Workforce development systems efforts for system-involved youth: Opportunities and challenges

Collins, Mary Elizabeth; Spindle-Jackson, Adrianna; Yao, Mengni

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106158

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The implications of this article can add to continued dialogue about how to bring innovation and creativity to field placement locations. Further, and as described elsewhere (Collins et al, 2021), partnerships are key in fostering sustainable, beneficial services for youth, as described by key players involved with LWDB and SWDBs. When discussing how libraries serve as important, innovative field placements, Johnson (2022) highlights how social work educators can increase capacities to foster such partnerships, with field placements being a sound starting point.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Additional skills in management, fundraising, evaluation, and training are important to effective workforce development. As described elsewhere (Collins et al, 2021), partnerships with youth and other youth providers are crucial to the sustainability and success of youth workforce activities. Social work brings its unique focus of serving vulnerable populations and working to directly engage with systems of oppression in several arenas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding youth circumstances in workforce development programs: Opportunities for social work

Collins

Spindle-Jackson

2023

Journal of Social Work

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Summary Youth who are disconnected from both education and work are at risk for a difficult life trajectory. This population requires policy and practice attention from social work. In this article, we report results from two research studies in the United States focused on the workforce development system serving the disconnected youth population. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 61 respondents in various geographic areas. Findings The focus of the analysis was data related to youth strengths and employment-related realities. Additionally, we examined the extent to which social work was reportedly engaged in this work. Respondents identified strengths of the youth population to include resilience, creativity, and willingness to contribute their perspectives. The described realities of employment suggest many challenges (e.g., employer reluctance, limited information on opportunities, and immediate economic realities). Social work was only mentioned in a few instances but in a positive light. Applications The findings have direct application for guiding further social work engagement in this practice and policy area. These applications include providing leadership to workforce development systems in the use of strengths perspectives, meeting youth where they are at, engaging in holistic interventions to address basic needs, and strengthening collaborations. Applications to social work research and education are also identified.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding youth circumstances in workforce development programs: Opportunities for social work

Collins

Spindle-Jackson

2023

Journal of Social Work

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“…Particularly relevant to our analysis is the extent to which care systems purposefully intersect PSVE pathways. Research in the US found barriers to this coordination (Collins et al, 2021). National websites in the UK offer some important information sources potentially linking care leavers with educational and employment opportunities (e.g.…”

Section: Leaving Carementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Silo-ing of various systems is a well-known problem. There is a need to bring together child protection agencies and PSVE programmes to coordinate and integrate efforts to serve care leavers in each system (Collins et al, 2021). Ideally, there would be a PSVE point person at the child protection agency who acts as a liaison networking and building partnerships with staff at local PSVE programmes, educating PSVE programmes about the needs of care leavers and compiling comprehensive resources of available programmes and their admissions criteria.…”

Section: Analysis and Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Family situations are complex and can offer numerous strengths to young people even if there were family problems that required youth to enter care. Youth often continue to rely on family members and reconnect after care (Collins et al., 2008). We need to examine more closely the potential for families to provide some forms of social capital as youth consider and engage in PSVE.…”

Section: Analysis and Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Post‐secondary vocational education for youth leaving care: Examining a potential pathway to successful outcomes

Collins,

Augsberger,

Howard

2023

British Educational Res J

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Post‐secondary educational outcomes for care‐experienced youth are poor. This has been a consistent finding across studies in many countries. Most studies do not distinguish between different types of post‐secondary educational pathways and outcomes, however. There has been limited attention to the potential for post‐secondary vocational education (PSVE) as a viable educational path that may lead to positive employment and social outcomes. In this paper we examine PSVE for care leavers by reviewing available data, examining policy context and utilising relevant theories. We offer next steps in policy, practice and theory development.

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“Time has come again” for career pathways: Workforce development for youth in the US

Collins,

Spindle‐Jackson

2024

Poverty & Public Policy

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Youth who are not in school and not working may be labeled “disconnected” or “opportunity youth,” and are recognized as a population that requires intervention to establish a trajectory that avoids poverty and leads to economic stability. In this study, we aim to contribute to this discussion by reporting data from two recent studies of workforce development systems’ attention to opportunity youth. We address the question: How do workforce development systems implement the concepts of career pathways and sector strategies in their work with youth? The method involved studying 29 workforce development boards’ approach to youth populations. We conducted semi‐structured, in‐depth qualitative interviews with 62 subjects. Thematic analysis was used to identify key findings related to sector strategies, utility of the career pathways concept, challenges in applying the pathways concept to youth populations, and impacts of coronavirus disease 2019. We identify next steps in policy and research to further support youth in attaining sustainable employment.

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Workforce development systems efforts for system-involved youth: Opportunities and challenges

Cited by 11 publications

References 33 publications

Understanding youth circumstances in workforce development programs: Opportunities for social work

Understanding youth circumstances in workforce development programs: Opportunities for social work

Post‐secondary vocational education for youth leaving care: Examining a potential pathway to successful outcomes

“Time has come again” for career pathways: Workforce development for youth in the US

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