Faculty Advisor(s)
Orley Templeton
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Abstract
Explore Your Future, a doctoral capstone project, was developed to aid the development and learning of low socioeconomic status (SES) children attending the McGlynn Center. This project focused on career readiness, addressing community concerns by providing resources on career possibilities, educational pathways, and skills training. A scoping review revealed gaps in research on interventions improving career readiness in low SES children, with limited studies identified across seven databases. Early intervention is proven to enhance career exploration, social-emotional outcomes, social awareness, academic performance, and vocational identity (Howard & Ferrari, 2022). Improvements in self concept, interpersonal and critical thinking skills, and confidence were observed with life and prevocational skills coaching (Underwood et al., 2023). Strengthening these areas improves professional environments; ability to navigate social and educational settings effectively; and understanding of strengths, interests, and values. Literature reports the need for education on alternative pathways to success, beside higher education, increasing opportunities and allowing for informed future decisions (Lindstrom et al., 2020). Through an OT lens, the project provided education, hands-on experiences, reflection tools, and handouts for future reference. Children who participated in additional programs of life skill readiness demonstrated increased career readiness skills, knowledge of careers, understanding of job requirements and pathways, and developing career aspirations. To support long term implementation, the site was provided with resources and evidence-based programming. Based on knowledge gained through the implementation of this capstone, education was also provided during a two-part workshop with Misericordia OTSs to enhance knowledge of the importance of this emerging area of practice.
Publication Date
2025
Document Type
Poster
Department
Occupational Therapy
Keywords
occupational therapy, low socioeconomic status, children, career readiness, career exploration
Disciplines
Early Childhood Education | Medicine and Health Sciences | Occupational Therapy | Rehabilitation and Therapy
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Merritt, Faith M., "Explore Your Future" (2025). Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025. 11.
https://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/otd_capstone2025/11