You work for a community service organization that provides services and programs for youth in your area: Diploma of Community Service Assignment, VU, Australia

Question 1

You work for a community service organization that provides services and programs for youth in your area. One of the services you provide is an employment readiness program that helps young people with job searching and vocational education career advice. Unemployment in your area has risen and this has placed greater demands on your service.

Other community services organizations have also been referring young people to your program, but when the program was first designed, it did not take into account people with mental health issues. This group is disproportionately affected by unemployment as they can face more barriers to employment.

After noticing more and more young people with mental health needs approach your program for job help, you feel that the program is not adequate to cater for the needs of this particular group. A meeting is held within your organization involving yourself as the program coordinator, your manager, and staff involved in the current program. It is agreed that the program needs to be expanded to cater to young people aged 25 and under who have mental health issues.

Question 2

You must engage stakeholders as your first step to find out about the specific needs of young people with mental health issues and to identify what individuals would like to see in the program.

Question 3

Case study 1: Hugo

Hugo has social anxiety. He has a fear of embarrassment and being judged which leads him to avoid social situations. You think his input would be important as anxiety, in general, has been rising among young people, but you do not want to trigger his anxiety.

Case study 2: Ana

Ana has just recently approached the organization for job help. She has autism spectrum disorder. She is not very interested in ‘small talk but can talk at length about a few specific topics that she is interested in. The main drawback she finds is following instructions. Long processes or instructions are challenging if not stressful. Visual aids are helpful in these situations.