Camp Florence’s vocational coordinator, Marc Barnum, works with about 20 young people to improve their job skills.

Local transitional facility hires vocational coordinator to assist older youth in

gaining job skills.

With the introduction of a vocational coordinator, Camp Florence continues to strengthen employment and educational opportunities for youthful offenders to gain job skills before returning to the community.

Located south of Florence, the 25-bed Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) transitional facility recently hired local resident Marc Barnum to help older youth map career paths and gain on-the-job experience.

“We try to hook them up with jobs — teach them job skills — so they’re much more well-rounded when they get out of here,” Barnum said. “… I work closely with the community to open up more jobs and find more places for the individuals to work at, volunteer and get work experience.”

Barnum, 55, was appointed last December to manage the vocational program at Camp Florence, which is the first OYA facility to match adolescents with contractors to work on jobs in the community. He currently assists about 20 youth, providing the “tools they need to be successful.”

A computer lab is available for youth to identify their interests, find jobs and research necessary skills and education. Seven of Barnum’s students are enrolled in online college classes, majoring in subjects like child psychology, paralegal, music production and business.

“They get an education and they learn how to model responsible behavior,” Barnum said. “For a lot of these guys, it turns their life around.”

OYA is a state corrections agency for juveniles who were involved in crime. It has custody of approximately 900 youthful offenders, ages 12 to 24, in correctional and transitional facilities across the state and supervises about 1,100 youth on parole and probation.



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