12+ program

Supporting HPS Students on the Campus of Raritan Valley Community College

A Multi-Dimensional Program Assisting Students in the Transition from High School to Post-Secondary Education, Employment, and Independent Living 

At HPS we know that each student is unique and that their goals and dreams are as unique as they are. In our 12+ Program, students are actively engaged in the process of building bright and productive futures for themselves. What that looks like is different for each student. Through individual case management and counseling support, students set out to acquire the knowledge, unique skills set, experience, and confidence to launch themselves into independent life.

Students in our 12+ program work to acquire the skills to help them achieve their educational and career goals. Our program is offered to students who have completed or are close to completing the requirements for high school graduation. Enrolled students are typically between the ages of 18 and 21.

Key Components of our 12+ Program

♦ support for college & vocational training programs

The 12+ instructional staff provide highly individualized academic case management, support, and organizational guidance to students who are enrolled in college and/or job training coursework. Using a distinctly relational approach and often, references to their own personal experiences, the 12+ instructional staff help to “demystify” the details and nuances of becoming a responsible, independent learner as they guide students through registration, testing, and course selection process.

The 12+ instructional staff provide direct academic case management to each student, working collaboratively with students to develop and consistently utilize organizational strategies that will enable them to successfully complete their post-secondary academic goals. 

♦ academic support

The 12+ Program is offered to students who have completed or are close to completing the requirements for high school graduation. Students who have not met graduation requirements will have the opportunity to work toward both completing their high school credits and participating in our 12+ transition program to gain skills and exposure to post-secondary settings. Graduation requirements will be prioritized while students participate in other aspects of the 12+ program such as taking college classes, work based learning (paid or unpaid), individual counseling, and daily living skills.

♦ individualized case management

Young adults in the 12+ Program are provided with individualized case management that nurtures supportive and effective collaborations and helps them to achieve their personal, academic, and career goals. Staff members work side-by-side with students in real-time to help them navigate their transition experiences and to develop resilience, self-regulation, and organizational skills. These skills will enable them to stay in the game when they are faced with the expectations of the world of work and higher education and will help them cope with personal challenges and situational adversities.

♦ counseling services

As with all of the components of the 12+ Program, counseling services are tailored to meet the needs of each student. The goal of our counseling program is to support students as they work to take responsibility for managing their mental health needs and self-care. 

♦ work based learning

Throughout the school year, students experience the world of work by sampling a variety of employment environments to gain exposure to the requirements and responsibilities of specific job titles or job groups. Based on their own unique interests, students amass job skills in employment settings relevant to their anticipated career path. Every job placement is under the supervision of both an employer mentor and a 12+ instructor who aid the student in clarifying career goals, developing employable skills, and making the transition between school and employment. 

♦ independent living skills

The 12+ Program Independent Living Skills component engages students in community outreach and service projects which require them to learn and practice a wide variety of independent living skills. Household organization, budgeting, menu planning, shopping, cooking, laundry, and cleaning skills are learned and applied in the service of community members in need. Volunteerism helps students learn what is required to live an independent life and reinforces their value as supportive community members. Processing these experiences helps our students apply learning to the exploration and pursuit of their own independent living goals.

 “HPS focuses on something more important than just academics and sports. They focus on expression, acceptance, and unity.”

- HPS Student