This past year has seen a new component added to the Career Links Internship Program. Career Links is a program of the Valley Volunteer Center and the Amador Valley High School District.

Through a series of employability seminars and hands on community internship, high school students with special needs have discovered the standards and expectations of the work world. At the same time, they have learned about themselves, their strengths and areas for growth in preparation for employment.

The services of Career Links have been adapted to meet the unique needs of school age mothers, continuation school students and students with learning or developmental disabilities.

Students complete a series of seminars that cover career assessment, job seeking skills and job maintenance skills. Each student receives a personal guidance interview and is then placed in a specially designed and chosen hands-on internship in a business matched to the student's interests, abilities and needs. At the completion of the internship, the student receives up to five units of credit and two letters of recommendation in addition to the valuable experience on the job.

The special needs program was developed as part of Career Links general services. Through private funding from the S.H. Cowell Foundation and the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, the special needs program was developed. In addition, Career Links was selected to be a model program for working with high risk youth by the State Department of Education. The collaborative nature of this school-business partnership program eases the students transition into the work world.

The business community has welcomed these young people with special needs and has provided a valuable contribution of experience, support and guidance for their futures. The Career Links program invites the interest and participation of local businesses. If you are interested in more information about Career Links, either as a student or business participant, call the Career Links office at 829-4958 or the Valley Volunteer Center at 462-3570.

To see a reproduction of the original article and edition of Pleasanton Pathways, visit: August 11, 1986 Pathways.