New publications on NCWD/Youth Website

Now found on our website is the PDF, word, and web versions of the Collaborative brochure on The Guideposts for Success. There are five Guidepost categories which can help steer families, institutions and youth themselves through the transition process. They are:

• School-Based Preparatory Experiences
• Career Preparation & Work-Based Learning Experiences
• Youth Development & Leadership
• Connecting Activities
• Family Involvement & Supports

The Guideposts are based on an extensive literature review of research, demonstration projects, and effective practices covering a wide range of programs and services -- including lessons from youth development, quality education, and workforce development programs. Download The Guideposts for Success.

Two new Information Briefs have been posted on the NCWD/Youth website. Financial Literacy Information for Young People with Disabilities discusses various state and federal initiatives for individuals with disabilities and their families to become more economically self-sufficient. The Brief includes descriptions of financial literacy programs and additional resources. Read Financial Literacy Information for Young People with Disabilities.

The second brief, Facilitating Employer Engagement among WIB Partners: A Role for Intermediaries, focuses on how Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) can ensure strong business leadership roles in their state and local workforce systems by creating and fostering intermediaries that effectively link employers with One-Stops and their partners. Strategies and examples are shared that illustrate how intermediaries can facilitate, coordinate, and streamline employer engagement responsibilities among WIB partners. The brief can be found at Read Facilitating Employer Engagement among WIB Partners: A Role for Intermediaries.

New NASET Website

The National Alliance for Secondary Education and Transition (NASET), a national voluntary coalition of more than 40 organizations and advocacy groups representing special education, general education, career and technical education, youth development, multicultural perspectives, and parents has established a website. Visit NASET online.

The goals of NASET are to:

• Identify what youth need in order to achieve successful participation in postsecondary education and training, civic engagement, meaningful employment, and adult life; and
• Prioritize and address significant issues of national scale that have an impact on the provision of effective secondary education and transition services and policies for all youth.

NASET has developed national standards and quality indicators for education systems to implement comprehensive transition services for all youth which parallel those found in the NCWD/Youth Guideposts for Success.

Grant Announcements

Youth Service America and Disney are offering the Disney Minnie Grants. This grant program is designed for youth across the globe to engage them to implement service projects on National & Global Youth Service Day, April 21-23, 2006. The maximum award is $500. The deadline is January 13, 2006.
Read more about Youth Service America grants.

Additional grant announcements are listed in the What’s New section of the NCWD/Youth website at www.ncwd-youth.info.