Tania Hanford MS LPC PROMISE Counselor Fox Valley Area

What Is PROMISE? Wisconsin PROMISE is part of a new federal grant with a goal to learn how to best help youth with disabilities meet school, work, and independence goals. Who is eligible? 14 to 16 Years Olds Receiving SSI and their families

Eligibility What if I know youth years old who are on SSI? o Send them to our website: o Call our intake attendant: o our intake attendant:

4 SSI Youth and Family Recruitment

Wisconsin PROMISE Outreach Letter  Introduces Wisconsin PROMISE as part of a federal program to learn how to help youth with disabilities meet their school and work goals  Explains how to be included in the study  Includes contact information for the intake attendent.  Provides contact information for the project’s investigator 5

6 Enrollment Recruitment Letter Parental Consent Baseline Intake SSA Verification Random Selection Family and Youth Enrolled in DVR Periodic Survey Benchmark Program Services

What Families can Expect from Wisconsin PROMISE Program Services

Working with PROMISE Counselor Work one-on-one with partipants and their families to develop long term goals. Explore options that help both youth and families reach these goals Develop plan to provide services to reach these goals Collaborate with other agencies and resources to reach families goals.

Career Exploration Work Incentives Job shadowing Training Community Resources Work Experience Financial Literacy Jobs Reality Pathway Dream 9 Individual and Family

Division of Vocational Rehab (DVR) DVR mission is to help individuals with disability obtain, maintain, and improve completive and integrated employment. If a youth is in the PROMISE participant group, they will automatically be enrolled in DVR as well. PROMISE trumps DVR eligibility and order of selection (wait list)

DVR vs PROMISE DVR: Usually works with individuals 16 and older Works exclusively with the consumer not their family. Process of eligibility, waitlist, and plan development Doesn‘t have specific training modules PROMISE: Works with youth Works with the consumer, family, and partner agencies working with consumer. Rapid engagement, no wait list, and lead by families needs Specific training modules and other incentives for participating.

17 Promise DVR Counselors and 5 Case Coordinators Youth Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) & Family Services Plan Required Sample of Additional Optional Resources Available LocalPromise Coordinated Statewide Rapid Engagement Good Working Alliance At Least Monthly Contact Resource Team Paid Integrated Work Experiences Educational Attainment Participation in Savings Account Activity Health Literacy Training Work Incentives Benefits Counseling Financial Capability Building (Make Your Money Talk) Financial Coaching Parent Training (aimed to improve Parental expectations, knowledge, and their participation in the transition process) Community Conversations Social Skills Training (Skills to Pay the Bills) Youth and Family Learning Communities Case Manager Learning Community Self-Advocacy (Online Modules) Computer Tablets Drop Out Prevention Family Career Supports (e.g. GED completion) Skill Development Literacy Training Educational Liaisons to connect family members to a wide array of supports (e.g. financial aid, child care, transportation) Connecting Families to Adult Training through Job Centers Motivational Interviewing Trauma Informed Care Transportation Independent Living Accommodation Supports Technology Supports Business Service Consultants Family Members with Disabilities become DVR Consumers Service Menu

Wisconsin PROMISE Service Outcomes Lifelong wage earners Less reliance on public benefits Increased household income, including family members Higher educational attainment for youth and family If 100 Wisconsin youth no longer use SSI cash benefits, those public savings will have funded the entire 5-year Wisconsin PROMISE grant. For More Information: Ellie Hartman, PhD, Project Manager promisewi.com

Key Elements Work Experience Incentives Benefits Counseling Asset Management Community Resources Labor Market/Business Connections Education and Training Coordination of services--alignment

Outcomes  Increase Educational attainment and credentials  Increase Employment  Increase household income including family members older than 15  Decrease reliance on SSA payments  Decrease public benefits 15

Guardianship/Foster Parents PROMISE will work with foster parents or whomever is court assigned as guardian to help provide services. PROMISE goals are for family independence, if youth is only temporarily displaced, we will work with the family members the youth with be placed with long term. If youth is permanently placed in a foster home, we will work with the family members of the youths permanent home.

Who is ‘the family’ for PROMISE Whomever is living in the house at time of enrollment in PROMISE, is 15 yrs of age or older, and has signed consent form can receive PROMISE services If youth is not living in their permanent placement, then the family in the individuals permanent home may receive services. There are exceptions to this that will be negotiate on a case by case bases. PROMISE works with a team approach. When foster, displaced, or homeless youth are in the program, we attempt to partner with all the agencies working with the youth to explore where PROMISE services will be most utilized and helpful for the youth.

Contact: Tania Hanford, M.S. LPC Voc Rehab Counselor - Promise Grant DWD- DVR 219 Washington Avenue, Suite 105 Oshkosh, WI cell office fax 18

Question or feedback as to how PROMISE could work well with the Public Welfare System?