As they enter the Career Development phase, students have finalized their career choice and are beginning the process of training for their occupation. Academic, vocational and employability skills are a key focus, as students learn the skills, knowledge and requirements of their chosen field. They also continue to develop the career management skills that will make them successful once they complete their training.
During Career Development, staff provide a variety of supports and services to students, including:
- Training in academic, vocational and employability skills.
- On-going assistance in developing the student's career plan, PCDP and career portfolio.
- Assistance in identifying and developing interpersonal skills that foster student accountability, responsibility and effective communications.
- Facilitating positive staff/student relationships to ensure student's ongoing connection to Center life and to model appropriate workplace behavior.
- Continued brokering of supportive service options and working with the student to develop support service plans and networks.
RESOURCE LINKS:
Career Exploration Application Brief
Using the Internet in Career Education Application Brief
Using Online Occupational Information
Career Clusters
Group Effectiveness in the Classroom & Workplace Application Brief
Learning in Groups
Contextual Learning in Education
New Learning Strategies for Generation X
Capstone Experiences in Career & Technical Education
Developing Collaborative Partnerships
Vocational Teacher Professional Development
Work4Women: Acomprehensive guide to helping women and girls learn about and access high-paying non-traditional careers
TRAINING SUPPORTS
Career Development Facilitator Certification Training
This 120-hour training program prepares individuals for certification as Global Career Development Facilitators. Using real-life team and individual projects, staff learn the 12 CDF competencies. CPP staff will develop skills in using assessments, researching and using labor market information, career decision-making and planning, youth development principles and interactive training & learning. The training is offered in a flexible, modular format that combines 80 hours of face-to-face training with 40 hours of technology-facilitated individual work.
WDPN Workshops
Supporting a Positive Center Climate: This one-day workshop develops staff skills in group facilitation and team-building, teaching them concrete strategies and techniques for building community with students and staff during the Career Development phase. Using a highly successful model of group and individual interactions called "Restorative Practices," participants learn how to set and maintain high expectations for student behavior, while providing the support necessary for students to achieve these expectations. They will also learn how to engage students themselves in the process of creating a strong sense of community. The focus is on developing a habit-changing environment that supports student behavioral change.
Using Projects to Enhance Student Learning: Research indicates that learners do best when they work with a project-based curriculum that allows them to use resources in a real-life context and to use those resources to create a relevant, meaningful product. This one-day workshop introduces participants to the principles of project-based learning and teaching, including how to develop learning objectives, project-based strategies and how to evaluate student work. Academic, vocational and other instructors will benefit from this course.
Group Facilitation and Active Learning Techniques: Research indicate that the most effective strategies for enhancing student learning involve active learning strategies that focus on engaging students in their own learning. This one-day workshop focuses on practical tips and techniques for managing group learning and using games, activities and other active learning strategies.
Youth Development Principles and Practices: When working with at-risk youth, there's a tendency to focus on negatives and to assume that negative student behaviors are a result of the student's at-risk status. This one-day workshop focuses on gaining a clear understanding of the mental, physical and emotional issues that adolescents face. Participants learn how to use these developmental issues in positive ways and to focus on youth assets, rather on youth liabilities.
Developing Quality-Focused Youth Career Programming: Using best-practice quality criteria and principles of high quality career development programming, participants in this two-day workshop learn how to integrate quality practices into the program development process. They will learn the specific components of high quality academic, vocational and employability skills training and develop a plan for assessing their own efforts on a continuous basis. They will also learn fundamentals of data collection, evaluation and analysis.
Engaging Businesses in the Career Development Phase: Local businesses are key partners in the Career Development phase, providing information, resources and opportunities for students to develop on-the-job skills. This one-day workshop helps participants identify those factors that will "sell" businesses on their involvement in Career Development. It also explores techniques for developing internship opportunities that benefit both students and businesses.
Case Management and Career Facilitation Skills: Under CDSS, the roles of staff change. This one-day workshop explores the new skills necessary for staff to function effectively in managing their caseloads. Participants will learn how to change from a provider of services to a broker and facilitator. They will also learn techniques to engage students in managing their own career issues, how to develop effective client contracts that change behavior, and how to use interpersonal skills to guide, rather than direct students.
Effective Peer Mentoring and Support Programs: This one-day workshop focuses on creating effective peer mentoring and support strategies support student progress through the Career Development Phase. It explores practical skills and techniques for engaging students in the mentoring process and for creating peer-to-peer programs that work.
Supporting Career Transitions in the Career Development Phase: Once students complete the Career Development phase, they will move into Career Transitions where they will be expected to make the change from Center life to independent living. Students will be able to manage this transition much more effectively if they are developing the appropriate skills during Career Development. This one-day workshop teaches staff practical tools and techniques for structuring Career Development phase activities that support the Career Transitions process.
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