“Yes Virginia, there really is a Seamless Transition!” Community Partnerships that Create Successful Transitions

NIH-CC Partnership

Issues we faced… Entitlement to eligibility was more of a transfer than transition School ends mid-June; adult service funding begins July 1 at earliest Adult service providers only know student through paperwork and interviews First year with adult service provider spent retraining Limited funding often only 20 hours/week or less Identifying creative funding streams prior to student’s exit

Brainstorming Contacted professionals in the field to discuss options for creating a true seamless transition.   Dr. Sherill Moon, U. of MD   Catrina Johnson, DDA in MD   Berenda Riedell, DORS in MD   Karen Lee, with SEEC, local adult service provider Learned about Project SEARCH model Visited Cincinnati to meet with PS founders Attended PS annual conference in Atlanta

Partnership Development Identified partners for planning committee   Voc. Rehab for MD & DC   Long-term funding agencies from MD & DC   Adult service provider   Project SEARCH consultant   Ivymount parents   Ivymount Board member   Ivymount staff First committee meeting January 2010

Nuts & Bolts of establishing our partnerships Brainstormed list of potential business partners and identified specific person to initiate call Set tight one-week deadline for all calls Developed specific talking points for calls Developed a task list and identified who was responsible for each task with a specified due date. Task list was updated at each Planning Meeting Goal of above to gain business commitment

Making it Official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)   a roadmap delineating specific organizational roles   Prepared by representatives from each partner, allowing each organization a chance to review & revise MOU documents and assures the commitment of all partners involved

Timeline: from 1 st Mtg. to Program Jan Sept. 1 st 2010 Interns start with 3-day Orientation at NIH-CC 1st mtg. with potential stakeholders Planning committee meets bi- weekly MOU signed by partners Jan.- June 2010 March- May 2010 Mtgs. with potential Business Partners April 30 th 2010 Presentation to NIH May 26 th 2010 July- Aug Partners meet weekly; job devel. & travel training for interns MOU signed by partners We did it!

Program Description Business led partnership Business led partnership One school year program One school year program 12 young adults with intellectual disabilities 12 young adults with intellectual disabilities Rotation through unpaid internships with continual feedback Rotation through unpaid internships with continual feedback Outcome of employment and change in the business culture Outcome of employment and change in the business culture

Key Concepts Collaboration with business, education, rehabilitation (VR) and DD Collaboration with business, education, rehabilitation (VR) and DD Braided funding (combine existing funding to support program) Braided funding (combine existing funding to support program) Immersion: training in real work settings Immersion: training in real work settings Low risk, low cost for business Low risk, low cost for business Hiring interns who are a “good fit” Hiring interns who are a “good fit” Goal of employment Goal of employment

Partner Responsibilities School: 8 students Instructor (serves as on-site team leader) Overall Program Coordination Adult Provider (Community Rehab. Partner) 4 Transitioning Youth clients Job Coaches (2) Job development Overall program coordination

Responsibility of Business Partner Business liaison: min 10% of time planning and implementing program Business liaison: min 10% of time planning and implementing program Involved in crucial decisions: Involved in crucial decisions:  Student selection; internal job placement Providing internship sites Providing internship sites Marketing: internally Marketing: internally throughout the business throughout the business

Internships Cornerstone of PS Cornerstone of PS Marketable Skills Marketable Skills 4 – 5 hours each day 4 – 5 hours each day Work & Social Skills Work & Social Skills weeks weeks Flexible Flexible Feedback & Assessment Feedback & Assessment

Hospitality Services Bar Coding Assist patients and visitors with traveling throughout the Clinical Center

Pharmacy Stock meds File med order sheets “Tubing” Deliver meds Check expiration dates and dispose of outdated medicine

Medical Records and Specimen Transport Excel Spreadsheet Data Entry Inter-Office Mail Delivery on NIH Campus Daily Clerical Tasks Hospital Service Orders Specimen Rounds

Materials Management Check expiration dates of medical supplies Pull inventory from warehouse based on order tickets

Managing Pyxis Automated supplies dispensing system © CCHMC 1/3/06

Dept. of Perioperative Medicine Decontaminate surgical tools used in the operating room Inspect all utensils for bio-hazardous waste

Establishing a Successful Relationship Define roles & responsibilities for partner organizations & individuals Establish commitment for braided funding Always stress partnership and collaboration Believe in and support a common goal (employment for all) Establish open communication processes with all partners (meetings at least every 2 weeks during development) Work to be one team…no yours, mine all ours

Outcomes of First Year 8 Interns hired at NIH-CC (20 hours to 40 hours/week Interns received NIH Director’s Award “for their outstanding work effort and genuine spirit, which has positively impacted workplace culture and the receptivity of NIH to employ people with disabilities.” Expansion of internship opportunities to other institutes on NIH campus for program Replication of the program to others businesses and formats

Our Partners Developmental Disabilities Administration Department on Disability Services

For further information… Lu Merrick Amy Alvord Ivymount School Seven Locks Road Rockville, MD

For Further Information Karen Lee Steve Blanks