Vision Passport Assessments Accessibility Next Steps Program Coordinator Career Quest Michelle Onderwater monderwater@pcrs.ca Career Counsellor Career Quest Stephanie Hooper shooper@pcrs.ca
Vision Vision E Based Vision Identified Need: Assist youth to participate more effectively in an increasingly technical & knowledge-based labour force Communicate with youth using technology they are familiar with and use regularly
Vision Vision E Based Vision Theory: For people with barriers to employment Technology has the power to either bridge skill & accessibility gaps OR further marginalize them by creating yet another essential skill gap
Vision Vision E Based Vision Addressing the need: Created the online Resource Centre (V-YERC) currently housed as Passport to Work Open site (not passwork protected) Includes a full range of employment supports and resources from pre-employment to career planning & continuous learning a Virtual One-Stop-Shop (full range of services)
User friendly, online information & training resource Specifically designed for multi-barriered youth and adults Free resources both clients and career practitioners Accessible (anywhere / anytime / anyone)
FOR YOUTH 24 / 7 / 365 access to the V-YERC Full range of life skills, employability, and career planning resources Virtual One - Stop Shop
FOR YOUTH Access to other youth websites Connects clients to YERCs Access to other community-based support services across BC Online connection to counsellors through Ask a Counsellor feature
FOR CAREER PRACTITIONERS 24 /7 / 365 online access to updated employment services information Facilitator Resource Centres built in to each section of the website Access to free curriculum, tools, & resources PowerPoint workshops Flash Drives to support online learning and organization of personalized resources
FOR CAREER PRACTITIONERS Web 2.0 - communities of practices created Allow CPs to share experiences and identify best practices Continuous Feedback Opportunities Online surveys to collect user and facilitator feedback for continuous improvement of the site
Four Passports Passport to Independence (Living) Passport to Work (Looking) (Working) Passport to Literacy and Essential Skills (Learning)
E Based
E Based Free on - line career assessments are a starting point Facilitated assessments are more meaningful when interpreted by trained career practitioners
Assessments Assessments
Assessments Group Activity: Question #1: What assessments do you use and why? Identify your client base. Question #2: What are some of the accessibility challenges you deal with? Assessments
S1 E Based Accessibility in various settings Outreach Component Offsite workshops Alternate school presentations Conference attendance Career fairs Assessments
Slide 16 S1 SHooper, 19/01/2010
Accessibility Mobile Computer Lab 10 laptop computers Internet HUB access networked with LCD projector Assessments
Accessibility New Technology: Traditional Face to Face (F2F) Webcam / Skype Webinars Social Media Yahoo / MSN Messenger Assessments
Accessibility Addressing Accessibility Issues: Eliminate barriers for clients Allows access for multiple client needs Unlimited site access Updated technology to match Gen Y / Gen Z needs Accessibility
Next Steps Staying connected Next Steps
Next steps Developing Passport to Youth Safety (in partnership with WorkSafe BC) Passport to Employers Online Job Board (restricted access) Google Chat Expanding resources past Lower Mainland boundaries Next Steps
Next steps Overall goal: Passport to Work website redeveloped as V-YERC Secured www.virtualyerc.ca Promote the V-YERC Complement to a network of Youth One-Stop-Shop Next Steps
Next steps Educational Partners Next Steps
Next Steps Development Partners Next Steps
Vision Passport Assessments Accessibility Next Steps Questions? Thank you!
Vision Passport Assessments Accessibility Next Steps For more information, Please contact: John Coward Manager Employment Services jcoward@pcrs.ca