Youth Employment Supports
Youth Employment Supports
As increasing numbers of adolescents are facing the transition from paediatric to adult-oriented health-care, little attention has been paid to vocational preparation for those with special health care needs (SHCN). Youth with SHCN have lower levels of employment in relation to their healthy peers. This can be attributed to a lack of opportunity, lower expectations by the youth and their family and society’s attitude towards disability.
SickKids' Good 2 Go Transition Program collaborated with Mazemaster/Youth@bilities to address the vocational needs of youth with SHCN. Based on the needs of the patient group, a three-pronged approach was created, including:
- Career Clinic
- Hospital-wide EmployABLE event
- Youth Employment Centres in GTA
Career Clinic
The Career Clinic connects youth with SHCN to one-on-one employment counselling and life skills training. The Clinic was first piloted in June 2009, and the goal is to have this clinic run once a month within the Division of Adolescent Medicine. The Clinic staff will consist of two counsellors from Mazemaster/Youth@bilities and a Social Worker from the Good 2 Go Transition Programme. The Clinic accepts self-referrals and those from health care providers. Updates will be provided as future dates become available for this clinic.
EmployABLE
EmployABLE is an annual, hospital-wide event that motivates adolescents in their search for employment and provides them with the skills for a successful job search. Youth 14 and older along with their caregivers are invited to attend.
Youth Employment Centres
Many of the patients that attend SickKids live at a great distance from the Hospital, so attending EmployABLE or the Career Clinic is not reasonable. This online resource provides youth with SHCN with access to agencies in their own community that provide employment counselling and preparation.