Several decades of studies evaluating youth employment programs funded through the nation's second-chance system have demonstrated the shortcomings of programs that concentrate on work experience alone and try to reverse years of inadequate education, discrimination, and alienation in a few weeks or months. The School-to-Work Opportunities Act…

This paper, which is intended as a guide for local government managers responsible for economic development policies, begins with a discussion of typical goals and practices of local economic development programs. Examined next are examples of local government involvement in economic development efforts through policies/activities such as the…

Intended for educators, this book aims to build their skills and confidence as they educate for social change. Chapter 1 is about strategy--factors to consider before getting involved in an educational program. It discusses the importance of putting oneself as an educator into the picture and of analyzing the broader social context in which…

This survey of vocational English as a second language (ESL) for adult learners covers the following areas: (1) language content (pronunciation, structure, vocabulary, style and conversational strategies, literacy training, motivation); (2) program design, including a variety of program models; and (3) materials development (needs assessment,…

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, and cardiac rehabilitation, a form of post-MI (myocardial infarction) education, accounts for at most 20% of improved lifestyle behavior that can effectively manage symptoms, delay or prevent subsequent attacks, and lower mortality and morbidity rates. In an attempt to improve…

A french language version of a training manual that presents guidelines for planning and conducting a project design and management (PDM) workshop to teach Peace Corps volunteers to involve local community members in the process of using participatory analysis tools and planning and implementing projects meeting local desires and needs. The first…

Even Start is a family literacy and support program for families with young children. This paper identifies several characteristics of adult learners in order to suggest effective approaches for working with adults to improve literacy skills. The first section presents five case studies illustrating adults with different histories, circumstances,…

The study looks at the role of immigrants in the workforce, status of English language learning in vocational and workforce education, and ways the system can enhance opportunity and productivity for limited-English-proficient adults. It begins by examining characteristics of the current immigrant workforce and future labor requirements. The…

As part of a 3-year study of the implementation of the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Program, front-line workers were surveyed in all 10 states and in 29 of 30 sites included in the overall study. Their perceptions of the agencies' organizational environments suggested a rather lukewarm agency context for implementing JOBS. Workers…

Written mainly for the training practitioner who has some experience in the field, this book provides a practical approach for constructing good self-directed learning (SDL) programs. Chapter 1 considers SDL from the academic and business points of view, develops a working definition, and examines SDL's strengths and weaknesses. Part 1 covers…

Project H.E.L.P. (Haitian/Hispanic Employability through Language Program) was developed in response to the language and employment needs of adult Spanish-speaking and Haitian immigrants in Florida. It is an interinstitutional cooperative educational program focusing on four basic aspects of communication: understanding, speaking, reading, and…

The Technical Assistance for Special Populations Program of the National Center for Research in Vocational Education (University of Illinois site) undertook a national survey of professionals in vocational education for special needs students to determine how they identify effective programs. Of 500 questionnaires distributed, 366 were returned.…

Canada's Settlement Language Training Program (SLTP) began in 1986 to provide language training support for immigrants and refugees not bound for the labor force and likely to experience difficulties gaining access to language training through existing programs. Women in particular are targeted. The training is provided through community agencies.…

This curriculum guide for a general machinists course is intended for use in a program combining vocational English as a second language (VESL) with bilingual vocational education. A description of the VESL program design appears first. The next section provides a format on developing lesson plans for teaching the technical and general vocational…

A study was undertaken to gather data for use in planning a regional learning exchange network that would meet the learning needs of adults in three counties in the gulf coastal region of Mississippi. During the study, project-developed questionnaires were administered to representatives of agencies that would either host or sponsor the learning…