There are 11 modules in The Family Guide/Career Portfolio life skill and job readiness training. The modules integrate skills exploration, life skills, and job readiness and use both the Family Guide and Practical Exercises books. The Portfolio Kit can be used to store work samples during the training, and will be used in Module 5 when the client creates his or her career portfolio.

Implementing the Program

Module 1—Life and Work Skills and Choosing a Job

The first module of the Life Skills and Job Readiness program introduces the client to the program and focuses on getting clients ready for the workplace. Highlights include:

•   Skills awareness
•    Goal setting
•    Analyzing career choices
•    Conducting a job search
•     Preparing a résumé.

This module is designed to help the client be prepared for his or her first day on the job. Topics include:

•   Personal hygiene, grooming, and dress
•    Planning for transportation to and from work
•    Preparing a résumé
•    The first day of work
•    Employee orientation
•   Benefits and payroll.

Module 3—Learning the Job

This module is designed to help the client understand workplace procedures and demonstrate professional behavior and communication on the job. Topics include:

•  Types of training
•   Company policies
•    Being a professional
•   Communicating on the job.

This module is designed to help the client prepare for a performance review, promotion, or raise interview. The career portfolio is also overviewed. Topics include:

•     Identifying skills needed for advancement
•    The performance review
•     Types of raises and promotions
•     Introduction to the career portfolio
•     Using the portfolio for a job review
•     Using the portfolio to get a promotion.

Module 5—Creating a Career Portfolio and Leaving a Job

This module is designed to help clients understand the reasons for leaving a job and the appropriate procedures to follow. It also helps the client develop a career portfolio which can be used to document their skills and abilities and assist them in getting a job. Topics include:

•   Identifying reasons for leaving
•   Resigning from a job
•   Understanding benefit options
•   Choosing good work samples for use in a career portfolio
•   Pulling together work samples, a résumé, and goals to create a finished career portfolio.

Module 6—Finances: Handling Your Money

This module is designed to help the client manage their money. Topics include:

•   Understanding your paycheck
•    Using cash
•   Using services provided by banks and credit unions
•   Using credit
•   Creating and using a budget.

Module 7—Setting Up Your Life

This module is designed to help the client set up systems in his or her home life so he or she can make good decisions and become better organized. Topics include:

•   Decision making
•   Importance of volunteerism
•   Getting organized at home and work
•   Handling conflict
•   Making a schedule and managing time.

Module 8—Running the Home

This module is designed to help the client manage the day-to-day routines of the home and make good decisions. Topics include:

•   Personal health
•   Choosing medical care
•   Taking care of yourself
•   Shopping with a plan
•    Finding time to get things done around the home
•   Keeping safe
•   Community service
•   Dealing with emergencies.

Module 9—Housing & Planning for Major Purchases

This module is designed to help the client understand the different housing options that are available and help the client plan for major purchases in his or her life. While not all areas may apply to each client, they will begin to understand the planning involved in a large purchase. Topics include:

•   Public housing options
•   Renting
•   Owning a home
•   The importance of home/rental insurance
•   Protecting your home
•   Moving day
•   Buying and maintaining a car
•   Buying a home
•    Planning a wedding
•    Financing a college education.

Module 10—Education: From Crib to Career

This module provides the client with an overview of available educational opportunities for their children and for themselves. The exercises in this module help the client look at the skills they want to have in order to grow their career. These exercises ask the questions “what skills do I need?” and “how am I going to get it?” Topics include:

•   Daycare options for young children
•   Choices for school-age children
•   Childcare options
•   Special needs and education
•   Managing homework and school responsibilities
•   Choices for adult education
•   How to gain skills from education, on the job, and through transferable skills.

•   Computers in the workplace
•   Working with E-mail and the Internet
•   Understanding telephones and cell phones
•   Using fax machines, two-way radios, and pagers.

Implementing the Program