AUTHOR=Ngai Steven Sek-yum , Cheung Chau-kiu , Zhou Qiushi , Wang Lin , Ng Yuen-hang , Leung Winnie Pui-ching , Yu Elly Nga-hin , Wong Laing-ming , Tang Hon-yin , Lee Horace Cheuk-him 

TITLE=Career and life development intervention for non-engaged youth: Evaluating the Hong Kong Benchmarks (Community) Pilot Program

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1117251

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1117251

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p>In our study, aimed at examining the effectiveness and impact of the Hong Kong Benchmarks (Community) Pilot Program, a career and life development (CLD) intervention program targeting non-engaged youth (NEY) in Hong Kong, we employed a pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design to compare changes in career-related competencies between a pilot group (<italic>N</italic> = 289) and a comparison group (<italic>N</italic> = 160). We also conducted five focus group interviews with the leaders of nongovernmental organizations, social workers, NEY, parents, and employers to explore the program’s impacts on the CLD service provisions. Our quantitative results indicate that the piloting group showed greater improvement in two career-related competencies—youth career development competency and career and life development hope—than the comparison group. Meanwhile, our qualitative results suggest both the benefits and difficulties experienced by stakeholders in the program. The findings thus provide preliminary evidence of the Hong Kong Benchmarks (Community) Pilot Program’s positive impacts on NEY and other important stakeholders. The implications of expanding the existing program and theorizing the community-based benchmark approach are also discussed.</p>