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What is THRIVE?

Therapeutic Remedies, Interventions & Vocational Education (THRIVE) Academy is an education-to-workforce program at Virginia Counseling Associates. This is a 9 to 12-month program designed for youth ages 17 to 21 years old in need of soft and hard skills to work in the vocation of safety within various construction and work environments.  With class sizes of 5-8, this is a hybridized program that will provide NCCER and OSHA certification in construction and safety technology as well as offer community mentoring and emotional stabilization at various levels of the client’s interaction system. Clients will meet with mentors and programming staff for at least 10 hours a week (3 hours of NCCER class 2 hours of group meeting and 4-5 hours of individual meetings and coaching with mentor). Clients who successfully complete the NCCER training program will be able to effectively deploy the skills acquired in the vocational learning and career readiness mentoring enabling them to join the safety and construction workforce in dynamic and meaningful ways. THRIVE Academy consists of 2 main components, vocational certification in the field of safety (other vocations added in the next 9 months) and therapeutic career mentoring with clinical support.  These components work in conjunction with one another to serve the purpose and goal of delivering individuals to the vibrant workforce of construction and safety with the knowledge, experience, emotional stability, communication skills, and can-do mindset to be an effective force in the safety field, a successful member of their family, and a change agent in their community through economic success. 

THRIVE's Goals 

Cultivate problem-solving abilities and critical thinking skills, enabling students to analyze complex situations, troubleshoot issues, and make informed decisions.

 Develop students' technical skills and proficiency in their chosen vocational field, providing hands-on training and practical experience and introduce a strong understanding of safety protocols and ethical practices in the vocational field, ensuring that students are aware of and operate within industry standards and regulations.

Provide students with career guidance and assistance in job search strategies, resume writing, interview skills, and networking, ensuring they are well-prepared to enter the workforce upon completion of their program.

Facilitate self-reflection activities that promote self-awareness, self-assessment, and self-improvement, enabling students to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for personal and professional growth.

Encourage students to develop a strong sense of self-confidence in their abilities, skills, and knowledge.

Development of professionalism, integrity, ethical behavior, and workplace etiquette among students to prepare them for successful integration.

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