Module 1 – The assessment periods
Module 1 is probably the most important section. It is where we get to understand the members and their respective needs. There are several categories in this section. If the member is not ready for employment it will come to light in the discussions.
Mental Health Situatedness
The member is given a standard mental health assessment to determine where they are in their recovery and what mental health challenges they are currently facing. The importance is to understand their possible distractions and identify any area of needed emphasis.
Documentation required
We try to understand their documentation position. Specifically, do they have the Ids, birth certificate, Social Security card, legal challenges, and any other barriers. Documentation is the most difficult part of getting employment because many clients have no documentation, and that is problematic. We have regular meetings on this each week identifying and overcoming issues. Each week we document what is complete and what is still open, this way we stay on top of requirements. This process is continuous throughout training.
Personal Financial, Social, and Family Situation
We understand how they got here and what personal challenges they might face in relation to employment. You never know why someone needs employment and sometimes their lack of employment is beyond their control. This personal assessment goes into motivation, personal situations, current finances, and future expectations. The idea is to get the information and “council” them for possible good employment fits.
Assessing Learning Style
Most of our learning opportunities are centered around audio/visual tools, but there are other types of learners that require special attention. The styles Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic are all relevant and interconnected. Most people are visual and audio learners but writing something down and reviewing it over and over can aid retention. This process is called blended learning and has proven to be very effective. We do, however, interview each person to determine what works best for them. We then address the situation accordingly.
Skills Assessment
The key to success is not testing, but interest, motivation, and relevance of information to the member. First, our method of assessment is personal interview where we determine what type of learner they are and how the program will work for them. Any extra steps required will be easily accommodated. Finally, we assess and measure performance by personal interviews where their abilities and retention are put into a Likert scale (1-10) where show readiness for the next segment of the program. The idea is to show them and then re-visit until understanding occurs. This is the start of finding what they want for their future. Thay list all their skills and attributes. Since they may change their mind later, the interviewer is just itemizing their current ‘bank’ of known skills.
Module Evaluation and Report
For Module 1 the goal is to understand the members situation, strengths/weaknesses, what challenges they face, and what they want for their future. By the end of module 1, they should have an understanding of the program and what they want to accomplish.
