Founders Federal Credit Union

DJJ's Career and Business Opportunities Center has partnered with Founders Federal Credit Union to educate and challenge agency-involved youth to manage their short-term and long-term finances based upon a fictitious occupation, salary and family through a financial literacy program called "Mad City Money." Since partnering, more than 1,100 DJJ-involved youth have gained financial literacy training through the program.

Michelin

The partnership between DJJ and Michelin was born from a series of community partnership forums DJJ hosted in May 2018. It was there the agency was introduced to HTI - one of the premier staffing agencies for high-demand manufacturing jobs in the state. 

HTI and former DJJ Director Freddie Pough then met with staff at the Michelin US5 Plant in Lexington to discuss job opportunities for current and former DJJ youth. Soon after, young workers began earning a base income of $12.50 per hour, with opportunities for bonuses all the way up to $16.50 per hour. Those with outstanding restitution payments became able to make regular payments toward satisfying that debt.

Department of Defense

DJJ's partnership with Department of Defense Military Entrance Process Station at Fort Jackson allows agency-involved youth to participate in Career Exploration Program-ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Attitude Battery).

E.A.R.N. Program

E.A.R.N (Empathy, Attitude, Respect, Knowledge) provides employment readiness skills to youth at all DJJ campuses. Companies seek to hire new employees who possess soft-skills and can enter the workplace capable of communicating effectively. Teens and young adults entering the workforce today are rarely trained in these skills.  This workshop equips students with interpersonal and communications skills to help open doors of opportunity, enable them to be successful in business, and empower them to be engaged citizens for their community and the world.

Boeing

Boeing, which operates a facility in N. Charleston, provides guest speakers to DJJ campuses to speak to youth about the aerospace industry and STEM career opportunities at Boeing.

Students at our Youth Empowerment Sites have also toured the Boeing facility to see STEM careers firsthand.

SCDMV

DJJ and the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) established a partnership to provide youth the opportunity to obtain a SCDMV photo ID and/or SC Beginner’s Permit. Since 2017, more than 150 DJJ youth have obtained an ID and/or permit through this initiative.

ServSafe Food Handler & Manager’s Certification Program

ServSafe Food Handler is the entry level course for those desiring to work in the hospitality career cluster once they are released. After completion of this certificate, youth can obtain their ServSafe Manager’s Certification. This course is designed to prepare youth for a managerial role in a restaurant. Both courses are offered at the BRRC Campus.

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a United States law that replaced the previous Workforce Investment Act of 1998 as the primary federal workforce development legislation to bring about increased coordination among federal workforce development and related programs. Students at BRRC are provided a WIOA briefing.

DJJ’s Career Readiness works to encourage enrollment in these colleges: 

• South Carolina State (2 Years)
• Vorhees College (1.5 Year)
• Morris College (1 Year)

 

 

 

Allen University

DJJ’s school district partners with Allen University to offer college courses to juveniles committed to BRRC who completed their GED or high school diploma. In the summer of 2017, the first course – English 101 – was offered to a group of five students. Since 2017, Allen University has also offered DJJ youth courses in English 200 and Biblical Literature. DJJ youth have even earned scholarships while committed to the agency's long-term facility.

SC Vocational Rehabilitation

DJJ and SC Vocational Rehabilitation have a long-established collaborative relationship to ensure treatment and services are continued once a youth is released back to the community.

Dave Ramsey Financial Literacy

Youth at DJJ campuses have the opportunity to participate in Dave Ramsey’ Financial Literacy, Foundations in Personal Finance: High School Edition.

Black Professional Group

Beginning in 2023, DJJ’s Career Readiness Center has partnered with Bank of America’s Black Professional Group (BPG). Working to assist students with the basics of banking, tips for managing money including balancing wants and needs, understanding the role of credit, and the importance of protecting financial information through a program called “Better Money Habits.” We look forward to a long-lasting partnership where justice-involved youth will gain financial literacy training through this program.

Other District Partnerships

The SCDJJ also has partnerships with the following companies, businesses and organizations: