The CAPE lab offers extensive offline lessons and supplemental materials in prevocational, vocational, and critical thinking skills. The project offers diagnostic assessment, guidance, counseling, placement, and final evaluations of skills youth have attained while in the project. This demonstration, jointly funded by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, investigates the effectiveness of coordinated services for youth ages 14 to 22 who have committed crimes, are involved in gangs or other activities that put them at risk, or are homeless. The high school offers 15 vocational areas. They include small engine repair, photography, carpentry, masonry, radio, and journalism.
All students learn how to write r sum s, fill out job applications, and prepare for interviews.
The program was initially supported by a juvenile justice prevention grant from the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and is now funded by Jefferson Parish general funds. They are required to save 25 percent of their wages and purchase their own tools. Youth are paid for work that usually takes place on facility grounds. Jobs may include janitorial or kitchen cleanup duties. A portion of youth earnings is placed in a scholarship fund for college or other continuing education.