The Adolescent Scaling Project is a joint project between the UERC and The DeBruce Foundation. The purpose of the project is to evaluate how The DeBruce Foundation’s indices measuring Career Literacy & Network Strength assess employment empowerment for youth.  Career Literacy encompasses an individual’s vision for their career, self-awareness of skills and interests, the ability to communicate professional value, robust job search skills, and the capacity to explore multiple career pathways. Network Strength refers to having reliable and supportive connections across diverse industries, education levels, and social backgrounds.

The UERC researched best practices for item development and expanded measure subscales, which were tested in focus groups with students aged 13-19. After analyzing the data, the items were revised and prepared for pilot testing with a larger sample. Items were then finalized based on the data collected during pilot testing.