“Passing It On” Project
“Passing It On” Project is a new 4- year initiative being conducted by the Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS) of BC in partnership with the Office of Literacy and essential skills. The project began in late 2018 and is in the first stages of start-up and implementation.
The project focuses on working with 5 partnering ASET holders from across the country to share ACCESS’ Essential Skills for Aboriginal Futures (ESAF) 4-phase program model and adapt it to meet the specific community needs of each ASET partner. The overall goal of the Passing It On project is to build the capacity of partnering ASET holders to sustainably deliver an essential skill training model; ensuring that Indigenous peoples have access to quality essential skills training and to community- based essential skills expertise regardless of location.
ACCESS’ ESAF staff will deliver a 7-month train-the-trainer knowledge transfer cycle with each of the 5 ASET partners, addressing all the competencies, the methodology and program elements associated with the 4 Phases ESAF program model.
• Phase – 1 Collaboration With Employers - Form a partnership with an employer with capacity to hire; Profile the workplace Essential Skills used in the occupation then develop a ES training curriculum and learning modules specific to the occupation
• Phase – 2: Connecting to Community- Target and recruit clientele interested in the program and the employment positions on offer – Assess Participants’ Essential Skills levels by completing an ES assessment
• Phase – 3: Culture of Learning- Participants are supported through one-to-one and group-based instruction in accordance with their individually assessed needs. The Essential Skills enhancements for each intake are specific to the job position being offered.
• Phase – 4 Continuous Learning - Participants are supported by a Job Coach once employed; the Job Coach is also the liaison with the employer. Develop a Continuous Learning plan to ensure progress and success with their career goal
Face to face training will be conducted at both ACCESS ESAF’s location in the Lower Mainland of BC and on-site at the partnering ASETS’ locations. In addition to traveling to each other’s communities for face to face training, ACCESS will conduct regular train-the-trainer meetings and provide support via a web-hosted learning/training platform service using on-line meeting, sharing, and video conferencing software that will enable ACCESS and the ASETS to meet, learn and share via the Internet in real time.
Upon completion of the train the trainer knowledge transfer cycle each partnering ASETS holder will deliver three 8-week Employer
Partner Essential Skills programs.
• the first will be highly supervised by ACCESS;
• the second will be mentored and supported by ACCESS;
• the third will be solely delivered by the ASETS with support from ACCESS if needed
Duration: Nov. 1, 2018-Oct. 31, 2022.
Heather Crosby, ACCESS
hcrosby@accessfutures.com
#201 - 681 Columbia Street New Westminster, BC
Initiative Impact
Identified Project Outcomes
o Improved essential skills for Indigenous people participating in the project
o Transferrable ACCESS ESAF model
o Increased rate of individuals seeking further education amongst pilot participants
o Improved integration of essential skills into workplace practices (e.g. recruitment, onboarding and people management) amongst participating organizations
o Improved wellness and wellbeing (e.g. health, psycho-social capital, self-efficacy, self-confidence, resilience) amongst pilot participants
o A program built on the tenants of sustainability and transferability
o The legacy of an operational essential skills lab for future programing within the community
o A higher level of awareness among ASETS regarding the importance and value of essential skills training
ASETS program delivery target results have been established (total for 3 intakes)
o 36 – 48 participants in total
o 30 – 42 complete the program
o 30 – 42 participants achieve elevated essential skills abilities
o 3 – 9 participants are female
o 15 – 30 participants hired by the employer partner
o 30 – 42 participants with employment goals and training plans created
One of the major goals of the Passing It On Project is evaluation of the ESAF 4-Phase model. This project will provide comprehensive information regarding program delivery, employer partners and client participation. The evaluation process will review factors that make the ESAF program effective as well as identify areas for improvement. ACCESS will also evaluate institutional factors for success and measure the variables related to each ASETS holder delivering the program and employer participation. This information will lead to the creation of an ACCESS ESAF Passing It On guide on how to replicate the model in other areas of the country.
All data will be collected on the Performance Recording Instrument for Meaningful Evaluation (PRIME) a data management system is built on the technical platform of ARMS. Using PRIME ACCESS will collect a wide range of client outcomes and progress indicators that include: skill acquisition, attitude change, confidence and personal situation improvements, new learning and increased opportunities all as a result of clients entering into the program and enhancing their essential skills and employment opportunities.
Incorporation of Essential Skills
Passing It On will provide trainees with training and certification as ES facilitators. In addition trainees will learn to identify the ES to be targeted in the program based on the position/work being offered and be introduced to ES lesson planning and curriculum development.
Participants in the programs will gain training in all the ES with a focus on those ES skills most relevant to the job’s being offered by employer partners.
During the Passing It On Project, trainees will gain knowledge and training in the delivery of all Essential Skills while having the opportunity to develop and strengthen their own ES skills
ESAF program participants’ ES will be assessed pre and post program using TOWES. ASET holder facilitators in training will be trained in the administration of TOWES and the analysis and application of assessment results.
At this stage of the project is exploring optional ES assessment tools such as Douglas’ College’s Workplace Essential Skills Assessment (WESA)
Project Components
Each ASETS holder will incorporate cultural programming based on their local culture, context and traditions.
From the point of engagement to the point of program delivery, there is a vast amount of ESAF model information to be transferred from ACCESS to the ASET teams. Therefore, it is highly suggested that ASET holder team members have some previous experience in: Program Delivery, Facilitation Skills and Curriculum Development, with Essential Skills experience an asset. ACCESS will provide ASET partners with job descriptions for the positions as a point of reference in their hiring process.
OLES – funder
5 ASET holders, their employment partners, and their community resources
Douglas College- partner in training
Bow Valley College –TOWES assessments