Upfront assessments for identifying worker strengths and barriers to employment

By using upfront assessments, service providers can determine the best ways to effectively and efficiently begin their work with their customers by identifying worker strengths and their barriers to employment. Oftentimes, this is the first step in assisting low-wage workers in realizing their potential for increasing their skills and making employment advancements

• Assessments include identification of barriers such as access to transportation and childcare; questions focusing more on what could cause added stress in a person's life, such as financial difficulties; and, finally articulation of assets that can be used to mitigate barriers and stressors
  
  
• Skills-based assessments are an analysis of an individual's knowledge, skills and abilities. Many of these assessments focus on the basic skills such as reading and math, which are required to progress in the workplace
  
  
• Upfront assessments can help to chart an individual's ability to succeed within a particular program, so service providers can either assist the individual or refer that person to another organization

Challenge: To gain the respect and trust of customers at the outset of the program. Gaining trust is crucial for making progress with the customer because customers must feel they can share their barriers and strengths with the intermediary. Some of the information gathered through upfront assessments is very personal, so some people may feel defensive about their background or not understand why the service provider needs to know the information.

Families Forward programs such as HIRED, Women Achieving New Directions, and Pillsbury United Communities all use on-going multifaceted career/skill assessments with their program participants.