The JIT Career Bound Program supports youth who are pursuing meaningful employment that will truly sustain long-term self-sufficiency. The program ranges from help to obtain a GED high school diploma and materials for vocational training (cosmetology, welding, graphic design, plumbing, etc.) to our comprehensive Career Horizons for You Women.

Career Horizons for Young Women provides a "class" of 15-20 young women transitioning from foster care with opportunities to expand their career options led by a team of female JIT Career Mentors in non-traditional fields and/or successful women entrepreneurs.

The program is designed to help our youth bring their employment options into focus. Through presentations, discussion, job shadowing, and one-on-one connections with powerful female role models, they are given the tools and support to recognize their strengths and include entrepreneurship and non-traditional higher paying fields in their futures. They are also given the opportunity to begin make lasting connections that can build the networks and career links so essential to career success.

• A Career Horizons "Networking" Relationship Building Event
• Obstacles in the Workplace (gender, cultural, etc.)
• Finding Your Voice (conflict resolution, work relationships, etc.)
• Finding Your Niche (recognizing your passion and finding your dream career)
• Your Career Map (putting it all together)
• Career Horizons "Graduation" Event

JIT Career Mentors come from a variety of vocations, providing the professional know-how to turn career dreams into reality. There are many needs associated with planning for a career that would be difficult for our youth to manage without the timely support of a caring adult.

Impact: In 2007, JIT received several small public donations to help 10 youth with its first Spring Into Success program. Every single youth flourished in his/her job or training program and we realized this event was the start of an extraordinary program that could forever change the lives of our foster youth. In 2008, we received a one-time donation enabling us to sponsor 20 former foster youth. In 2009, we received generous grants to enable us to award 33 youth. In 2011, we were inspired by our youth and our partnership with Women Give San Diego to launch Career Horizons which will put another 30-40 young women on a meaningful career path.

Recruitment—JIT actively recruits high school seniors in the foster care system through our partnerships with numerous community agencies.

Application. To qualify for Spring into Success, a former foster youth must: a) be enrolled in a community college, G.E.D., or vocational program, b) complete a JIT Spring into Success application, c) submit a written essay, and d) provide a letter of recommendation.

Processing and selection. The Program Director scrutinizes the applications to ensure they are complete and then distributes them to members of the selection committee, who independently rate each application and make the final award decision. Based on the recipients’ equipment requests, the Program Director determines the specific resources to be provided. Award. Each spring, JIT awards recipients with the tools they need to succeed in school: vocational tools and school supplies. We meet at a local restaurant to celebrate the youth and their achievements.

Participation in Other JIT Programs. Youth are given an overview of all JIT programs and commit to participate in the Financial Fitness program and the resources of JIT Champions. We monitor youth progress through formal and informal methods.

Evaluation. Follow-up information is solicited from each youth annually via an online survey.