not. It operates through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s network of over 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers across the country. On July 16, 2022, the U.S. transitioned to using the 988 phone number. That’s it—just 988.
I Want To Hear About Your Job Corps Wins!
We faced many challenges over this past year, and it was no small task overcoming them! We want to celebrate all of our students’ successes, big or small, and promote the remarkable things they have accomplished. Whether it was a pre-apprenticeship, landing a dream job or volunteering in your community, we are so proud of everything you have done to help them accomplish.
We’re always looking to highlight our students and graduates on the official Job Corps social media pages. Visit this page https://info.joinjobcorps.com/social to learn more about how they can be featured!
If you or your center wants to share a Job Corps Win to be featured in an upcoming newsletter, please e-mail the details and any accompanying photos or videos to news@doljobcorps.com.
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Job Corps, 200 Constitution Ave NW, Suite N4463, Washington, DC 20210, 800-733-JOBS (5627)
Job Corps is a U.S. Department of Labor Equal Opportunity Employer Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TDD/TTY telephone number is (877) 889-5627.