Saving the best for last

By Kim Swaney

RONAN - When June Boswell, Regional IV Director of Dallas, TX became one of the elite eight regional directors for Job Corps' Employment and Training Administration, she initiated visits to all the Job Corps Centers in her region, 24 centers, and saved the best for last.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' Kicking Horse Job Corps Center nestled between the rugged Mission Mountains, South Crow Creek and Ninepipes reservoirs, is home to more than 200 students desiring to improve their employment skills and enhance their educational goals.

This was Boswell's first visit to Kicking Horse. According to Boswell, each center in the region has its own set of challenges and successes. Kicking Horse is in a constant race to increase the percentage of students who find employment, advanced training or education upon completion and leaving the Center.

Job Corps Centers nationwide are evaluated in several areas after a student leaves the program at six-month increments for placement. Credit for literacy improvement, program completion, employment longevity, and GED completions are among some of the areas critical to Job Corps' success. While having a job placement when leaving a center, staying employed becomes a challenge for any center offering training in seasonal areas, such as heavy equipment operation.

Although Kicking Horse recruitments come largely from areas where unemployment rates are higher than state and national averages, they are steadfast to send students where they will succeed and inadvertently lend creditability to Job Corps and Kicking Horse's training capacities. Areas where Kicking Horse does shine: student retention and average wage/salary of students. Average wages for students has earned Kicking Horse national recognition.

Although not all students obtain advanced training or secure employment when leaving Kicking Horse, the graduated students who are employed, are earning a considerable amount more than minimum wage. The average wage for a Kicking Horse graduate is currently approximately $9.04 per hour.

Retaining students at Kicking Horse Job Corps has been equally successful. Providing a safe, home-like atmosphere in the dormitories, having creditable training programs and providing student mentoring to new students all contribute to Kicking Horse's continued success in student retention. And perhaps for some of the students without many options, it truly is the last best place.