ECOS Assessment Survey

The ECOS staff training team is developing a day and a half workshop on the assessment tools used by ECOS partner agencies: what’s working, what’s not, which agency specializes in which type of assessment and how do we get smarter about how we collectively use these tools. How do we define assessment? Are we getting the outcomes we want? What kind of assessments will be used to determine who gets intensive services under the Workforce Investment Act? The following partner agencies responded to these questions: InAct, Inc. Vocational Rehabilitation, Workforce Connections, Project YESS, Transition Project, Springdale Job Corps, Human Solution, Child Care Support Services ( who are not doing any assessments at this time), AFS - Gresham and East Portland (STS is part of East Portland), El Programa Hispano, Gresham Employment Office, Eastwind Family Center, FamilyWorks, Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services, Portland Habilitation and IAM Cares

What does your agency assess? Check all that apply	Which testing instrument do you use for each?	Who conducts the assessments?	Comments: does the assessment get the information you want? Are they too subjective? Could there be a better tool?
Math skills InAct, Inc Workforce Connections Project YESS Springdale Job Corps AFS - East Portland VRD Portland Habilitation Center * See below	InAct: BASIS Workforce Connections: BASIS Project YESS: BASIS/CASAS assessment system; Glencoe math book assessments; GED parctice tests; GED tests; College Placement Test (CPT) Springdale Job Corps: TABE AFS - East Portland: BASIS VRD: WRAT, Placement - college, WAIS-R and WISC -	InAct: Available Staff Workforce Connections: Career Counselor and or career specialists Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Springdale Job Corps: Academic Instructor AFS - East Portland: STS Staff and AFS Staff VRD: WRAT - Colleges, WAIS and WISC - Psychologist	InAct: We rarely need this information for job search, we only test if clients seem to need academic referral Workforce Connections: Poor instrument, not accurate beyond grade 9 level, there is a better tool - TABE Project YESS: BASIS/CASAS system is a state requirement - not terribly useful in determining GED level. Glencoe assessments/pre-test are useful, not aware of better math assessments Springdale Job Corps: TABE - yes AFS - East Portland: AFS, OR began using BASIS with the onset of the AFS JOBS Pro in 1990. It is a community college function and part of our contract with our prime contractor - MHCC VRD: Yes, provides accurate information
Reading level InAct, Inc Workforce Connections Project YESS Springdale Job Corps AFS - East Portland VRD Portland Habilitation Center * See below	InAct: BASIS Workforce Connections: BASIS Project YESS: BASIS/CASAS system, Steck-Vaughn ABE level assessment Springdale Job Corps: TABE AFS - East Portland: BASIS/Holistic (writing) and BASIS (reading) VRD: WRAT placement tests, WISC, WAIS-R III	InAct: Available Staff Workforce Connections: Career Counselor and or career specialists Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Springdale Job Corps: Academic Instructor AFS - East Portland: STS Staff and AFS Staff VRD: Colleges/psychologist	InAct: We rarely need this information for job search, we only test if clients seem to need academic referral Workforce Connections: Poor instrument, not accurate beyond grade 9 level, there is a better tool - TABE Springdale Job Corps: yes AFS - East Portland: BASIS “Sorts” for basic M/R/W abilities, those clients whose skills fall below 8^th or 9^th grade skills, may be helped by adult basic ed classes “if” they need it in order to find employment. The labor market test applies VRD: Yes provides accurate information
Language - ESL level InAct, Inc MC East Disability Services Workforce Connections El Programa Hispano AFS - East Portland VRD:	InAct: Intake forms/Employment Readiness Questionnaire (ERQ) MC EDS: Interview Workforce Connections: Placement Reading Test, developed in house El Programa Hispano: best test AFS - East Portland: BEST VRD: WRAT, placement tests, WISC-III, WAIS-R III	InAct: Available Staff Workforce Connections: Career Specialists El Programa Hispano: Carlo Nunez AFS - East Portland: STS Staff and NET VRD: refer out to college/school, psychologist	InAct: Language only, no ESL Level Workforce Connections: OK for reading and writing, not goo d for speaking skills El Programa Hispano: It gives the info we want VRD - ? East AFS: refers ESL clients to STS/Northeast for job search and job development: Use BEST to determine English usage
Transferable skills IAM Cares InAct MC East Disability Services Workforce Connections Project YESS Transitions Program Human Solutions Gresham Employment Office AFS - East Portland VRD	IAM Cares: OASYS Client Management System has testing/job matching component InAct: JIST Transferable Skills Inventory MC EDS: Interview Workforce Connections: 1.) CIS - micro skills 2.) Check lists Project YESS: Pencil/paper exercises; interview; discussion, Transitions Program: Classroom assignment developed by instructor Human Solutions: Informally Gresham Employment Office: Intensive Interview from work history AFS - East Portland: Interview VRD:OLMIS - Skill Explorer, START, Lifestep, CIS	IAM Cares: Welfare to Work Staff. Others have access InAct: Available Staff MC EDS: EI Case Manager Workforce Connections: career counselors Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Transitions Program: Cynthia Dettman Gresham Employment Office: Phyllis, Gary, Bill AFS - East Portland: STS Staff VRD: Client/counselor Facilitator/client	IAM Cares: This is the one chosen by our National agency InAct: Usually as a part of class activities, but could occur one on one Workforce Connections: Good tool, can’t find a better one, the check lists are reasonably good, clients like it. Project YESS: The tools we use are useful; JIST has a lot of inventories that assess transferable skills Transitions Program: Satisfied Human Solutions: would like to have a tool Gresham Employment Office: Yes/no/not really AFS - East Portland: Skills are assessed by AFS and STS staff during individual meetings weil clients, client and worker agree on employment development plans (EDP’s) to assist client in removing barriers and developing skills to find employemnt VRD: Yes, self directed by client, gives good information
Mental health MC East Disability Services FamilyWorks Workforce Connections Project YESS Eastwind Center: Social skills El Programa Hispano Gresham Employment Office AFS - East Portland VRD	MS EDS: Comprehensive Psych Evaluation FamilyWorks: We use our own strength based/Asset oriented assessments Workforce Connections: No instruments used, ask in interview Project YESS: Observation only Eastwind Center: Youth assessment and strengths form El Programa Hispano: Personal Interview Gresham Employment Office: Intensive Interview AFS - East Portland: Referred to professional staff VRD: MMPI II, Psych eval, MCMI, 16 PF	MC EDS:Clinical Phychologist FamilyWorks: Maters level counselors/interns Workforce Connections: Intake person, and career counselor Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff, work site supervisors Eastwind Center: Youth investment, diversion specialist, gang outreach El Programa Hispano: Therapist Gresham Employment Office: Phyllis, Gary, Bill AFS - East Portland: STS Staff, East AFS refers clients to STS for evaluation and referral to approp. treatment VRD: Psychologist, counselors, sent out to be scored	FamilyWorks: We feel our assessment gets us the info we need. Not sure if a more effective assessment is available that is strength based. Workforce Connections: Clients don’t often self-disclose Eastwind Center: Yes, but is very lengthy (One hour min.) El Programa Hispano: we get the info we want Gresham Employment Office: Yes, but can’t record due to confidentiality laws VRD: Yes provides diagnosis and employment barriers
Physical health/strength/capability MC East Disability Services Workforce Connections Project YESS: Gresham Employment Office AFS - East Portland Portland Habilitation Center * See below VRD	MS EDS: Medical records and exams Workforce Connections: No instruments used, ask in interview Project YESS: Interview, observation Gresham Employment Office: Intensive Interview AFS - East Portland: Individually determined VRD: Medical documentation, functional capacities evaluation	MS EDS: Physicians/Specialists Workforce Connections: career counselors and intake person Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Gresham Employment Office: Phyllis, Gary, Bill AFS - East Portland: STS Staff VRD: Physician, occupational therapist, other medical facilities	Workforce Connections: Clients don’t often self-disclose Project YESS: There exist assessments that require an individual to actually perform physically Gresham Employment Office: Yes, but can’t record due to confidentiality laws AFS - East Portland: Case manager & client confer and if medical documentation is needed , AFS refers client and contacts physician VRD: Yes, provides functional capacities for barriers to employment
Learning disabilities InAct MC East Disability Services FamilyWorks Workforce Connections Project YESS Gresham Employment Office AFS - East Portland VRD	InAct: ERQ (Self Reported) MS EDS: Comprehensive Psych evaluation FamilyWorks: None, counselors trained to assess Workforce Connections: No instruments used, ask in interview Project YESS:YESS generally uses assessments already completed by high school counselors Gresham Employment Office: Intensive Interview AFS - East Portland: Individually determined VRD - WAIS - R III, WISC - III, WRAT	InAct: Available Staff MS EDS: Clinical Psychologist FamilyWorks: Masters level counselors and interns Workforce Connections: career counselors Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Gresham Employment Office: Phyllis, Gary, Bill AFS - East Portland: STS Staff VRD: Neuro psychologist, or psychologist	InAct: No assessment of level, just what they disclose at intake FamilyWorks: I am sure a better tool could be used by us Workforce Connections: Clients often don’t know if the have LD, or they hide it Project YESS: Note: students suspected of having a having disability are referred to the MHCC special services counselor, Elizabeth Johnson; Steps to Success diagnostician; or VRD Gresham Employment Office: Yes, but can’t record due to confidentiality laws AFS - East Portland: When problems are identified, we refer o MHCC for evaluations VRD: Yes, helps to diagnose areas of difficulty to provide accommodations
Attitude InAct MC East Disability Services Workforce Connections Project YESS Transitions Program Human Solutions Gresham Employment Office AFS - East Portland VRD	InAct: ERQ MS EDS: Interview Workforce Connections: No test, do by observation Project YESS: Observation, interview, progress evaluations completed every two weeks Transitions Program: classroom observation Human Solutions: Life skills self tool Gresham Employment Office: In depth interview AFS - East Portland: Individually determined VRD: START, JSAI	InAct: Available Staff Workforce Connections: all staff members Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Transitions Program: Instructors Gresham Employment Office: Phyllis, Gary, Bill AFS - East Portland: STS Staff and AFS VRD: in house staff	InAct: Answers to questions give some hint as to attitude, but most of assessment is done by observing Workforce Connections: Don’t know of a tool that assess attitude Project YESS: These are effective. JIST has assessments that measure attitude, The Job Search Attitude Inventory is one such tool. Transitions Program: satisfied Gresham Employment Office: Yes/no/no AFS - East Portland: Assessed by both AFS and STS staff VRD: OK, it is a starting point
Interest IAM Cares InAct MC East Disability Services AFS - Gresham Workforce Connections Project YESS Eastwind Center Transitions Program Human Solutions Springdale Job Corps Gresham Employment Office AFS - East Portland Portland Habilitation Center * See below VRD	IAM Cares: OASYS Client Management System has testing/job matching component InAct: Holland Interest Exercise, CIS, COPS as needed MS EDS: Referral appointment Orientation AFS - Gresham: Needs/assessment info form Workforce Connections: COPS Project YESS: Student interviews; Career Information System (CIS); SWIS; Career Exploration Inventory (CEI); SIGI - MHCC Career Development Center Eastwind Center: On-line instruments Transitions Program: Self directed search Human Solutions: Life skills self tool Springdale Job Corps: CEI (Career Exploration Inventory) Gresham Employment Office: Intensive Interview AFS - East Portland: Individually determined VRD: COPS, SDS, CIS, CAI, Strong-Cambell, Ideas	IAM Cares: Welfare to Work Staff. Others have access InAct: Available Staff MS EDS: E.I. Case Manager AFS - Gresham: Case managers Workforce Connections: career counselors Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Eastwind Center: Self-paced Transitions Program: Cynthia Dettman Springdale Job Corps: Orientation Gresham Employment Office: Phyllis, Gary, Bill AFS - East Portland: STS Staff and AFS VRD: In house	IAM Cares: This is the one chosen by our National agency Workforce Connections: Good tool. Is cheap to use and fast. Better tool is Strong Interest Test, but can’t be self scored. Project YESS: These are effective; JIST has a whole collection of interest assessments. Eastwind Center: Yes, very complete Transitions Program: Still looking for instruments that address gender based conditioning Springdale Job Corps: CEI - fair Gresham Employment Office: Yes/no/no AFS - East Portland: Assessed by both AFS and STS staff VRD: Yes, all good tools, but some leave too much room for people who are depressed
Values InAct Workforce Connections (work values) Project YESS Eastwind Center Transitions Program Human Solutions Gresham Employment Office AFS - East Portland VRD	InAct: Informal values exercises, COPES as needed Workforce Connections: non-standard tool developed in-house Project YESS: Student interview; interest inventories Eastwind Center: Family success plan Transitions Program: Writing capacity Human Solutions: Life skills self tool Gresham Employment Office: Intensive Interview AFS - East Portland: Individually determined VRD: COPES START	InAct: Available Staff Workforce Connections: Career Counselors Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Eastwind Center: self administered Transitions Program: Cynthia Dettman Gresham Employment Office: Phyllis, Gary, Bill AFS - East Portland: STS Staff and AFS	Workforce Connections: Too subjective. Have used COPES, but in my opinion, it is a poor tool. Eastwind Center: Yes they are open to interpretation by staff Transitions Program: satisfied Gresham Employment Office: Yes/no/no AFS - East Portland: STS conducts life-skills classes for TANF AFS clients VRD: Yes, good tools
Financial ability to complete program InAct MC East Disability Services AFS - Gresham Workforce Connections Project YESS AFS - East Portland VRD	InAct: InACT ERQ (self reported) MS EDS: Financial application, bank statements, release forms AFS - Gresham: Application for benefits Workforce Connections: Budget form, in-house tool Project YESS: WIA eligibility certification process; student interview AFS - East Portland: n/a VRD: Intake interview	MS EDS: Case manager 1’s, Case managers 2’s AFS - Gresham: Case Managers Workforce Connections: career counselors and career specialists Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff * wsi AFS - East Portland: AFS staff VRD: Counselor	Workforce Connections: Reasonably good tool, sometimes clients resist giving numbers Project YESS: Very effective; YESS serves only economically disadvantaged youth AFS - East Portland: Clients meeting TANF, FS, OHP, criteria is determined by AFS VRD: yes
Life barriers (to employment) IAM Cares InAct MC East Disability Services AFS - Gresham Workforce Connections Project YESS Transitions Program Human Solutions Springdale Job Corps Gresham Employment Office AFS - East Portland Portland Habilitation Center * See below VRD	IAM Cares: OASYS Client Management System has testing/job matching component InAct: ERQ MS EDS: Application process, financial, medial interview AFS - Gresham: Application for benefits Workforce Connections: one-on-one interviews Project YESS: Student interviews; self-sufficiency plan; information from referral sources – AFS, high schools; Oregon Youth Authority; juvenile justice, etc. Transitions Program: student self assessment and interviews Human Solutions: Life skills self tool Springdale Job Corps: Center developed Gresham Employment Office: Intensive Interview AFS - East Portland: STS conducts life skills classes VRD: VDMI, BESI, Psych. Eval, Interview with client	IAM Cares: Welfare to Work Staff. Others have access InAct: Available Staff MS EDS: Case Manager AFS - Gresham: Case Managers Workforce Connections: career counselors and career specialists Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Transitions Program: Instructors and counselors Springdale Job Corps: Counselor Gresham Employment Office: Phyllis, Gary, Bill AFS - East Portland: STS Staff and AFS VRD: in house staff, psychologists	IAM Cares: This is the one chosen by our National agency Workforce Connections: People many times don’t see their own barriers (clients) Project YESS: Effective Transitions Program: Satisfied Springdale Job Corps: Fair Gresham Employment Office: Yes/no/no AFS - East Portland: If a person has mental or physical disabilities hat prevent person from participation in AFS/STS JOBS program, we refer person to VRD & track progress in training program VRD: Yes, good self assessment with BESI, VDMI is good
Interpersonal skills InAct MC East Disability Services AFS - Gresham Workforce Connections Project YESS Transitions Program Human Solutions Springdale Job Corps Gresham Employment Office AFS - East Portland VRD	InAct: ERQ MS EDS: Psych Evaluation Interview AFS - Gresham: Interview and follow up appts. Workforce Connections: Observation by staff Project YESS: Student interview; observation; Transitions Program: Classroom observation Human Solutions: Life skills self tool Springdale Job Corps: Center developed Gresham Employment Office: Intensive Interview AFS - East Portland: Individually determined VRD: 16 PF, MMPI - II, MCMI, psych eval, interview with client	InAct: Available Staff MS EDS: Case manager AFS - Gresham: Case managers Workforce Connections: career counselors and career specialists Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Instructors and counselors Springdale Job Corps: Counselor Gresham Employment Office: Phyllis, Gary, Bill AFS - East Portland: STS Staff and AFS VRD: in house and psychologist	Workforce Connections: People many times don’t see their own barriers (clients) Project YESS: Effective Transitions Program: Satisfied Springdale Job Corps: fair AFS - East Portland: If a person has mental or physical disabilities hat prevent person from participation in AFS/STS JOBS program, we refer person to VRD & track progress in training program VRD: yes
Other: Please list	Workforce Connections: Myers Briggs Personality type, Project YESS: Writing: BASIS/CASAS and GED tests Human Solutions: Answer Man, Stress Man, Problem Solv Springdale Job Corps: SASSI Screen AFS - East Portland: Writing	Workforce Connections: Career Counselors Project YESS: YESS Instructional staff Springdale Job Corps: Al/Drug counselor	Workforce Connections: Very helpful, difficult to interpret, must be certified to administer and interpret. Springdale Job Corps: good (SASSI screen) Gresham Employment Office: Yes/no/no

Additional Comments: List ideas for workshop topics….

MS EDS: To some degree, we do all of these things. The ones with the stars (*) are particularly noted and examined in determining disability by Social Security Standards, and are determined by medical records and exams and by a Medical review team. Using SSA Listings as guide. ( those listed were: Mental health, Physical health, financial ability, life barriers, interpersonal skills and learning disabilities) Additional job specific questions for people returning to work are informally obtained by interview with E. I. Case Manager.

Vocational Rehabilitation: Doreen Earl administered the Caps, Capes, Copes, - she is also trained to administer the GATB, but we no longer use that tool. Dan Rigdon frons the START program, an informal assessment workshop. VRD also tests for learning disabilities, psych evaluation, and others.

Portland Habilitation Center: PHC assessments occur the first two weeks of Janitorial and Landscape training. There is also an assessment for clerical that determines the trainees level of skills upon entry into our clerical training program. The primary purpose of our assessments is to determine the likelihood of an individual being successful in the areas of training/employment that we provide. Janitorial and landscape assessments address the following: The person; physical ability to do the job, their willingness to take instruction and follow through, their attendance, and their ability to perform the job safely. Assessments are administered by PHC Janitorial and Landscape Instructors and were designed to filter out those who are least likely to success in the training programs and ultimately PHC employment. The clerical assessment concentrates on computer, ten key, and multi-line phone skills. Spelling, writing, basic math and communication skills are looked at during the assessment. The assemtn is administered by the Clerical Instructor who used the results to design a training program that will meet the individual needs of the trainee.

Workshop topic ideas:

Why do assessments at all? What assessments can be done in core?

Self directed search, COPS, Strong Interest Inventory, Myers-Briggs

Always interested in tools for assessing strengths