Online Resource Mapping: Minnesota’s Promising Practice to Connect Youth With Community Resources Sean Roy – PACER Center Jayne Spain – Minnesota Department of Education

The Challenges Youth with disabilities experience high unemployment and limited opportunities for postsecondary training. At-risk youth experience service gaps and limited means to find community resources. Families become frustrated over lack of service coordination and lack of accurate information about adult services. Service providers are being asked to do more with less.

The Need Youth and families need a way to find resources in their community. Professionals need the same thing. Communities need a method to identify what they offer and what is missing. Youth need work experiences that mirror skills needed in high demand industries.

The Solution Through funding from ODEP, a partnership was forged between workforce development, state agencies, local workforce service area’s, and an advocacy organization to create a searchable on-line resource map.

The Benefits Are Extraordinary The C3 partnership fuels collaboration on other issues facing the neediest youth in Minnesota. C3 is used as a community planning tool. C3 had become a nationwide best practice model. Most important, at-risk youth, including those involved in juvenile justice and youth with disabilities have been provided an excellent work experience.