Job Assistance Programs

You have access to many programs that will give you experience and increase your job options, even if you have not finished high school.

Texas Workforce Commission

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) offers services and resources related to finding a job and developing your job skills. TWC has an excellent website for students to use for education and career planning. Foster youth are a priority population for services, which means you can qualify for special programs including training, summer employment, and childcare assistance. The best way to access these services is to talk to transition center staff, your PAL staff, your transition support case manager, and others with contacts at the TWC. Often somebody from the TWC works at the local transition center. The TWC staff will know more about your eligibility as a foster youth for programs and services. They will also have information about local job-related programs.

Youth in foster care and young adults who aged out of foster care can now access free driver education services through the TWC. See Free Program to Pay for Driver Education.

Job Corps

Job Corps is a free program that helps youth aged 16–24 learn a trade, obtain a high school diploma or GED certificate, and find a permanent job. Job Corps offers hands-on training in more than 100 job areas. The program is self-paced, which means that the length of the program depends on your career goals and how quickly you learn.

It can take from eight months to two years to complete the Job Corps program. While enrolled in Job Corps, you receive free housing, meals, basic medical care, and a living allowance.

If you want to apply for Job Corps, you must be a U.S. citizen or legally eligible to work in the U.S., have limited financial resources (in other words, not have a lot of money), not be on probation or under the supervision of a criminal court, and not use illegal drugs.

Texas currently has four Job Corps sites. These sites are in Laredo, El Paso, San Marcos, and Dallas. To learn more about Job Corps in Texas and how you can apply, visit the Job Corps website or call (800) 733-5627.

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps State and National provides programs to youth aged 17 or older to work full- or part-time in nonprofit, faith-based, and government organizations. Nonprofit programs receive funds to address critical community needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.

The programs recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members. An allowance is provided to all young adults in the programs. Some programs provide housing. The programs last 10–12 months. You may also be able to get additional money for college if you finish the AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps also offers a few other programs in Texas:

  • AmeriCorps VISTA: VISTA members help lift people and communities out of poverty by serving full-time to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, and increase housing opportunities.
  • AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps): a 10-month, full-time residential program for youth between the ages of 18–24. Participants work with charities and government groups to complete service projects.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the AmeriCorps website or call (800) 942-2677 for more information about any of the AmeriCorps programs.

To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try. — Rosa Parks