Youth Challenge Program

The Youth Challenge Program is a program run by the National Guard of the United States whose stated mission is "to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults." The program accepts 16-18 year old male and female high school dropouts who are drug-free and not in trouble with the law. The program lasts for 17½ months. The first 5½ months are part of the quasi-military Residential Phase. The last 12 months are part of the Post-Residential Phase. Most participants will earn their GED by the end of the Residential Phase.

Core Components

*Citizenship
*Academic excellence (GED/high school diploma attainment)
*Life-coping skills
*Service to community
*Health and hygiene
*Job skills training
*Leadership/followership
*Physical training

Participating States and Territories

*Alabama
*Alaska
*Arizona
*Arkansas
*California
*Florida
*Georgia
*Hawaii
*Illinois
*Indiana
*Kentucky
*Louisiana
*Maryland
*Michigan
*Mississippi
*Montana
*New Jersey
*New Mexico
*North Carolina
*Oklahoma
*Oregon
*Puerto Rico
*South Carolina
*Texas
*Virginia
*West Virginia
*Wisconsin
*Wyoming

External links

* [http://www.ngycp.org/ Official Youth Challenge Site]

References