Taunton Area School to Career is the bridge that connects business with education, with the aim of empowering youth to succeed in the workforce.  Its programs strive to break the generational cycle of poverty. TASC focuses on providing youths with Career Development Education (CDE).  Our Career Mentoring, YouthWorks, and Career Readiness offerings result in life-changing experiences for the young people that we serve. TASC helps them discover their potential so they can persist and succeed. TASC has helped many youths stay on track for high school graduation, pursue post-secondary education, and find success in the workforce.

Taunton Area School to Career offers programs such as Year-Round YouthWorks, Career Mentoring, Community Development Block Grant, and Opioid Settlement Funds. 

YouthWorks is a work & learning program that primarily serves Taunton youth, with oversight by the MassHire Bristol Workforce Board and MassHire Youth Connections in Fall River.  YouthWorks provides young people with paid work and learning experience.

Career Mentoring is a “community-based” program that matches volunteer, local business professionals with high school students – typically juniors, from one of our partner schools.  Once matched, the mentor and his/her mentee meet about twice a month to explore education and career options and learn essential work skills. Based on the student’s interest, mentors and mentees can tour several local businesses, organizations, colleges, and trade schools.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a program that provides individualized subsidized job and paid internship opportunities for youth at Taunton Alternative High School, focusing on tailored support rather than a cohort-based model. Each participant is recruited and enrolled independently, beginning with intake, orientation, and assessment to develop a personalized service strategy. While some group-based activities like orientation and job readiness training may occur, the core components, include employment placement, case management, support services, and follow-up.  These are customized to meet each youth’s unique needs. Participants engage in subsidized work experiences supported by ongoing case management, regular check-ins with supervisors, and the development of work-based learning plans to track skill growth. The program also allocates funding to support ten youth in employment placements and offers targeted driver’s license scholarships to eligible participants facing transportation barriers, helping improve access to both immediate job opportunities and long-term career pathways.

Opioid Settlement Funds pay for a program that provides individualized subsidized job and paid internship opportunities as part of a diversion-focused initiative aiming to engage youth who may be at risk of high-risk behaviors and/or justice system involvement due to substance use or related challenges. Each participant is enrolled individually and completes intake, orientation, and assessment to develop a personalized service strategy. While some group-based activities such as orientation and job readiness training may occur, all core components, including employment placement, case management, support services, and follow-up are tailored to each participant’s needs. Youth are placed in subsidized work experience with ongoing case management, regular employer check-ins, and work-based learning plans to support skill development and long-term stability. The program also offers targeted driver’s license scholarships to participants who identify transportation as a barrier, helping to improve access to employment and reduce risk factors associated with system involvement.