What We've Learned: How Service Prepares Individuals for Employment and Post-Secondary Education Sheila Fesko Dana Carpenter

Agenda Findings from member interviews and literature Recommendations from members Alumni experience Findings from service systems – Vocational Rehabilitation – Developmental Disabilities system – Schools

Building Character Emotional Health Clarity and self-awareness Builds self-esteem and self- confidence Self-directed decision making

I know for me it was a great experience because I got to practice disclosing my disability in a way that was kind of safe…. if I would have gone into a different office-- would have been scarier to disclose my disability and to have open conversations about what's working and what's not working.

Building Career Interpersonal skills – Teamwork – Communication – Conflict resolution Hands on experience – Workplace attitudes, expectations – Sustaining work routines Hard Skills

Well, honestly, my service made me realize that even with the spinal cord injury that I was going to be able to transition back into day to day life and still be able to function… It really just kind of woke me up to what was out there because I thought I was in a chair there wasn't going to be anything for me to do until I did my service. And then it just opened up tons of doors.

Building Community Increases personal and professional network Exploration and Discovery – Define career interests – Diversity of experiences, people – Expanded sense of possibilities – Exposure to new issues, cultures, communities

I learned self discipline and self motivation, and I learned to better work well with a team than I already knew how. So I think that helps me today. And it helps--I learned to respect people of differences.

Recommendations for CNCS and State Commissions Appropriate placement is essential to learning and completing term. For success, allow members to have more say in placement Supervisors need to be trained on how to work with people with disabilities: from person first language to how to provide accommodations CNCS needs to be better about providing accommodations at trainings More information on how service affects benefits Allow members to review sites in and after service

Recommendations for Programs Training throughout the term to help members grow and succeed in the placement and after Need trainings to create stronger connections between service to life after so that members know how to market themselves for work and school Flexibility at the site on how tasks are performed/accommodations Have members begin life after process before end of term, mock interviews, job fairs, etc, as part of program time

Recommendations for State Agencies and Other Recommendations For State Agencies: State agencies should not stop providing services because someone is a member More/better information for state agencies about service Other: Information or guidance on work norms, such as dress, expectations, etc. Make contacts/mentors available that can relate to people with disabilities and give advice on service/life/jobs/etc.

Experiences of Alumni “The service experience really set me up for the career that I want to go into and where my passions are and where I want to be.”

Alumni Experience Dana Carpenter

Survey of State VR Administrators 26 state VR agencies responded to survey While some states have developed partnerships, almost half of respondents reported no familiarity with CNCS programs. Approximately 1/5 of reporting VR agencies has some type of relationship with their state’s Service Commission. 2/3 of respondents indicated that they want information about how service can lead to employment for VR clients.

NSIP Survey of states 17 states out of the 22 reporting state inclusion teams have VR representation at the table

Emerging themes from the Learning Community Service provides structured work experience and skill development Members develop goals, define interests and objectives, and establish work routines Partnerships between Service Commission and VR Greater opportunities for people with disabilities to move towards competitive employment. Extension of VR’s resources to serve more individuals with the same dollars.

Successful examples of Collaboration Focus on transition age youth – Days of Service and by job shadowing service members. – Connecting VR transition counselors to local service programs – Use service sites for community based work assessments. State level strategies for collaboration – Engaging in joint trainings between service commissions and VR – VR staff participating in service commission inclusion team to promote participation of individuals with disabilities. – State identifying participation in service as a state level performance goal

Challenges to Collaboration Lack of knowledge about the benefits of national service, how to integrate service experiences into employment plan and how to connect clients with service programs. Under RSA regulations service is not a closure since it is a time limited commitment, should be part of employment plan as structured work experience.

Recommendations from the Learning Community Pilot project for VR clients participation in service Increased outreach to VR counselors Establishing links among CNCS and RSA Greater involvement of VR staff with service commissions Enhanced data collection and tracking for VR clients who participate in service

Pilot with Developmental Disabilities Agencies and Service Commissions Training of DD staff and service programs Service fair for individuals to learn about opportunities Local pilot allows for better match of individual and opportunities Link between service agencies and programs need to occur early in year, since application process can be time consuming.

School Based Initiatives  Teach the importance of leveraging the soft skills  Engage families by specifically communicating the value  Define and structure the mentoring role  BE INTENTIONAL!!

Project Impact Facilitator I think they need to understand that every experience that they have can touch a component for future career goals, and we talk about that. The more you experience, the more you understand who you are and what you like and what you don’t like and how invested you can be in something.