NCJ Number
120463
Journal
Oregon School Study Council Bulletin Volume: 31 Issue: 5 Dated: (January 1989) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1989
Length
48 pages
Annotation
Information about career options can motivate at-risk youth to complete their education by encouraging them to set career goals and attain the necessary education and training.
Abstract
The Career Information Service (CIS) consortium in Oregon consists of 360 schools, colleges, rehabilitation agencies, and other organizations, and the National Career Information System provides software, occupational and educational information, and technical assistance to entities in 16 states. The CIS Project for At-Risk Youth had as its objective the identification and dissemination of effective ways for CIS to help these youths, including dropouts and adolescents who were undereducated or without constructive plans for their future. CIS site coordinators identified five categories of factors related to dropping out which reflected ideas similar to those in the literature: socioeconomic, home and family, psycho-social development, academic development, and institutional. Successful career programs are built on three basic principles: young people need opportunities to explore career options, the career concept must encompass education and work, and personal and dynamic characteristics of career development must be stressed. CIS provides motivational and developmental benefits to at-risk youth by providing a reliable source of locally relevant career information. Successful career information programs must incorporate the four elements of cash; care; computers; and coalitions of schools, business, and local education foundations. In planning such programs, staff members need to answer the questions of who is at-risk, what can be done, and whether or not the program is working. 4 appendixes, 29 references.