Current

From Research to Practice in Career and Employment Programs and Services – A Working Symposium was held from March 13-14^th, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario. The Symposium brought together provincial, territorial and federal service and practice leaders, distinguished Canadian researchers and research groups and an international expert. The two day Symposium was designed as a working forum to create dialogue between research and practice, to consider the practical applications of research tools and results to improving career and employment services, to formulate a future research agenda and to move to follow-up actions in direct response to research results. It provided an opportunity for participants to learn about research that could impact their various settings, to share provincial, territorial and federal successes and challenges, to network and build working national relationships and to actively contribute to developing a national research agenda.

• Program
• Proceedings
• Final Report

CCDF and the CRWG have undertaken beginning in May, 2012 an 11 month project titled “Common Indicators: Transforming the Culture of Evaluation in Career and Employment Services”.  The project is in partnership with Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Québec.  The Lead researchers from the CRWG are Dr. Bryan Hiebert, University of Victoria and Dr. Guylaine Michaud, Université de Sherbrooke.  The project is launching with a series of Focus Groups to be held in each province in June, 2012 to refine the common indicators to be gathered.  The actual project will take place between January and March, 2013.

CCDF is conducting a research project in partnership with the Governments of Alberta and Manitoba to assess the relative impact on clients with diverse employability needs and levels of labour market attachment of independent use of career development resource packages tailored to client need/community and the use of these packages when supported by a career development practitioner.  This project is a significant extensions and expansion of the LMI Impact Study conducted by CCDF in partnership with the Government of New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.  It is expected that this project will not only contribute substantively to our field’s evidence-base but will also, we expect, result in tested and tailored resources to address client needs related to career decision-making, skills enhancement, job search and job maintenance.

In partnership with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and Métis National Council (MNC), CCDF is conducting a project to solidify our understanding of the state of practice with respect to Essential Skills applications tailored to Aboriginal youth and adults in diverse communities and to “uncover” factors which contribute to strong employability and employment outcomes.  The project will result in a national inventory of Aboriginal Essential Skills programs and the sharing of information and tools to support best practice.

CCDF is delivering a Career Development Practitioner Certificate Program. It is initially being delivered to the Career Development Officers and a second intake of the program has commenced with other service providers.

CCDF developed seven competency-based training courses and delivers them to career development practitioners across New Brunswick. A comprehensive needs assessment was conducted by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and  Labour, using the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners. Key competency gaps and priorities were identified and these shaped the course development. CCDF worked in close collaboration with the Canadian Research Working Group on Evidence-Based Practice to ensure evaluation was embedded throughout and a culture of evaluation is promoted. This training is the first program to be pre-approved as eligible for the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance’s new EVGP Certification. CCDF is currently engaged in a 3-year agreement (2010-2013) to continue to provide state-of-the-art training to front-line staff and managers.

CCDF conducted a competency needs assessment for all provincial front-line staff using the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners.  Four courses have been delivered to staff across the province and a cadre of trainers have been trained for ensure long-term sustainability of the provincial Training Strategy.  CCDF continues to support the training team and facilitate the application for international EVGP certification with IAEVG.

Following a provincial needs assessment based on the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners, CCDF has developed an 8-course certificate program which is being delivered to career practitioners across the province in partnership with the University of Winnipeg.

CCDF is conducting an evaluation of a Prior Learning Assessment Support Service being delivered across regions of New Brunswick to determine its impact on a range of client and institutional outcomes.

CCDF is working with the Government of Nunavut (GN) to develop a policy framework for the delivery of career services to Nunavummiut across the lifespan. CCDF will work with the GN through the implementation phase.

CCDF is delivering competency-based career development training to Local Employment Officers working across Nunavik.

CCDF chairs the Steering Committee of CCCD, providing leadership and coordination for the Council.

CCDF serves as the Administrative Centre for the IAEVG, providing member services, financial systems and accountability.

In addition to serving voluntarily on the Board of Directors, CCDF manages the administration and finances for ICCDPP.