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Transitional Services


The experiential, supervised Transition program at Pineland Learning Center exposes students to the requirements and responsibilities of specific jobs, assists students in gaining employment skills, and in making career and educational decisions. For PLC's graduating class of 2009, 67% of our students have successfully transitioned into job placements and/or are continuing on to post-secondary education.

The Transition program is divided into three major components:
  • Classroom Instruction
  • Structured Learning Experiences
  • Career Counseling/Exploration
The overall goal of the program is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to become productive and self-sufficient adults. Students are graded based on their individual progress and completion of an established set of goals and objectives. Each student is responsible for developing a career portfolio and career plan.


The Classroom Instruction component consists of the following skills and competencies:
  • Completing applications
  • Resume writing
  • Job searching skills
  • Basic money management
  • Problem solving skills
  • Interviewing skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Communication skills
  • Dress and appearance
  • How to keep a job

The Structured Learning Experience (SLE) component is not job specific and is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop basic work readiness skills. Students begin by working on a group community project that each class must research and develop. Students can then progress to a less restrictive environment in either in-school or out-of-school sites based on their individual needs, level of maturity and availability of placements. A variety of in-school placements are offered within food services, administrative and agricultural departments. Some out-of-school placements include:
  • New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home
  • South Jersey Regional Medical Center
  • Cumberland County SPCA
  • Tarkiln Senior Center
  • Salvation Army Food Pantry
  • Deerfield Senior Center

Research has documented the importance of structured learning experiences.
  • Studies demonstrate that students who participate in structured learning experiences show an increase in the completion of related coursework, as well as an increase in attendance and graduation rates.
  • Structured learning during secondary school years also leads to higher rates of adult employment success for all categories of disability.
  • Students with disabilities who participate in structured learning experiences have more successful post-school outcomes; in particular, they are mainstreaming employment and continuing with post secondary education and training.

The Career Awareness and Exploration component is designed to expose students to a variety of jobs and careers. Through outings and guest speakers, the students get a view into careers and jobs that may be of interest to them. Students complete a Career Inventory Assessment to assist them in selecting a career or job. The students then explore the options of college, trade school, military or work as their next step into the transition into their desired job or career.
SUPERVISED LEARNING
Concession Store

Pineland Learning Center opened a concession store in 2008 at the Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland. The store serves as an ongoing project for PLC students as part of the Transition Program, focused on providing opportunities for learning valuable working skills through a structured learning experience.

The Veterans Home had a space designed for use as a concession store but did not have the staff to operate one. This undertaking was a perfect fit for both the students and the Veterans Home.  PLC students gain work experience and build better communication and management skills by operating the concession store and selling an array of products from toiletries to hats and t-shirts.

The entire school is involved in the project, with the senior class serving the primary role in the concession store’s operation. Students selected to work in the store must demonstrate maturity and independence through active participation in this structured learning experience and at other community sites. PLC operates the concession store year-round with the help of students and volunteers. 
   
Transition Program Director, Darwyn Minor, brought the concession store project to fruition and now oversees the store’s ongoing operation. “Operating this concession store at the Veterans Memorial Home is a one-of-a-kind educational experience,” said Darwyn. “We plan to carry this project well into the future as an integral part of our Transition Program.”


Items for sale are displayed at the concession store operated by PLC staff and students.


Congressman LoBiondo and PLC student, Vince Allen talk in the commissary at the Veterans Memorial Home following the grand opening of the store.


Derrick Minor, crisis counselor at PLC, completes the first sale of a hat and T-shirt to customer, Ron Herman following the grand opening of the new commissary in the Veterans Memorial Home.