Developing a Career Guidance Program for Delinquent Youth

Positive career orientation as an inhibitor of adolescent problem behaviour

“…Without taking the relationships between schooling and career into account, it is hardly possible to enhance career prospects for youths experiencing status deprivation. Therefore, it is not surprising that career guidance programs often do not lead to significant changes in delinquent youth's career maturity, salience of the worker role, and self-concept (Munson, 1994;Pavlak, 1983;Pavlak & Kammer, 1985): What is needed is the development of innovative approaches focused on early prevention through securing an opportunity for each child to become a success in a socially appropriate adult work role.…”

“…Some authors found that delinquents can benefit from vocational interventions focused on promoting work-related values and career realism (e.g. Woodbury & Pate, 1977), but most studies of the effects of work-oriented programs have not found positive changes in delinquent youth (Maskin, 1976;Munson, 1994;Pavlak, 1983;Pavlak & Kammer, 1985).…”