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Career Planning Begins with Assessment: A Guide for Professionals Serving Youth with Educational and Career Development Challenges

October 18, 2005 Publication
Guides

To successfully make the transition from school to adult life and the world of work, adolescents and young adults need guidance and encouragement from caring, supportive adults. The best decisions and choices made by transitioning youth are based on sound information including appropriate assessments that focus on the talents, knowledge, skills, interests, values, and aptitudes of each individual. This guide serves as a resource for multiple audiences within the workforce development system. Youth service professionals will find information on selecting career-related assessments, determining when to refer youth for additional assessment, and additional issues such as accommodations, legal issues, and ethical considerations. Administrators and policymakers will find information on developing practical and effective policies, collaboration among programs, and interagency assessment systems.

This guide includes customizable sample forms covering topics such as release of records, personal transition plans, resource mapping, interagency data-sharing, and learning needs screening, as well as resources on topics such as fair testing, professional ethics, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and assessments and federal laws.

Download the PDF. 

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