U.S. Labor Department Announces New Credential for Workforce Development Professionals Who Work with Youth

WASHINGTON — Preparing America's youth, including those with disabilities, for today's job market is an important task. Unfortunately, workforce development professionals have not always had access to the proper training they need to help youth to succeed. But in the 21st century, that is changing thanks to innovations funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

ODEP and the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth), today announced a new credential — the Youth Services Endorsement — recognizing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of youth service practitioners. The credential was recently approved by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP), and it will be added to the association's Certified Workforce Development Professional program.

"It is vitally important that youth have the guidance they need to make the best choices about their employment and training," said Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for ODEP. "This new credential will ensure that the workforce development professionals who assist them are well qualified and prepared to help our youth succeed in the work world. In addition, better-prepared youth will help the workforce development system address employers' needs for qualified workers."

The Youth Services Endorsement adopts competencies that NCWD/Youth developed over the past three years through an ODEP grant aimed at improving the workforce development system for all youth, while focusing on policies and practices that enhance services for youth with disabilities.

Recent studies point to lower rates of graduation from high school and lower teen employment as indicators of the need to better serve youth in education and in preparing for the workplace. Led by the National Youth Employment Coalition, the NCWD/Youth's Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) Initiative seeks to improve the competencies of professionals who work daily with youth, as a critical step to improving the opportunities and outcomes for all youth.

For more information on NCWD/Youth and the KSA Initiative, please visit: www.ncwd-youth.info.

For more information on NAWDP's credential process, please visit www.nawdp.org/certification.htm.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.