WIA YOUTH PROGRAM

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WIA YOUTH PROGRAM
Assessment
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Assessment
Why is Assessment Important? Assessment is
necessary to find out the needs of the youth
then provide appropriate services to address
those needs, which will enable the youth to
attain the goals set in their individual Service
Strategy (ISS)
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Assessment

• What is Assessment?
• A snapshot where the youth is at a particular
  moment
• A means of gathering information necessary to
  case management
• Changes with each subsequent meeting with the
  youth

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Assessment

• Why is Assessment Done?
• Provide youth with understanding of current level
  of ability
• Provide case manager information that helps
  identify services youth needs, based on objective
  assessment
• Identify monitor areas of progress as youth
  receives services
• Give case manager staff working with youth
  baseline data to assist in locating jobs that
  will meet the ability of youth

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Assessment (Purpose of Assessment)
Good assessment practices should weave throughout
all WIA services - and it is often case managers
who make sure this happens. You are always
assessing. At the beginning, you assess in order
to discover the person (the youth) venturing into
this web of WIA support. You assess as services
unfold in order to gauge progress, shifting
interests and needs, and to revise service
tactics, if needed. As services wind down, you
assess in order to sum up achievements final
outcomes.
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Assessment (Purpose of Assessment Cont.)

• The purpose of assessment is to
• Help the participant confirm interests, skills
  valuable experiences
• Identify internal external factors that support
  or impede success
• Prioritize skill development, career awareness,
  support needs
• Identify information that will enable service
  providers to effectively target tailor support
• Evaluate monitor progress, ultimately, results

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Assessment (Principles of Good Assessment)

• Use whole-person approach
• Use assessment tools in purposeful manner
• Use reliable assessment tests procedures
• Use assessment procedures instruments that have
  been demonstrated to be valid for specific
  purpose for which are being used
• Use assessment tools appropriate for youth being
  served
• Ensure testing conditions are suitable uniform
  for all youth
• Maintain assessment instrument security

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Assessment (Principles of Good Assessment Cont.)

• Ensure all scores are interpreted correctly
• Maintain confidentiality
• Provide reasonable accommodations in assessment
  process for youth with disabilities

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Assessment (Initial Assessment)
WIA requires an initial assessment whenever a new
participant enters the WIA youth program. These
early assessment conversations set the stage for
the development of the Individual Service
Strategy (ISS), so needless to say, the
assessment process is crucial.
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Assessment(Requirements)
At a minimum, the initial WIA YOUTH assessment
must cover

• Academic levels basic skills - including, but
  not limited to reading, writing, computing,
  speaking listening
• Occupational skills - primary secondary job
  specific skills
• Prior work experience - include paid unpaid, as
  well as volunteering
• Employability - level of readiness to obtain
  retain employment

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Assessment(Requirements Cont.)

• Interests - include interest in non-traditional
  jobs
• Aptitudes - natural abilities
• Supportive services - determine what supports the
  youth needs to successfully participate in
  activities included in the Individual Service
  Strategy (ISS)
• Developmental needs - will relate to work
  maturity skills

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Assessment(Interview Tool)
Many programs use an interview tool that covers
these areas

• Interests goals
• Strengths skills
• Extracurricular activities
• School educational activities
• Work experience

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Assessment(Interview Tool Cont.)

• Family peer influences (social, cultural
  history)
• Health information history
• Legal issues history (as appropriate)
• Needs
• Barriers to participation or success

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Assessment(Engaging Youth)
Engaging youth in the assessment process is a
challenging task. The following are suggestions
that may help

• Channel youths developmental need to discover
  who they are identify strengths, skills
  talents into self-assessment for career
  development purposes
• Emphasize purpose value of assessment how
  youth case manager will be able to use
  information
• Avoid using the word TEST
• Present assessment results positively,
  emphasizing strengths have plan to develop weak
  areas

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Assessment(Engaging Youth Cont.)

• Channel young persons development need to
  discover who they are identify strengths,
  skills talents into self-assessment career
  development purposes
• Emphasize purpose value of assessment how
  young person case manager will be able to use
  the information
• Avoid using word TEST
• Present all assessment results positively,
  emphasizing strengths presenting action plan
  that can develop weaker areas

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Assessment(Case Managers Role)

• Determine assessments to be used
• Select instrument or instruments best suited for
  the young persons needs
• Prepare young person for assessment
• Interpret results with young person

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Assessment(Formal)
Formal assessments are tests that have been
developed professionally according to scientific
principles of test construction have written
instructions for administration interpretation.
Formal standardized assessment tools may be of
greater assistance in obtaining information
regarding reading, math academic skills
aptitudes, work readiness skills occupational
skills
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Assessment(Informal)

• Informal assessments are less threatening, more
  enjoyable activities, but should be selected
  used carefully as part of a larger assessment
  strategy, which includes formal assessments
• Informal assessments are subjective, require more
  time to administer or customize, require
  thoughtful interpretations - the validity has not
  been study or may be questionable
• An effective, comprehensive assessment process
  will include formal informal
• Assessment is an on-going process should be
  used continuously while youth is active in the
  program