Youth Compass Program

Program Summary

A compass rose with a figure hiking a mountain in the center The Youth Compass Program is a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth program designed to help young people build a pathway toward education, training, and meaningful employment. Serving youth ages 16–24, the program focuses on supporting individuals who may be facing barriers to school, work, or long-term career success, with a strong emphasis on out-of-school youth.

Through regional partnerships with Columbia Gorge Community College in the north subregion, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council in the central subregion/Klamath County, and a waiver for EC Works to provide direct services in Lake County, Youth Compass provides individualized support tailored to each participant’s goals and circumstances. Services may include career exploration, education support, GED preparation, paid and unpaid work experiences, occupational skills training, mentorship, leadership development, supportive services, and job placement assistance.

The program is built around the idea that every young person deserves the opportunity to discover their strengths, gain confidence, and create a future they are excited about. Staff work alongside participants to help them navigate challenges, build real-world skills, and connect to opportunities that lead to long-term stability and success.

Whether a young person is finishing high school, exploring career options, looking for their first job, or trying to get back on track after setbacks, Youth Compass is designed to provide guidance, encouragement, and practical support along the way.

Please contact your local Youth Compass Program office through the links on the right for additional program and eligibility information.

Celebrating Success

The following is a letter from Damon, a student who participated in the Youth Compass Program:

To Whom It May Concern:

Opportunity can very easily change a person’s life. That’s what this has been for me, an opportunity. Before I was given the option to come work and spend time up here at CGCC, I had never done any sort of fabrication. I had interest in it, but didn’t have the ability to learn how, money was the biggest factor in that. Having the option to learn a trade, without having to spend any additional money, and being able to spend time in a real work environment is extremely valuable.

Working with instructors who are knowledgeable, good at what they teach, supportive and encouraging, paired with the ability to learn a trade and spend time working on real projects that have real world application; all while still in high school, has not only set me on a path to be successful. It has also given me a constructive outlet and experience working with other people, and problem solving.

This one opportunity has opened doors to new opportunities. Through this experience I’ve made the connections I needed to enroll at CGCC and enroll in the Advanced Manufacturing Program. This opportunity has put me in a great position to be ready for next fall. At the start of this year I didn’t have a plan for after high school. I didn’t have a plan for a future career. This one opportunity has given me access to the resources and experience I needed to not only decide I wanted to pursue this kind of work as a potential career, but to actually take steps toward making that a reality.

I have had an amazing experience. It has been extremely rewarding and the things I’ve learned are extremely valuable.

-Damon