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Young Adult Program

Young Adult Program Logo

The vision of the Young Adult Program is to equip all students with independence and purpose through community engagement and meaningful employment opportunities.

A person wearing a blue shirt and sunglasses is standing in a warehouse-like setting, surrounded by stacks of cardboard boxes.
The image shows three people standing behind a table displaying various food and beverage items, including bottles of wine, cans, and other products. The people are wearing shirts with the text %22Hart City%22 printed on them.
A young man in a red t-shirt is making a bed in a room with colorful posters on the walls.
A group of students in a kitchen setting, with one student wearing a chef's apron and assisting the others in what appears to be a cooking or food preparation activity.
The image shows a group of people, likely students, sitting around a table in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting. They are engaged in some kind of activity, with various items and materials visible on the table in front of them.
The image shows a person in a red apron mixing something in a bowl on a table, with various items and decorations visible in the background.
The image shows a young man in a red apron assisting an older woman in a kitchen setting, with a colorful, polka-dotted wall in the background.
A woman in a patterned apron is holding a tray of cooked meat, while another woman stands behind her in a kitchen setting with colorful decorations on the walls.
Two individuals, a younger woman and an older woman, are working together in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting. The younger woman is wearing a pink top and the older woman is wearing a patterned blouse. They are engaged in some kind of activity or task, with the older woman providing guidance or instruction to the younger woman.
A young woman in a purple shirt is assisting a person in a wheelchair, who is smelling a bouquet of flowers on a table in what appears to be a community or school setting.
A group of people, likely students, are gathered around a table in what appears to be a classroom or workshop setting, engaged in some kind of hands-on activity or project.
A person in a brown sweater is standing in a kitchen, holding a piece of clothing and appearing to be folding or organizing it.
Two individuals in blue uniforms are working together to move a cardboard box in what appears to be a storage or warehouse setting.
The image shows a group of people working together at a table in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting, with various supplies and materials scattered around the table.
A young woman with curly hair is sitting at a table in a colorful classroom, interacting with a young child.
A woman with curly hair wearing a vibrant, patterned dress is standing in a kitchen, washing dishes in the sink.
A group of people gathered around a table, engaged in what appears to be a collaborative activity or discussion, with various objects and equipment visible in the background.
Three young people are gathered around a table, engaged in an activity that appears to involve various art supplies and materials. The background suggests a classroom or educational setting, with posters and other decorations visible on the walls.

About the Program

Elkhart Community Schools' Young Adult Program (YAP) supports young adults with special needs, ages 18–22, by connecting them to meaningful job opportunities that highlight their abilities—not their limitations. The program emphasizes the development of essential life skills such as managing money, telling time, and practicing social interaction. After completing initial training, students are paired with job coaches and placed in paid internships. A variety of in-school and community-based opportunities are available to ensure each student finds a placement suited to their strengths and goals.

Program Focus

YAP emphasizes real-world learning through community outings and volunteer job placements that reinforce classroom instruction and life skills. Students have served at locations such as The Cove, Council on Aging, Feed the Children, Elkhart Civic Theatre, ECS Cafeterias, ECS Building Services, and many more. These experiences foster independence, confidence, and job readiness.

Enrollment

Students are eligible to enter the Young Adult Program after completing a four-year high school experience and earning a Certificate of Completion or Alternative Diploma. As students approach the end of high school, their case conference committee will assess whether continued educational support is needed to further develop life skills and prepare for employment.

Hart City Coffee Company

Have you heard of Hart City Coffee Company? This non-profit business offers students the opportunity to learn valuable job skills by grinding, packaging, and delivering coffee. Operated on a donation basis, Hart City provides hands-on, meaningful work experiences. Learn more here: Hart City Coffee Company.