26 Jun ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF THE NEW VOCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY LAB AT THE ESSEX COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER
Published on June 26, 2019
New Vocational Courses will Provide Students with the Opportunity to Engage in Certified Construction Coursework
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Wednesday, June 26th that students at Sojourn High School, the alternative school in the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, will be able to study in a new vocational program focused on operating construction equipment. The enhanced SIMLOG Vocation Program, which builds upon the existing C-TECH program, will be offered to students in the new simulator lab. Students will complete approximately 30-40 hours on each training unit. Those who successfully pass the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and will have the opportunity to test for industry recognized certifications and credentials.
“At the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, we work diligently to ensure that the youth in our facility receive a good education and are provided with the necessary skills to excel in their future endeavors, either school or the workforce. We are excited that students will have the opportunity to learn a construction skill on state-of-the art equipment and we look forward to their success,” DiVincenzo said. “I commend Director Hughes and Sojourn High School for offering our young residents this opportunity. It is another example of why our Juvenile Detention Center is the best in the State,” he added.
“Having the ability to offer vocational courses is something we are all proud of at the Juvenile Detention Center. This opportunity allows these young adults to leave the facility in a better position than when they arrived, armed with new knowledge and credentials that will help them succeed in their futures. Construction and technology are two fields that are in high demand now and we are preparing these young people to be able to step into these roles,” said Essex County Juvenile Detention Center Director Rev. Dennis Hughes.
“Our students are learners and it is up to us to provide the resources to ensure they become productive citizens. We are pleased to partner with the County Executive and Director Hughes because of the tremendous support they provide to fulfill our students’ needs,” Essex Regional Educational Services Commission Superintendent Dr. Laurie Newell said.
“In the beginning of the school year Director Hughes and I had a conversation about the kinds of educational programs he wished we could add here, and his response was a Vocational Unit. The Sojourn High Vocational Technology Lab will take our students to the next level and better position them for future success,” said Sojourn High School Principal Rodney E. Jenkins. “For years our students have proven their intelligence by earning their high school diplomas/GED and some even completed collegiate coursework while remaining in the Juvenile Detention Center. This will be another opportunity for them to excel and gain certifications,” he added.
“What a great opportunity for our young people to learn about and prepare for career opportunities,” Freeholder Vice President Wayne Richardson said. “I am excited about what is taking place for our students. This helps us move the needle forward so we don’t remain stagnant,” Newark Council President Mildred Crump said. “We are happy to celebrate a vocational program that is the first of its kind in juvenile detention centers in New Jersey,” Newark Central Ward Councilwoman LaMonica McIver.
“I feel uplifted by what we are announcing today. I am pleased that Essex County under the County Executive’s leadership is leading the way in helping to promote positive factors to help our young people,” Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne said.
The addition of the SIM LOG Vocation Program to Sojourn High School will position students to obtain recognized industry certifications in three different fields of the construction industry. These certifications will provide students increased opportunity for gainful employment in the future. The comprehensive “Performance Indicators” in the SIM LOG Construction program provide industry standard level training that includes simulation tasks, task progression and evaluation. These indicators mirror the best practices from leading training professionals from around the world, along with certification guidelines from key standard organizations, such as the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) for construction equipment, the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) for cranes and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for forklifts.
The simulator lab consists of three networked simulator stations, which are tabletop mounted Replica Controls Joysticks and Replica Ball-Top Levers, used to operate the forklift simulator. Each station is equipped with a steering wheel, gear shifter and/or foot pedals that reproduce the functionality of the actual heavy machinery. Another station has a multi-purpose use to simulate the operation of a Hydraulic Excavator, Bulldozer and Wheel Loader by using the multi-purpose simulator controls.
C-Tech Associates, Inc., the electrical engineering section of the lab, and SIM LOG Construction Simulators were introduced to enhance the students’ opportunities, coupled with real-world simulation application, to find suitable and meaningful employment upon their release back into the community. The new state-of-the-art simulation equipment cost approximately $70,000 and was paid for by Sojourn High School.
The Essex County Juvenile Detention Center has an 8,000-book library on site and was the first detention facility in the State to offer a full 6½ hour school day for detainees. Sojourn High School (SHS) is an alternative education program designed to serve both classified and non-classified at-risk students. Established in 1997, the program provides students with an alternative to traditional educational experience and maintains a low student to staff ratio. Sojourn High School consists of middle and high school students who have been pre-adjudicated, exhibit chronic discipline problems, and are in danger of not graduating. Students earn credits toward graduation by documenting skills demonstrated and proficiencies mastered. The SHS curriculum is based on the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards and the student’s Individual Program Plan (IPP) or Individual Educational Program (IEP). The school considers the interests, specific skills and life goals of all students in the instructional design.
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