Empowering Youth Through Career Counseling: MY TURN INC Overview

1. MY TURN INC. Ashley O’Donnell Career Counseling Dr. Coogan May 1, 2013

2. Mission: To help youth develop goals, skills and confidence needed to transition successfully into post-secondary education or training and the world of work. • Founded:1984 to provide education, work-based opportunities and jobs to youth through partnerships with educational institutions, community agencies, employers and families. • Focus: On economically, socially and educationally disadvantaged teens that reside in poverty or impoverished communities. What is MY TURN INC?

3. 6 Communities • Brockton • Plymouth • Lynn • Fall River • New Bedford • Fitchburg • 700 youth served each year, 20,000 since it began Where do They Serve?

4. School to Career • Helps high-school students gain career and occupational skills needed to successfully enter the workforce • College Preparatory Program • Structured for high school students as they prepare to be the first in their families to attend college • GED Plus • Assists high-school dropouts overcome their social and economic barriers, obtain their GED’s, occupational skills, credentialing, and enroll in college courses Three Core Components of MY TURN INC

5. Clearly defined outcome measures and goals • Combines classroom learning with hands-on activities and real world experience • The program involves individualized assessment, goal-setting, case management, ongoing evaluation and follow-up • Works directly with school personnel and families to discuss progress and impediments to goal attainment • Career Specialists within the program work alongside Guidance Counselors to incorporate MY TURN into a student’s daily schedule. • Curriculum has been created through the basis of the Massachusetts frameworks School to Career Program

6. Significant emphasis placed on meeting the academic requirements for high school graduation • The MY TURN Connecting to College Intervention: Following intake and assessment, each student works with their advisor to create an individualized plan for their participation, which allows students the opportunity to articulate their personal goals and aspirations which are then integrated into the overall program objective • Once students have been accepted into the program, the core of the intervention is two years of coursework that is geared towards helping participants measure their assets, talents and interests as well as college exploration fieldwork College Preparation Program

7. The out-of-school youth program assists high school dropouts ages 16-21 get their education and employment goals back on track through a three part program that includes: • Case Management • Academic Remediation • Employment Preparation • The GED Plus model includes a trial period for the program, a focus on career and educational preparation, industry training and credentialing, and then placements within agencies in the city. GED Plus Program

8. Mapping of Program for High School Students

9. Career Diamond • Competent Decision Making • Interests, Abilities, and Values • Hoover, Marcia, and Parris • Gysbers and Henderson Relation to Career Counseling

10. NCDG and High School • Personal and Social Development • Educational Achievement and Life Long Learning • Career Management • Students will be able to.. • Find, Evaluate, and Understand Career Information • Prepare themselves for Finding, acquiring, and maintaining jobs, education, changing jobs, & training situations • Realistic understanding of how work, the economy, and individual lifestyles are interconnected Importance of this Program to Class Concepts

11. Assess the Needs of their Student Population • Identify the Unique and Specific Barriers for each Group • Design Multiple Programs • Educate the Administration and Community on How to Best Meet those Different Needs • Implement those Multiple Programs Career Counselors Need to…