Parent EngagementCareer Development Workshop

November 5, 2010

Parent Engagement

Presented by Vanessa Lewis

• Ideas adapted from many sources including:– A Career Development Resource for Parents

CCIP resource (Canada Career Information Partnership)– Career Planning With Teens: A Guide for Parents, Guardians, and

CounsellorsPrince Albert Catholic Schools

– Career Coaching Your Teens: A Guide for Parents Guiding Youth Resourcealis.alberta.ca

– Future Paths Resources by SIECwww.futurepaths.ca

– PursueOnline www.pursueonline.com

– Colleaguesmany of you!

A Worldof Possibilities

Parent Engagement

“Although adolescents become progressively independent from parents in the high school years, they depend heavily on parents in the area of career development.”

“…parents impact career choice more than students’ counsellors, teachers, friends, other relatives, or people working in the field of interest…”

“Parents want to help their teens and the resources need to provide this assistance can be developed and enhanced through counselling.”

(Trusty, Watts, Erdman, 1997, Journal of Career Development, Vol. 23(3))

Common Myths

• Young people should know what they want to do with their life.

• There is a perfect job that will reveal itself.• A wrong choice now will ruin a young

person’s life.• University is essential to career success.

Current Trends

It may be important to help parents become more aware of current trends…

• Technology• Information• Global Marketplace• Change• Cultural and Lifestyle Diversity• Changing Demographics

How do these trends impact youth?How can parents can assist their children in

preparing for these current trends?Can we, as career-development professionals, help?

CareerPlanningModel

http://www.futurepaths.ca/educators.php

SIEC Future Paths Website

Career Conversations

Parent EngagementThings we have tried…• Career Counsellors meet with students/parents.• Career Counsellors attend parent/teacher/student

conferences.• Career Counsellors circulate information home to parents. • Division support for Take Our Kids To Work Day• Regional Career Development Parent Workshops• Career Development Website for students/parents• Parent Survey

It will be great to hear about what school divisions are doing/could be doing as we engage in discussion around this HOT TOPIC.

We have much to learn from successes and struggles.

Parent Engagement

Parents are the greatest influences of teens in their planning their life/career path.

(As reported by teens interviewed for the CIIP publication)

Parent EngagementTable Talk

(possible discussion questions)• How important is parent engagement in career

development? Why? • Are there some common myths we, as career

counsellors, could help to dispel in discussions with parents?

• How can parents support their children in preparing for their futures and in dealing with current trends?

• How do we inform parents of current educational practices with regard to career development?

• How do we share ministry initiatives and new resources with parents in our division?

• In your division, what role do parents have and how is their voice heard?

Parent EngagementThank you for your discussion around this “HOT TOPIC”