Career Development

This paper discusses the essential elements of successful employment training programs, qualities which enhance the effectiveness of the program, other parameters of successful programs, and delivery systems.

Topics:

Manurfacturing is a HIT for Crispus Attucks; YouthBuild Bridges the Digital Divide; Career Opportunities for YouthBuild Students.

Articles include:

New Employment Strategy for Youthbuild Students,
Eagle Eye’s Green Education Model

YouthBuild: Preparing Young People for Their Life's Work

This guide provides information on and links to Web sites offering a wealth of facts and statistics on today's high growth industries.  The document includes government resources, commercial resources, and state and city guides.

Written by YouthBuild USA under contract with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, these handbooks are designed to help people run effective YouthBuild programs in their communities. They include the HUD YouthBuild Program Manual, Construction Training at a YouthBuild Program, Leadership Development at a YouthBuild Program, Counseling at a YouthBuild Program, Education at a YouthBuild Program, and Opportunities for Graduates of a YouthBuild Program.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has set as an overarching priority for the entire workforce investment system the need to meet the demands of business by providing adults and youth with the necessary educational, occupational, and other skills training and services needed for high demand occupations. ETA’s Strategic Vision for the Delivery of Youth Services under the Workforce Investment Act is committed to promoting and implementing a performance-driven system targeted at the neediest population that will reach youth, particularly out-of school youth, who have been disconnected from mainstream institutions and systems. To meet this need, ETA has set as a priority that youth programs invest resources to focus on serving specific disadvantaged youth populations and to provide well-designed and coordinated programs that prepare the most at-risk and neediest youth for job opportunities.

Contemporary community colleges are on the brink of crisis, facing both praise and criticism on so many dimensions that it is difficult to make an overall assessment of their legitimacy. Each of the primary missions of community colleges faces a broad spectrum of challenges, made more complex by misapprehensions about the various roles of community colleges, lack of clear and consistent data on outcomes, and the relative weakness of the institutions and their students in state and federal political and policymaking processes. This article discusses a student-centered approach, challenges and approaches to understanding students, and re-imagining the functions of community colleges.

Sedlacek's noncognitive variables that predict success for non-traditional college students.  In some cases, standard criteria used for college admission decisions are not reliable predictors of college success for non-traditional students (e.g. students of color, students of poor backgrounds, older students, etc.).  In response to this, William Sedlacek designed what he referred to as "noncognitive" variables that reliably serve as predictors of success for non-traditional college students.

The importance of community college to the education and vocational training of our nation’s low-income youth and working adults cannot be overstated. The problems are that low-income youth and adults have low enrollments, and often fail to complete a certification or degree due to a variety of barriers.  Furthermore, the classes in which they enroll are often disconnected from areas of strong labor market demand where their earnings potential are most likely to be improved. In particular, community colleges are frequently disconnected from state and local workforce development systems, whose One-Stop Career Centers and personnel provide the employment services and training intended to help workers find jobs or improve their skills and earnings. Without better linkages across these two sets of institutions, students at community colleges do not necessarily take the classes and earn the credentials that will best serve them in the job market.

With nearly 15 million workers unemployed and another 9 million working part time involuntarily, the time is right to invest in upgrading the skills of many in the U.S workforce.  Sound investments in skills today are likely to yield high returns in the form of added earnings and improved productivity tomorrow and well into the future. If directed at improving qualifications for middle-skill jobs, enhanced training can reduce inequality while promoting economic growth.

The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) was asked to examine the demands of the workplace and whether today's young people are capable of meeting those demands. Specifically, the Commission was directed to advise the Secretary on the level of skills required to enter employment. In carrying out this charge, the Commission was asked to: 1.) Define the skills needed for employment; 2.) Propose acceptable levels of proficiency; 3.) Suggest effective ways to assess proficiency; and Develop a dissemination strategy for the nation's schools, businesses, and homes.

This report results from the Commission's discussions and meetings with business owners, public employers, unions, and workers and supervisors in shops, plants, and stores. It builds on the work of six special panels established by the Commission to examine all manner of jobs from manufacturing to government employment. Researchers were also commissioned to conduct lengthy interviews with workers in a wide range of jobs.

Improving the Employability of Youthbuild Students and Graduates. Guidelines for Professional Behavior. Pathways to Graduate Success, How to Build a Web Site for Your Program.

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School's Career Resource Center for Students and Alumni.

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

Portland YouthBuilder’s Two-year Case Management Model Improves Graduate Outcomes, Ensures Self-Sufficiency

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

YouthBuild Rockford sets the stage for careers through Youth Development Practitioner Apprenticeship

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

Cobb County YouthBuild design charette sparks student creativity; increases knowledge of sustainable building practices

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

Café business venture provides entrepreneurial training at YouthBuild North Central West Virginia

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Efforts lead to opportunities for YouthBuild Students.

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

YouthBuild Louisville’s comprehensive career development strategy ensures career pathways for graduates 

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

ReCycle North integrates YouthBuild into social enterprise; promotes green building, sustainability, and job readiness

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

YouthBuild Brockton uses Energy Star guidelines to promote green building

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

YouthBuild Boston leverages green building practices to enhance employability of graduates and expand local partnerships

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

YouthBuild Newark establishes connections with New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission to support career development efforts and reduce recidivism.

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

YouthBuild Fayette County establishes job placement outcomes through pride and partnerships

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

LA CAUSA YouthBuild focuses on asset-based thinking and community partnerships and establishes a consistent track record for post-program placement

Youthbuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

Post-secondary Education for YouthBuild Students. YouthBuild Oakland (CA) and Laney Community College Partnership, and how Youth Action Program and Homes (NY) students are supporting one another at Morgan State University.

YouthBuild Innovations is published by Youthbuild USA under contract with the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). YouthBuild Innovations is intended to broaden the benefits of the HUD Youthbuild national training conferences. The newsletter highlights creative and effective ideas that have emerged directly from conference activities and discussions among YouthBuild practitioners.

Youthbuild programs that are most successful in creating placement opportunities for their graduates have clear visions of these outcomes and an understanding of the technical and personal skills graduates need to succeed in them. These visions influence program design. Designing for success ensures that graduates are prepared to find and hold jobs. In this issue of Youthbuild Tips we look at four Youthbuild programs and their strategies and approaches to ensure successful job placements for their graduates.