Let’s Get to Work A Community Approach to Improving Employment Outcomes for Youth Shannon Munn-Huff Wisconsin Rehabilitation and Transition Conference April 2012

Learning Objectives Use evidence-based and promising practices at the local and systems level to measure employment outcomes Identify policy and practice barriers Identify practical strategies for engaging policymakers

Project framework includes all stakeholders Combines what research/data shows are: Most significant barriers; Strategies and practices that work; policies that act as both facilitators and barriers to employment.

5 C’s of Evidence-Based Practices in Transition 1.Coordination 2.Coursework 3.Career Goals 4.Community Jobs and Experiences 5.Collaboration Information compiled by Nancy Molfenter, UW-Madison Special Education Doctoral Candidate and Wisconsin LGTW Project Coach

Project framework includes all stakeholders School staff Service agencies: Voc Rehab; Long-term care system Students Families Broader community (including employers)

Four project components Statewide consortium Pilot schools On-site coaches Policy team

Consortium’s Role Large: includes representation from all stakeholders, people. Provides input on what is and isn’t working, what directions to pursue; what policies need to change or improve Includes progress updates from schools and three state agencies on progress: practice and policy changes Include youth and family tracks, particularly to build self-determination

Pilot Schools Did a statewide competitive application reviewed by all six major partners (3 state agencies; 3 ADD partners) Looked for interest/ability to develop a broader stakeholder group in their school and community Had to commit to implement evidence-based or promising practices…

Practices: Person-centered planning School/community mapping of opportunities Connection general education and co-curricular activities Summer paid/volunteer community-based jobs Early connection to DVR Engaging broader community through a Community Conversation School learning circle/community of practice to learn from each other

Schools Also Developed Their own Creative Approaches to Engaging with their Communities Grafton Holmen

Jobs First! of Manitowoc County

Local Collaboration

Community and School Involvement nt-education/Assignment-Education-Spirit- Chain-Business/-/512/ /-/86lfct/- /index.html Changing Gears, a community bike recycling program

Early Experiences to Explore Rhinelander’s Work Experience Class Holmen’s Career Academy

Coaches On-site supporters/cheerleaders/practitioners who show school staff how to try new practices Provide resources and direct instruction training Connect them to other professional development, training and resources

Policy Team Members What it does

Other Strategies that are connecting Youth to Employment

DVR Youth OJT Emphasis-Training wages paid by DVR for Youth Emphasis-Training wages paid by DVR for Youth DVR pays at least 50% of wages for first 500 hours of permanent employment Easy agreement with Employer Part of Let’s Get to Work Project Made available to all youth served by DVR

Project SEARCH Emphasis-Employment Skills taught on-site with support leading to Employment Locations-Madison, Milwaukee, Marshfield and Menominee Number of Consumers-50+ Two New Sites in Fall 2013—Waukesha and Appleton