Quality Elements
Career Preparation
All youth are engaged in their learning in the workplace and community.
- Adults facilitate access to workplace opportunities
- Classroom learning supports career preparation
- Quality work-based learning opportunities are in place
- Early employment exposure and experiences are provided
- All youth are experienced and ready for a career
In addition:
- People and systems provide support and access to workplace experiences
- Early and ongoing career exposure, awareness, and preparation activities are provided
- Adults ensure that youth know their rights and are aware of legal issues pertaining to employment
- Businesses and community organizations are engaged as partners
- Stable contact mechanisms are available via address, email, P.O. Box, and/or phone
- Academic coursework offers the opportunity to reflect on workplace experiences
- A sequence of activities prepare youth for successful employment and includes an awareness of workplace culture and employer expectations
- Learning experiences are relevant and contextual
- Work readiness skills are assessed, evaluated, and documented
- Career preparation is tied to economic development and industry-recognized, portable skills certifications
- Quality work-based learning opportunities exist and are supported
- Sequenced work-based learning is linked to academic learning
- Entrepreneurship exposure and opportunities are available
- Work experiences are tailored to meet individual needs
- Early employment exposure, experiences, and support are available
- A full spectrum of workplace experiences and work-based learning is provided
Youth with disabilities may also need:
- Information about the relationships between appropriate benefits planning and career choices
- Identification of and access to disability-related support and accommodations needed for the workplace and community living
- Instruction and guidance about communicating disability-related support and accommodation needs to prospective employers and service providers
- Teachers and families that have appropriate and achievable expectations commensurate with individual abilities
- Work-based learning experiences that include customized, supported employment opportunities, workplace mentors and on-the-job training
- Awareness of their own needs and how to get them met
- Support to know that they can work and have a purpose in the work world
The YCi Elements of a Comprehensive Local Youth-Serving System chart can be found in the All Youth One System, YCi Guidebook. This guidebook was funded by the California Workforce Investment Board and produced by New Ways to Work.
Funded under a grant/contract supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U. S. Department of Labor, grant/contract #E-9-4-X-XXXX and the California Workforce Investment Board. The opinions contained in this publication are those of the grantee/contractor and do not necessarily reflect those of the U. S. Department of Labor.
Marin Brown, ITOP Project Coordinator
Phone: 707-849-2265
Email: marin.brown@calstat.org