Autumn, 1997, Vol. 4, No. 1

Agency-Client Profile: Alternatives, Inc.
A Model of Community Support for Adolescents

By Tina Sacks, SSA second-year administration student

The employment program at Alternatives, Inc. provides support for adolescents through intensive employment training and career development. Alternatives is a community-based youth and family agency in Rogers Park which provides a range of comprehensive services from youth development to clinical services.

The employment program offers pre-employment and career exploration services to youths aged 14 to 24. It is unique in that youths are given individual attention which often evolves into case management. This approach provides support to the many adolescents who are coping with multilayered difficulties including unstable living situations, substance abuse, young parenthood, and gang pressure/involvement. Clients are individually assessed and referred to additional support services including counseling, "English as a second language", and substance abuse programs.

One of the most innovative aspects of the program is its focus on personal exploration and development as a conduit to career achievement. The program actively supports skill development through training sessions which emphasize crucial areas such as resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, job retention and conflict resolution. The acquisition of new skills often provides huge boosts to clients' self seteem, which positively impacts all aspects of their lives. For many clients, the employment program is their first experience with personal success goes a long way to engender future success.

The coordinator of the program, Lisa Joy Rosing, feels strongly that clients benefit from the holistic individualized attention, which builds upon their strengths. Clients work individually with employment specialists on specific areas of need. Although clients receive considerable support they are expected to be actively involved in the process. Every participant is expected to work towards specific job related and/or personal goals.

Perhaps the most crucial element of the program is the emphasis on long-term career planning and goal setting. This long-term orientation distinguishes Alternatives from similar employment programs. Adolescents are guided through career testing, exploration, research, and planning to emphasize short-term goal achievement and long-term goal setting. The program operates under the assumption that youths should emerge from the program with a job and an understanding of how they can become successful members of the work force.

Finally, the program acts as a critical safety net for older adolescents and young adults who are often too old to qualify for many youth focused social services. Many young people aged 18 to 24 have emerged from high school ill prepared for the job market. They are often in limbo because they are adults and thus ineligible for many services. Alternatives is often their last opportunity to benefit from intensive professional career development.

Alternatives Employment and Career Services program stands out for its comprehensive approach to solving youth unemployment and poor job market preparation. As social work focuses on prevention as an effective tool for solving social problems, the Employment program acts as a model of primary prevention and support for adolescents in a community-based setting.

Client Profile

Many of the clients in the Employment Program at Alternatives, Inc. face significant hurdles in their pursuit of stable employment. Fortunately, many people are able to overcome these obstacles with determination and support of the program staff.

"Darren B." is one such client who successfully completed the program and obtained a job. More importantly Darren's life was permanently changed through his experience at the agency. Darren entered the program as a 21 year old homeless man with no income. Suffering from depression and alcohol addiction, Darren was also involved in a gang.

The program staff referred Darren for counseling and helped him find permanent housing. Although the process was difficult, Darren's situation stabilized enough so he could focus on finding a job and plan for the future. Given the difficulty of Darren's life, it was no surprise that his pre-employment assessment score was only 55% before training. After completing the job training program his score improved to 98%.

One year later, Darren is in college part-time with an eye towards a professional career. He receives regular substance abuse and mental health counseling and is completely sober. Now Darren has an apartment and is able to manage his own money.

Darren has made huge gains in self-esteem which has enabled him to work towards short and long-term goals. He is now in a position to give advice and lend support to other young adults dealing with similar circumstances. Gangs and quick money are no longer appealing, now that Darren knows he is capable of having a professional career.

Although Darren still faces challenges, he has been able to flourish with the help of the Employment Program. He credits the program with getting him off the street and giving him the support he needed to improve his life. Of course, Darren had a lot to do with it himself.

Tina Sacks is a second-year administration student at SSA. Her field placement is at Health and Medicine Reseach Group.

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