NCJ Number
75406
Editor(s)
W Mirengoff
Date Published
1969
Length
260 pages
Annotation
This volume contains eight analytical reports concerning new approaches to helping disadvantaged youth find worthwhile employment. The reports are based on 55 experimental and demonstration (E&D) projects funded by the Manpower Development and Training Act (MDTA) between 1963 and 1966.
Abstract
To disseminate the successes and limitations of the E&D projects, the Manpower Administration asked experts to evaluate components of the program using project reports and site visits. An overview of the MDTA program emphasizes its client-oriented approach and summarizes major innovations that the projects produced, such as use of nonprofessionals, outreach techniques, prevocational training, and alternative assessment measures. The first paper discusses the impact of E&D projects on private and public agencies, with particular attention to cooperative efforts and use of the projects' findings. Recruitment techniques and community penetration activities are then assessed. A description of assessment, counseling, and supportive programs notes that the projects tried to reduce youth unemployment by intervening in the youths' behavior and experiences and then details formal and informal testing methods, types of counseling formats used, and supportive services which facilitated counseling or participation in the project. Initially, E&D projects discovered that most disadvantaged youth were seriously deficient in basic reading and computation skills and were totally unfamiliar with the routines and responsibilities of steady wage work. Basic education and prevocational and vocational programs which tried to address these problems are examined in two reports. Both concluded that projects which were able to couple classroom and job site training were the most effective. Further, a review of E&D projects' job development, job placement, and job creation strategies considers essential elements in the job placement process, approaches which either improve the competitive position of disadvantaged youths or modify job requirements, and difficulties experienced by placement personnel in handling disadvantaged clients. Manpower programs' extensive use of indigenous nonprofessionals is discussed, including potential conflicts between professionals and nonprofessional staff and training programs. The final study focuses on the types of research conducted by the E&D projects and evaluates followup studies. All papers contain recommendations for improving manpower projects targeted at disadvantaged youth. The appendixes identify the E&D projects discussed in the reports and provide a glossary of abbreviations. For individual papers, see NCJ 75407-13.