WIA YOUTH PROGRAM

1. WIA YOUTH PROGRAM Assessment

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Assessment(Purpose of Assessment continued) • 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

7. 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

8. Assessment(Principles of Good Assessment continued) • Ensure all scores are interpreted correctly • Maintain confidentiality • Provide reasonable accommodations in assessment process for youth with disabilities

9. 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.

10. 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

11. Assessment(Requirements continued) • 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

12. Assessment(Interview Tool) • Many programs use an interview tool that covers these areas: • Interests & goals • Strengths & skills • Extracurricular activities • School & educational activities • Work experience

13. Assessment(Interview Tool continued) • Family & peer influences (social, cultural & history) • Health information & history • Legal issues & history (as appropriate) • Needs • Barriers to participation or success

14. Assessment(Engaging Youth) • Engaging youth in the assessment process is a challenging task. The following are suggestions that may help: • Channel youth’s 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

15. Assessment(Engaging Youth continued) • Channel young person’s 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

16. Assessment(Case Manager’s Role) • Determine assessments to be used • Select instrument or instruments best suited for the young person’s needs • Prepare young person for assessment • Interpret results with young person

17. Assessment(Formal) • Formal assessmentsare 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

18. Assessment(Informal) • Informal assessmentsare 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

19. Assessment Out of School Youth All out of school youth must be assessed for basic skills literacy (TEGL 17-05) You must administer one of the following assessments. • Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE); • Adult Basic Learning Examination (ABLE); • Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS); or • WorkKeys.