WORKING WARDROBES FOR A NEW START (3)

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4. Assessment A-B. A multi-step assessment process will be implemented to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of each youth participant. The TABE assessment will be completed prior to enrollment, with approval from the Service Navigator. After enrollment, additional career assessments will be conducted using O*Net Interest Profiler by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Eureka.org, including tools like True Colors and Micro-skills assessments.These assessments will evaluate soft and hard skills, career interests, and learning styles to better match participants with suitable training and career pathways. Upon enrollment, clients will have the opportunity to connect with a volunteer Career Coach who will assist them in taking the additional career assessment. For youth who know what job and/or industry they are interested in, they will be offered the O*Net Interest Profiler.This resource offers a deep dive into specific jobs based on the results of the assessment that include skills and training requirements, common job duties, median salary range by location and local training programs. For youth that need more direction, they will be offered other assessments like True Colors and Micro-skills. Once complete, the Career Navigator will help youth explore career pathways and set goals. Using the Eureka platform, participants will take assessments to gauge their work and communication styles, identifying natural skills despite limited work experience. Clients will have access to the platform throughout the program to complete additional assessments. C. Youth, especially those from low-income households and underserved communities, face significant barriers to employment that limit their access to opportunities compared to their more advantaged peers.These challenges include limited exposure to high-demand career pathways, economic instability, and lack of resources, making it hard to pursue stable employment. Limited access to postsecondary education and family knowledge about higher education and vocational training add further obstacles, leaving many without the tools or guidance to improve job prospects.The absence of career mentorship compounds these issues, leaving young adults without role models to navigate the job market.These systemic barriers prevent youth from securing stable, well-paying jobs, perpetuating cycles of underemployment, economic hardship, and reduced social mobility. Overtime, this increases reliance on public assistance and limits upward mobility, creating a cycle difficult to break without targeted interventions. D.To address the barriers youth face, Working Wardrobes draws on its extensive experience serving underserved populations, with nearly half of its clients being youth. Core services offered to both youth and adult clients include one-on-one career assessments, personalized employment plans, resume building,job search strategies, and connections to secondary education, skill-based certifications, and life skills training.These services are delivered at the Career Success Center in Santa Ana, supported by trained Career Navigators, volunteer Career Coaches with HR/hiring experience, and.lob Developers who help clients build the skills and confidence needed for successful job searches.The organization's paid Work Experience (WEX) program is in early development, with a pilot program showing positive impacts for clients. Working Wardrobes integrates these services and WEX programming into the Rebuilding Careers Program for Young Adults, providing targeted support to help out-of-school youth