© CCHMC 1/3/06 Supported Employment Agency District of Columbia Public Schools Federal Agency: Education, Health & Human Services or Labor Rehabilitation Services Administration Department on Disability Services

© CCHMC 1/3/06 Project SEARCH is doing more than providing valuable work experiences for students. It is massaging and changing corporate culture and the receptivity of workplaces to employ people with disabilities. Project SEARCH is doing more than providing valuable work experiences for students. It is massaging and changing corporate culture and the receptivity of workplaces to employ people with disabilities. Diversity World Magazine, November 2006

Benefits for DCPS Students One year of training and three internships experiences. Opportunity to learn skills and work in federal government agency. References from federal managers Develop strength areas. Work toward independence in many areas such as transportation, daily living skills, etc.

Benefits for Federal Department Building a more inclusive work force Training youth to enter the competitive workforce Identifying entry level workers to fulfill a secession plan Assisting Federal Departments to reach President Obama’s Executive Order of 2% of the workforce to be people with disabilities

Program Description One school year – follows DCPS calendar One school year – follows DCPS calendar 12 students in each program 12 students in each program Students with a variety of disabilities Students with a variety of disabilities Last year of HS eligibility Last year of HS eligibility Rotate through three unpaid internships Rotate through three unpaid internships Outcome of employment Outcome of employment

Student Selection Information Sessions – Winter 2011 Information Sessions – Winter 2011 DCPS staff complete referral DCPS staff complete referral Complete application – early spring Complete application – early spring Students tour program to determine interest and good fit - spring Students tour program to determine interest and good fit - spring Students interviews with committee - spring Students interviews with committee - spring Committee selects students Committee selects students Develop DCPS IEP for Project SEARCH Develop DCPS IEP for Project SEARCH

Eligibility Guidelines 18 – 21 years old 18 – 21 years old Desire to work in community at end of program Desire to work in community at end of program Have appropriate hygiene, social and communication skills Have appropriate hygiene, social and communication skills Ability to take direction, follow code of conduct in federal agency Ability to take direction, follow code of conduct in federal agency Utilize Metro Utilize Metro Pass drug screen, background check, immunizations up to date Pass drug screen, background check, immunizations up to date

Sample School Day 7:50 Arrive at federal site 7:50 Arrive at federal site 8:00 Employability Skills 8:00 Employability Skills 9:00 Worksites 9:00 Worksites 12:00 Lunch 12:00 Lunch 12:30 Worksites 12:30 Worksites 2:00 Review day, planning, communication 2:00 Review day, planning, communication 2:30 Depart – Metro

Annual Calendar August June 1 st Internship (12 weeks) Graduate & begin work in community Begin PS Program ( follow DCPS calendar) 2 nd Internship (12 weeks) 3 rd Internship (12 weeks) 2 Orientation Internship 1, 2 & 3 Aug Summer Program Job Search

Summer Engage parents / give them information Engage parents / give them information 4 week preparation course 4 week preparation course Travel Training on Metro Travel Training on Metro Criminal Background Check Criminal Background Check Immunizations, TB Test, Drug Screen Immunizations, TB Test, Drug Screen Badge Badge Identify federal internships and skills to be learned Identify federal internships and skills to be learned

4 Week Preparation Course Complete mandatory new employee education: safety, confidentiality, etc. Complete mandatory new employee education: safety, confidentiality, etc. Tour possible internships Tour possible internships Create resume Create resume Practice interviewing skills Practice interviewing skills Guest speakers from federal department Guest speakers from federal department

Employability Skills Curriculum Work Behavior Work Behavior Problem Solving Problem Solving Communication Communication Budgeting Budgeting Team Work Team Work Technology Technology Nutrition Nutrition

Internships /Work Rotations Competitive, Marketable Skills Competitive, Marketable Skills 4 – 5 hours of day 4 – 5 hours of day Work/ Social Skills Work/ Social Skills 12 weeks/Flexible 12 weeks/Flexible Constant Feedback & Assessment Constant Feedback & Assessment

Monthly Team Meetings Student plans and leads meetings Student plans and leads meetings Discuss skills learned, challenges, progress toward employment Discuss skills learned, challenges, progress toward employment Plan activities needed to gain job Plan activities needed to gain job Communication with all members is critical: student, family member, RSA Counselor, instructor Communication with all members is critical: student, family member, RSA Counselor, instructor Network of friends, family and others all focused on employment Network of friends, family and others all focused on employment

Code of Conduct Students are interns in federal departments Students are interns in federal departments Must adhere to disciplinary process of department including: attendance, behavior, dress code, etc. Must adhere to disciplinary process of department including: attendance, behavior, dress code, etc. Consequences for violating code of conduct Consequences for violating code of conduct

Develop Overall Career Plan: Identify interests and job preferences Identify skills needed to learn during internships necessary for employment

Data Entry Data Entry Filing Filing Imaging and Scanning Imaging and Scanning Documentation Documentation Mail Sorting and Delivery Mail Sorting and Delivery Facilities Facilities Communication Communication Problem Solving Problem Solving Sample Entry Level Skills for Job in Federal Government

Student Role Identify area of interest Identify area of interest Write cover letter to agency Write cover letter to agency Send letter and resume/data sheet Send letter and resume/data sheet Interview for position Interview for position Department calls student to confirm Department calls student to confirm Notify teacher & department for absences Notify teacher & department for absences Continual Evaluation by all Continual Evaluation by allEvaluation Give two weeks notice Give two weeks notice Participate in exit interview Participate in exit interview Write Thank You letter Write Thank You letter Update portfolio and resume Update portfolio and resume

Instructor Role Identifies career goal / IEP for student Identifies career goal / IEP for student Teaches Employability Skills Curriculum Teaches Employability Skills Curriculum Provides employer education to federal staff Provides employer education to federal staff Disability information Disability information Supervision strategies Supervision strategies Communicates with parents Communicates with parents Assists team to develop employment opportunities Assists team to develop employment opportunities

Job Coach Role Observes department work Observes department work Identifies core skills needed for job Identifies core skills needed for job Develops job description / task analysis Develops job description / task analysis Teaches core skills to student Teaches core skills to student Develops work aids/ accommodations Develops work aids/ accommodations Works with department mentor to provide natural supports Works with department mentor to provide natural supports Evaluates progress of student intern Evaluates progress of student intern Layers additional skills Layers additional skills Advocates for hire when there is opening and “good fit” Advocates for hire when there is opening and “good fit”

Evaluation of Students Common feedback instrument Common feedback instrument Job Coach Job Coach Instructor Instructor Student does Self Assessment Student does Self Assessment Supervisor/managers from federal department Supervisor/managers from federal department

Job Placement Can happen at any time during program year Can happen at any time during program year Approximately 25% get hired at host site Approximately 25% get hired at host site Job coaches and other team members assist students to find job in the community using skills learned Job coaches and other team members assist students to find job in the community using skills learned All team members work together to locate job that meets interests & skills All team members work together to locate job that meets interests & skills

Internship to Job 1 st Rotation/ Internship: Administrative Office – focus on phone skills 1 st Rotation/ Internship: Administrative Office – focus on phone skills 2 nd Rotation / Internship: Consumer Lending – focus on computer skills 2 nd Rotation / Internship: Consumer Lending – focus on computer skills 3 rd Rotation / Internship: Receptionist in Lobby 3 rd Rotation / Internship: Receptionist in Lobby Hired as receptionist Hired as receptionist 2 Years: Hired in HR with additional duties 2 Years: Hired in HR with additional duties

Roles and Responsibilities Host Federal Department Host Federal Department Instructor from DCPS Instructor from DCPS Job Coach / Job Developer Job Coach / Job Developer RSA Counselor RSA Counselor Long Term Support Long Term Support Family members Family members

Federal Departments: Education, Health & Human Services, Labor Classroom on site Classroom on site Business liaison Business liaison Internships Internships Marketing of program Marketing of program Possible employment opportunities Possible employment opportunities

District of Columbia Public Schools Instructor Instructor Curriculum Curriculum Supplies Supplies Specialized staff if necessary Specialized staff if necessary Liability insurance Liability insurance

Rehabilitation Services Administration Individual funding for job coaching and job development Individual funding for job coaching and job development Maintenance funding for travel and lunch Maintenance funding for travel and lunch Additional support based on individual needs Additional support based on individual needs

Community Rehab Provider Job coaching support during internships Job coaching support during internships Support to federal offices who are supporting students Support to federal offices who are supporting students Job Development for paid job in DC community Job Development for paid job in DC community Assistance with travel training Assistance with travel training

Department on Disability Services Overall support and coordination of the program and DC organizations Overall support and coordination of the program and DC organizations

Overall Outcome Employment for Project SEARCH graduates at end of program in federal department or other DC business