About JMG

Mission
Program Features
Students Served
Goals
Management
Career Association
Schools Served
2009-2010 JMG Calendar
Student Conferences

The ultimate objective of Jobs for Montana’s Graduates (JMG) is for students to secure a quality job and/or postsecondary education, that leads to a meaningful career. JMG believes the best way to achieve this objective is to keep students in school through their graduation and to improve their rate of success by acquiring employability competencies before leaving high school. JMG is affiliated with Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) a national school-to-work program.

JMG’s Mission is Two-fold:

• To provide classroom instruction and work-based learning opportunities to students in grades seven through twelve and high school dropouts ages 16-18 which will enhance their career awareness, self-esteem and work readiness.
  
• To identify young people who can benefit the most though participating in JMG and prepare them for meaningful career-oriented jobs, matching the students with community job opportunities and providing long-term follow-up to facilitate their successful transition from school-to-work.

Program Features:

The methods used to operate this program include a unique combination of in-school and out-of-school services provided by a Career/Job Specialist. Key components are:

• Employability skills curriculum: competency-based instruction including units on career planning and decision-making, job seeking, job retention, basic academics, leadership and self-development and personal skills. Click here to see the core competencies (employability skills).
• Montana Career Association: a motivational student organization, which fosters the development of self-esteem, leadership, decision-making and assertiveness skills and provides recognition for positive achievement.
• Job development and placement: meaningful job opportunities with advancement potential are matched with job-ready, motivated graduates involved in the program.
• Post graduation follow-up: graduates and their employers are provided twelve months of follow-up assistance to facilitate students’ successful transitions into the labor market.
• Active partnership between government, labor, business, education and the community.

JMG Goals are Designed To:

• Improve the student’s employability skills.
• Help the student develop and define career goals and plans for the years immediately following graduation.
• Help the student to successfully complete high school.
• Help the student to successfully transition from eighth grade into high school.
• Assist the student to develop confidence, poise and a positive attitude.
• Assist the student to acquire skills to successfully communicate with supervisors and coworkers.
• Stimulate the student’s initiative, teamwork and leadership skills.
• Promote within the student respect for the dignity of work.
• Assist the student to display a sense of social responsibility and civic involvement.
• Assist the student to develop strong coping and decision-making skills.
• Stimulate the student’s school spirit and interest in school activities.
• Help the student develop a feeling of pride in accomplishment.
• Provide opportunities for the student to develop personal goals and evaluate their progress toward attaining those goals.

JMG Management:

• JMG is jointly sponsored by the Governor’s Office and the Office of Public Instruction and is administered by the Department of Labor and Industry.
• Jobs for Montana’s Graduates Foundation Board secures additional funding to support JMG’s mission and goals.
• A variety of funds support JMG, including local, state, federal and private sector resources.
• JMG and JAG provide technical assistance and training for local and state program staff. JAG also conducts an on-site accreditation of all state affiliates.
• Local business leaders serve as active partners in local program implementation.
• Local career specialists take full responsibility for teaching JMG curriculum, assisting students in completing outcome documents through a portfolio system and establishing the Montana Career Association at each participating school.

Montana Career Association:

The Montana Career Association (MCA) is a highly motivated student-led organization that creates a unique learning environment by connecting JMG participants to the “real” world of work and their respective communities.   The career association builds on the JMG competency-based curriculum, by providing opportunities for students to develop their leadership and teaming skills that are critical to success in the workplace.

Through the collaborative efforts of school and community partners across Montana, students are given an opportunity to practice and refine their social and civic responsibilities to become better citizens.  By partnering with community-wide organizations and the business sector, JMG students gain a sense of pride and accomplishment through their involvement in service learning projects, fundraising, employer marketing campaigns and leadership activities; all of which further enhance their career opportunities.

Students in the MCA participate in state and national competitions that are held throughout the school year.  The Fall Leadership Conference and Career Development Conference are centered around leadership and career challenges that each student must face in their lifetime to become successful.  These competitions focus on decision-making, critical thinking, oral presentations, math and business vocabulary skills, teamwork, visual and conceptual learning, essays and employment preparation.

By motivating and preparing the JMG students with the necessary employability skills through career exploration, the Montana Career Association continues to provide each individual with lessons about the right attitude, assertiveness and self-esteem that employers strive for when searching for that ideal candidate for employment.  Not only will each participant be recognized for their achievements and accolades, but also for the positive behavior that will enable them to become successful in post-secondary education, the military, vocational training or career advancement.

Students plan a Program of Work with projects in four areas:

• Career
• Civic
• Leadership
• Social

Student Conferences

Fall Leadership Conference
November 2, 2010
Red Colonial - Helena, Montana
Competitive Events
Guest Speaker
Leadership Activities
2009 Program Agenda
2008 Program Agenda

Career Development Conference
May 4-5, 2010
Billings Hotel & Convention Center - Billings, Montana
Competitive Events
Coordinated Chaos
Scholarships
Workshops
Swimming
Dance
2009 Program and Agenda
2008 Program Agenda

National Student Leadership Conference
November 19-21, 2009
Gaylord National Resort - National Harbor, Maryland

(Note: Please see “Conferences” section.)

Students Served:

JMG serves approximately 900 students in 30 High Schools, 11 Middle Schools, 4 Alternative Schools and two “Out-of-School” programs.

Montana Schools Served - Program Year 2009-2010