The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
vision
objectives
impact
Manager Employment Services
John Coward
jcoward@pcrs.ca
Content Developer
Miranda Vande Kuyt
mvandekuyt@pcrs.ca
tools
execution partners
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
vision
objectives
impact
tools
Identified Need:
Develop a Virtual Youth Employment Resource
Centre providing complimentary services 24 / 7 / 365
to a network of Youth Employment Resource Centres
Communicate with youth utilizing technology they use
regularly (Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, RSS feeds)
Theory:
Internet provides service providers the opportunity to
interact with clients virtually which permits broader
accessibility (geographic, 24 / 7 / 365, & methodology
execution partners
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
vision
objectives
impact
tools
execution partners
Identified Service Gap:
An online Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre with a full range of employment supports
and resources, from pre-employment to career planning & continuous learning
Multiple points of access offered (F2F, phone, email, IM, etc.)
Open site (not password protected) utilizing web 2.0 platforms
Response:
 Develop an online Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre to address accessibility
(anywhere / anytime / anyone), with a full range of services (a Virtual One-Stop-Shop)
Provide Career Development Practitioners with PowerPoint curriculum, on a Web 2.0 platform,
enhancing communication, information sharing, and collaboration between facilitators
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
objectives
vision
objectives
impact
tools
execution partners
 Re-develop: www.passporttowork.ca into the Virtual Youth Employment
Resource Centre (www.virtualyerc.ca)
From a user friendly online information & training resource specifically designed for
multi-barriered individuals into a “Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre”
 Replace Hardcopy “Passport to Work” Guides with Flash Drives
Links user to www.virtualyerc.ca from any location
A place to store targeted resumes, cover letters electronically
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
objectives
vision
objectives
impact
tools
execution partners
 Replace Facilitator Guide with:
Lifeskills, Job Search, Career, and Essential Skills Facilitator Resource Centres that
include PowerPoint workshop presentations
Introduce a Web 2.0 platform utilizing communities of practices that allow facilitators
to share resource, experiences and identify best practices
 Increased User Accessibility:
Promote the Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre as a complement to a
network of Youth One-Stop-Shop Employment Resource Centres across BC
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
vision
objectives
impact
tools
FOR YOUTH
 A One-Stop-Shop Virtual YERC, where job seekers
can access the full range of life, employability, and
career planning resources 24 / 7 / 365
 Connects youth (F2F) to Youth Employment
Resource Centres and other community-based
support services across the province
 Online connection to counsellors through “Ask a
Counsellor”, 1-800 #, instant messaging (twitter,
google chat)
execution partners
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
vision
objectives
impact
tools
execution partners
FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT PRACTIONERS
 24 / 7 / 365 access to continuously updated employment services
information, tools, & resources
 Facilitator Resource Centres built into each section of the website
(Passport to Independence, Passport to Work, Career Passport,
Passport to Literacy & Essential Skills) providing off the shelf
PowerPoint Workshops and other workshop resources
 Continuous Feedback Opportunities utilizing Web 2.0 discussions
(Linked In, Facebook, Twitter)
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
vision
objectives
impact
tools
execution partners
www.passporttowork.ca

Flash Drives to support online learning as well as the organization of
personalized resources

Specialized Facilitator Resource Centres for Lifeskills, Job Search,
Career and Essential Skills Facilitators
tools
 Passport to Work website
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
vision
objectives
impact
tools
execution partners
Online
surveys to collect user and facilitator feedback for continuous
improvement of the site
tools
Mobile Computer Labs
Two sets of 10 laptop computers networked with LCD projectors
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
objectives
impact
tools
execution

The Passport to Work website is currently being redeveloped as a Virtual Youth
Employment Resource Centre using the Web 2.0 platform Google Sites

Purchased www.virtualyerc.ca Flash Drives which are currently being tested with
youth job seekers

Focus group testing PowerPoint workshops tailored to each of the Passports

Newly created Passport to Literacy & Essential Skills

Passport to Youth Safety to be developed in collaboration with Worksafe BC
partners
execution
vision

A job board with continuous RSS feeds from
the most effective job posting sites

An employer database on Google Sites
platform available for job developers

A Career and Employment Resources Guide
organized by occupational sectors

Incorporate a variety of social media platforms
(Twitter, Linked In, etc.)

Add Share button that allows users to easily
forward Virtual YERC information through over
225 social media platforms
execution
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
 Alignment with the new “Made in BC” One-Stop-Shop Employment Service Delivery Model with
multiple points of entry (no wrong door)
Execution: Future
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
•Network of BC
YERCS in 50
communities across
BC
•1-800 number
•Texting
•Conference Calls
Accessibility:
Accessibility:
Storefront sites open
M-F 8:30 – 7:30pm,
S 12:30-4:30pm
6 days / week
M-F 8:30 – 7:30pm, S
12:30-4:30pm
Voicemail 24 / 7 365,
responded to within
24-48 hrs
•Ask a Counsellor
•Instant Messaging (IM)
•Social Media –
Facebook & Twitter
•Webinars (Skype)
Accessibility:
24 / 7 / 365
Questions responded to
within 2 business days
Set times for Webinars
•Network of BC
YERCS
•Job Developer
Accessibility:
Same hours as
F2F
Can meet
youth in the
community
Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre
•Community
Resource
Links (Red
Book, etc.)
•Employer
Database
online
Accessibility:
24 / 7 / 365
Execution: Future
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
www.passporttowork.ca
partners
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
objectives
impact
tools
Educational Partners
execution partners
partners
vision
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
objectives
impact
tools
Development Partners
execution partners
partners
vision
The Virtual Youth Employment Resource Centre:
Employment Services 24 / 7 / 365
Funding for this project was
provided by: