Teen Resource Guide for Chambersburg-Area Families

The teen years come with a lot of firsts — first job, first paycheck, first time driving, bigger decisions about school and careers, more independence... and plenty of questions along the way.

Whether you're a teen figuring out what's next or a parent trying to help, this guide brings together useful local and Pennsylvania resources for families in Chambersburg, Greencastle, Waynesboro, Mercersburg, McConnellsburg and surrounding communities.

Getting that first job can be exciting — and a little confusing.

Start With a Pennsylvania Work Permit

Most Pennsylvania minors under age 18 need a work permit before beginning employment. Work permits are issued through the teen's resident school district, even if the student attends private school, cyber school or is homeschooled.

Teens do not have to wait until they have a job offer to apply for a permit.

Pennsylvania also has specific rules about how many hours minors may work and which jobs they may perform, so families should always check current Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry requirements.

Need Help Finding Work or Training?

PA CareerLink Franklin County
600 Norland Ave., Chambersburg
📞 717-264-4584

CareerLink can be a good starting point for job-search assistance, career exploration, workforce training and information about current youth and young-adult opportunities.

That's completely normal.

High school is a great time to explore rather than feel pressured to have everything figured out.

Ask your school counselor or career office about:

• Job shadowing
• Internships
• Career exploration
• Cooperative education
• Pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships
• Career and technical education
• Work-based learning
• Local employers that work with students

Franklin County Career & Technology Center

The Franklin County Career & Technology Center offers career and technical programs, industry credentials, college-credit opportunities and work-based learning for students from participating school districts.

Franklin County Career & Technology Center
2463 Loop Road, Chambersburg
📞 717-263-9033
✉️ info@franklinctc.com

Don't Overlook Apprenticeships

College isn't the only path after graduation. Registered apprenticeships can combine paid employment, classroom learning and hands-on training, while pre-apprenticeships help students prepare for those opportunities.

PA CareerLink is a good local starting point for learning what's currently available.

Families may want to compare several possibilities after high school:

• Four-year colleges
• Community colleges
• Trade or technical programs
• Certificate programs
• Apprenticeships
• Military pathways
• Direct-to-work opportunities

FAFSA

Pennsylvania high school seniors now complete the FAFSA or submit an opt-out form as part of the state's graduation-related process.

Even if a student isn't sure college is the plan, the FAFSA may unlock federal, state and school-based financial aid for college and some eligible career-training programs.

Need FAFSA or Financial-Aid Help?

PHEAA Higher Education Access Partner — Ed Lane
Serving Franklin, Fulton, Adams, Cumberland and York counties
📞 717-798-4381
✉️ ed.lane@pheaa.org

Before paying for tutoring or test preparation, check what's already available for free.

Start with your teen's school counselor and ask about:

• Peer tutoring
• Teacher help sessions
• National Honor Society tutoring
• Academic intervention programs
• Online school resources
• SAT and ACT preparation

Students can also access free official SAT preparation through College Board resources and free ACT practice resources online.

Greencastle-Antrim High School, for example, currently offers a peer-tutor request system along with college, scholarship and career-planning tools. Other local schools may offer similar programs.

A first paycheck introduces a whole new vocabulary: W-4, W-2, withholding, taxes, checking, savings, debit cards and credit.

Teens don't need to understand everything overnight, but high school is a great time to begin practicing real-world money skills.

• Read a pay stub?
• Create a simple budget?
• Use a checking and savings account?
• Understand the difference between debit and credit?
• Recognize common scams?
• Save toward a goal?
• Keep important documents safe?
• Understand what a W-2 and W-4 are?

Local banks and credit unions may offer teen accounts and financial-education resources. Compare fees, account requirements and parental-access rules before choosing one.

For many families, learning to drive is one of the biggest teen milestones.

Pennsylvania's process begins with a learner's permit and progresses through required practice and testing toward a junior driver's license and eventually an unrestricted license.

Always check PennDOT for the latest requirements.

Local Behind-the-Wheel Instruction

Greencastle Driving School
Serving Greencastle, Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Mercersburg and surrounding areas
📞 717-597-9270

The school offers behind-the-wheel instruction for students who already have a valid Pennsylvania learner's permit.

Volunteering can help teens earn service hours, explore possible careers, build a résumé, develop leadership skills and become more connected to their community.

Franklin County 4-H

181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg
📞 717-263-9226
✉️ FranklinExt@psu.edu

Fulton County 4-H

610 E. North St., McConnellsburg
📞 717-325-4870
✉️ FultonExt@psu.edu

4-H opportunities extend through age 18 and may include leadership, service, STEM, healthy living, agriculture, animals and other project areas.

WellSpan also offers teen volunteer opportunities for eligible high-school students at participating locations.

Leadership Franklin County Youth

This program brings together Franklin County ninth-graders from public, private and homeschool settings for leadership development, community awareness and service learning.

There is no cost to participate.

Contact: Ginny Harriger
📞 717-264-7101 ext. 205
✉️ gharriger@chambersburg.org

Applications are seasonal, so watch for the next class announcement.

YMCA Youth Achievers

The Chambersburg Memorial YMCA Youth Achievers Program serves students in grades 8–12 with a focus on leadership, communication, career development, community involvement and preparation for life after high school.

Contact: Nikki Wilkerson
📞 717-263-8508 ext. 110
✉️ nwilkerson@chbgy.org

NETwork Ministries StreetLeaders

StreetLeaders offers selected high-school students paid work in NETwork Ministries' after-school programming while helping participants build leadership, academic and employment skills.

NETwork Ministries is a Christian faith-based organization.

📞 717-264-4640
✉️ networkchambersburg@gmail.com
419 Hollywell Ave. / 10 Redwood St., Chambersburg

Teens for a Better Tomorrow

This youth advisory board through Chambersburg Cares gives participating students opportunities to examine issues affecting local youth, develop projects and build leadership experience.

Participating schools and availability may change from year to year.

Teens can be a tricky age group to find activities for — too old for many children's programs, but not yet old enough for every adult space.

Fortunately, several local libraries offer programs and spaces for middle- and high-school students.

Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library — Waynesboro

Teen programming has included game nights, 3D printing, art activities, craft programs and fandom events.

45 E. Main St., Waynesboro
📞 717-762-3335
✉️ youth@ahmfl.org

Lilian S. Besore Memorial Library — Greencastle

305 E. Baltimore St., Greencastle
📞 717-597-7920

Watch the library calendar for teen workshops and activities.

Fendrick Library — Mercersburg

20 N. Main St., Mercersburg
📞 717-328-9233
✉️ librarian@fendricklibrary.org

Fendrick has a teen area and has offered programming including a Youth Book Club for grades 6–12.

Fulton County Library — McConnellsburg

227 N. First St., McConnellsburg
📞 717-485-5327

Hustontown Branch Library

313 Pitt St., Suite B, Hustontown
📞 717-987-3606

Library programs change frequently, so check the current calendar before heading out.

Sometimes a teen isn't in crisis — things just aren't going well.

Maybe grades are slipping, attendance has changed, motivation has disappeared or your teen seems increasingly disconnected from school.

Check & Connect

Healthy Communities Partnership's Check & Connect program works with eligible students and families to provide mentoring and support when students show signs of disengaging from school.

Healthy Communities Partnership
1035 Wayne Ave., Suites E & F, Chambersburg
📞 717-264-1470
✉️ admin@hcpfranklinpa.org

Ask About SAP

Pennsylvania schools use Student Assistance Programs (SAP) to identify and support students experiencing barriers to learning.

Concerns might involve mental health, substance use, bullying, family difficulties, attendance or other challenges.

Franklin/Fulton MH/IDD/EI

Franklin/Fulton Mental Health, Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities and Early Intervention can help families navigate local services.

425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg
📞 717-264-5387
📞 800-841-3593
✉️ mhiddei@franklincountypa.gov

The county's Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) may be particularly helpful when a child or teen has significant mental-health needs and several agencies or systems are involved.

Concerned About Alcohol or Drug Use?

Franklin/Fulton Drug & Alcohol
425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg
📞 717-263-1256
✉️ ffda@franklincountypa.gov

The agency provides prevention, intervention, assessment, treatment referral, case management and recovery support across Franklin and Fulton counties.

Pennsylvania Get Help Now — 24/7
📞 800-662-4357

Families can also ask their teen's school about SAP.

Fulton County Family Partnership

113 S. Second St., McConnellsburg
📞 717-485-6767

If Home or Housing Isn't Stable

A student does not necessarily have to be living on the street to qualify for help related to housing instability.

Every public school district has a McKinney-Vento liaison who helps students experiencing homelessness or unstable housing stay connected to school and available services.

If your teen is temporarily staying with friends or relatives, moving between homes or otherwise without stable housing, ask your school district for its McKinney-Vento contact.

For concerns involving runaway behavior, significant parent-child conflict, abuse, neglect or child safety:

Franklin County Children & Youth Services
📞 717-263-1900 during business hours
📞 717-263-1611 after hours/emergency

Transition planning should begin well before senior year.

Families of students with disabilities can ask the school IEP team about employment, college or training, independent living, self-advocacy, accommodations, transportation and other transition goals.

Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

Franklin County is served by the York OVR Office.

📞 717-771-4407
📞 800-762-6306

OVR services can include career exploration, workplace-readiness training, postsecondary counseling, self-advocacy and work-based learning for eligible students.

Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 / Franklin Learning Center

2397 Loop Road, Chambersburg
📞 717-263-2700

LIU 12 provides special-education and transition-related services, including programming focused on employment and independent living.

Pregnant or Parenting as a Teen?

Trying to stay in school while preparing for or raising a child can feel overwhelming.

Pennsylvania's ELECT — Education Leading to Employment and Career Training program supports eligible expectant and parenting students with education, parenting resources, career preparation and connections to other services.

Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 ELECT
📞 717-353-5888
✉️ ELECT@iu12.org

Participation is free for eligible students.

Learning to Manage Your Own Health

Part of becoming more independent is learning how to navigate healthcare.

Teens can begin learning:

• The names of their doctors
• Medications and allergies
• How to schedule an appointment
• Where their insurance information is kept
• How to ask questions during an appointment
• Where to find trustworthy health information

For local family-planning and reproductive-health services, Keystone Family Planning offers counseling, testing and additional services, including sliding-fee options for eligible patients.

Because office information can change, families should confirm current locations and appointment information through Keystone Health at 717-709-7900.

These milestones don't need to happen all at once. The goal is simply to help teens gradually become more comfortable handling things independently.

Don't Forget Your School Counseling Office

Some of the best opportunities never appear in a Google search.

Your teen's school counseling or career office may know about tutoring, scholarships, college visits, internships, work permits, job shadowing, mental-health supports, apprenticeships, military information, local employers and other opportunities.

Greencastle-Antrim High School
📞 717-597-3226

Chambersburg Area Senior High School
📞 717-261-3322

Waynesboro Area Senior High School
📞 717-762-1191

James Buchanan High School
📞 717-328-2146

Homeschool and private-school families can also access many community, state and workforce resources independently.

This Teen Resource Guide is designed to be a starting point. For deeper information, explore these Macaroni KID Chambersburg resources:

• 💼 Local Jobs & Side Hustles Guide
• 🎓 Scholarships & Financial Help Guide
• 🤝 Volunteer Opportunities Guide
• 🏫 School & Education Guide
• ⚽ Youth Sports Guide
• 🎭 Music, Theater & Performing Arts Guide
• 💃 Dance, Gymnastics, Cheer & Twirling Guide
• 🏠 Homeschool Guide
• 💛 Community Resources Guide
• 📚 Libraries & Storytimes Guide
• 📅 Macaroni KID Chambersburg Events Calendar

We'll continue connecting these resources so families can move easily from one guide to the next without having to start their search over every time.