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Welcome to the Youth CenterThe Ocean County Youth Center offers a safe space for at-risk youth in Ocean County to develop into more well-rounded and enriched individuals. The following services and classes are offered, all free of charge:
- GED Prep Classes and Testing Site
- Life Skills
- Vocational Education
- Community Garden and Greenhouse
- Mentoring Program
- Cooking Class
- Computer Lab
- Meeting Room
- Outside Recreation
- Gaming Center
- Community Service Program
FAQAre you interested in hosting a community event for youth?
We collaborate with non-profit organizations to host events and groups.
For more information on Youth Center programming email OCYC@co.ocean.nj.us or call 732.288.7703 or 732.288.7764.
Are you preparing for your GED or looking to finish high school?
We provide a GED program for youth. Including classes and on-site testing, we are a certified GED testing site. No cost to participate.
Do you like to have fun and hang out with your friends in a safe environment?
Then the Ocean County Youth Center is for you, we have different groups and community events throughout the year.
Are you looking to complete Stationhouse adjustment hours?
We work with local police departments to help you complete your hours. For more information email OCYC@co.ocean.nj.us or call 732.288.7725.
Youth Center GED ProgramFor youth who have not completed their high school education and are looking to finish their education we offer a year-round GED program. The Youth Center offers preparation for the new High School Equivalency Exam (formerly known as the GED) with classes every week. Once the preparation has been completed participants can test for their GED at the Youth Center. Participants who successfully pass the High School Equivalency Exam are encouraged to begin their post-secondary education. The OCYC staff assists these participants in completing the forms necessary to apply for financial aid. We also assist the participants in both job search and job interview preparation throughout the program. To set all participants up for success after completing the GED program. Our GED program is open to all youth and young adults aged 16 years and over in Ocean County. Referrals can be made by the CMO. R.A.I.S.E. (Reasonable Alternative To Incarceration Through Self-Esteem) participants are referred to or placed into the program by Juvenile Court Judge or a Juvenile Supervision Probation Officer. A formal referral is not needed to join though, for general interest please call 732.288.7764 or 732.288.7725 for information about enrollment.
Vocational / Technical Educational EnhancementParticipants of our vocational program engage in three classes each month at the Brick and Toms River Center in the areas of Culinary Arts, Construction Trades, and Computers. These monthly classes provide participants with the opportunity to experience these programs with actual OCVTS staff members. Participants have been so motivated by these classes that they have enrolled at OCVTS on a shared-time or post-secondary basis. The OCVTS Evaluation Team comes to the Youth Center to meet with interested participants and administers the pre-qualifying tests for the various programs.
Participants that have been assigned Community Service hours by the courts and police departments, can complete these required hours at the Youth Center. Participants engage in meaningful vocationally oriented tasks to fulfill their required hours. All activities are based around building life skills including basic culinary arts, art program, gardening, construction, and work readiness. This allows youth to gain various skills and new passions, which may lead to possible future employment. Accurate records of completed hours are kept and reported to the proper authority.
Stationhouse Adjustment Referrals We work with local police departments to help youth complete hours for their stationhouse adjustments throughout Ocean County. All youth are supervised and work on community service projects that help develop life skills. For police departments interested in referring youth to complete hours at Youth Center please call 732-288-7725 or email OCYC@co.ocean.nj.us for more information.
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