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Guideposts for Success
Transition from youth to adulthood is an awkward period in life; it presents challenges for almost every young person today. Youth with disabilities, indeed all vulnerable youth, may need extra supports throughout their transition period in order to make informed choices and become self-sufficient adults. An extensive literature review of research, demonstration projects and effective practices covering a wide range of programs and services -- including lessons from youth development, quality education, and workforce development programs -- has identified core commonalities across the disciplines, programs and institutional settings. The review also points out that no one institution or organization can provide the full range of services; thus, highlighting the interdependence of agencies that requires communities, states, the federal government and multiple organizations at all levels to collaborate with one another in order to help assure quality transitions for all youth. The applicable literature suggests that all youth need:
There are five categories, called Guideposts for Success, which can help steer families, institutions and youth themselves through the transition processes. These Guideposts are built on the following underlying assumptions:
Supporting EvidenceAll the work of the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth is research-based. Acting on behalf of the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition and the Collaborative, IEL’s Center for Workforce Development took the lead in collecting and compiling the research for the Guideposts and the corresponding NCSET transition standards and indicators. The research summary is a living document and will be updated periodically. The research summary and citations are available in Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word format. (Full reference: National Alliance for Secondary Education and Transition. (2005). National standards and quality indicators: Transition toolkit for systems improvement. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, National Center on Secondary Education and Transition.) Download the Research Summary and Citations in Microsoft Word format. Download the Research Summary and Citations in Adobe PDF format. (Adobe PDF help) The Guideposts & Specific NeedsEach of the guideposts is listed below along with the corresponding specific needs for each guidepost. School-Based Preparatory ExperiencesIn order to perform at optimal levels in all education settings, all youth need to participate in educational programs grounded in standards, clear performance expectations and graduation exit options based upon meaningful, accurate, and relevant indicators of student learning and skills. These should include:
In addition, youth with disabilities need to:
Career Preparation & Work-Based Learning ExperiencesCareer preparation and work-based learning experiences are essential in order to form and develop aspirations and to make informed choices about careers. These experiences can be provided during the school day, through after-school programs and will require collaborations with other organizations. All youth need information on career options, including:
In order to identify and attain career goals, youth need to be exposed to a range of experiences, including:
In addition, youth with disabilities need to:
Youth Development & LeadershipIn order to control and direct their own lives based on informed decisions, all youth need:
Youth with disabilities also need:
Connecting ActivitiesAll youth may also need one or more of the following:
Youth with disabilities may need:
Family Involvement & SupportsAll youth need parents, families and other caring adults who have:
In addition, youth with disabilities need parents, families and other caring adults who have:
Guideposts for Supporting EmployersThe workforce development system has two primary customers: employers and job seekers. Meeting the needs of both of these consumers continues to challenge many workforce development programs. For more than two decades large and small employers have remained consistent in their expectations. Specifically, businesses want publicly funded providers of education and training services to:
This sounds simple but it is not. A plethora of disconnects exist in the way employers are engaged. One possible solution is emerging—intermediaries. In the simplest of terms, a workforce intermediary is an organization which seeks to assist the two key customers of the workforce system – job seekers and employers – through coordination and collaboration among and between agencies and providers that impact service delivery. To better address employers’ needs, supply side providers of workforce development services will need to restructure their policies, practices, and resource allocation strategies. To assist states, localities, and individual programs in this effort, NCWD/Youth has developed the Guideposts for Supporting Employers. The following framework details what the workforce development system can do to address employers’ needs with regard to hiring any job applicant, as well as additional needs employers may have in hiring and retaining employees with disabilities. The Guideposts for Supporting Employers are organized with the explicit purpose of helping workforce development policy makers and program providers reduce identified barriers. There are two categories within the framework. The first focuses on what system designers (state and local) need to do. The second looks at what individual programs which include a wide array of education and training institutions such as community rehabilitation centers, secondary and post secondary institutions, apprenticeship programs, and One-Stop Centers need to do. Download the new Employer Guideposts for Success in Microsoft Word format or Adobe PDF . (Adobe PDF help)
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19 May, 2008
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