Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!

 A Process for Impacting Outcomes for Youth Through Planning Strategically & Collaboratively  Using Research-Based Activities (or effective practices)  Building on the Strengths of the System (community)  Built on the Unique Needs of Each Community

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!  The framework is what underlies what we’ve built  It is the effective practices, research, and processes  First I want to show you the house that Kent built (or, is building….) and why.  Then we’ll look at HOW the house was built: the tools, process, the builders, etc. We’ll lift the hood, later...

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!  It depends on the needs of your community  It depends on the strengths of your community  It depends on what your students are saying... so listen well to them  It depends on decisions made collaboratively with your community partners

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! This presentation will describe what MiConnections is in Kent County Our model should be used as an example of what can be done with MiConnections in your community

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! 1.Identify your Partners Community problems require community solutions More specifics, later Environmental Scan: What is the situation in your community? What are the strengths (resources)? –Within the schools –In the community What are the needs?

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Needs in Kent County: Dropout Rates At-Risk Youth Poverty-Rates Supportive Networks: youth need a safety net Youth Leadership Development Mentoring Entrepreneurship

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Strengths in Kent County: Disneyland of Community Resources –Over 2000 community-based organizations –Over 300 after-school opportunities –Technical Training Programs Kent Transition Center Kent Career / Technical Center GRCC M-TEC and Applied Technology Center in collaboration with Ferris State University

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Strengths in Kent County: Every school has a few teachers that are looking for ways to go “above and beyond” and make a difference. Every school has a few key students that want to be more involved in things they are interested in. Every student has a LOT of energy

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Strengths in Kent County: A growing willingness to collaborate –Schools –Community Organizations –Examples: Kent County Mentoring Collaborative Community Development Initiatives Community Transition Council

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Local Sites (25 schools/programs) –That Key Staff Person –Those Fired Up Youth –Question #1: What are you really interested in? –Question #2: What are you gonna to do about it?

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! “Club” Model Captures the –Energy of youth –Interests of youth –Creativity of youth Blows right by us adults Takes the interests of youth seriously YOUTH can reach YOUTH

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!  What do you do with a bunch of guys from Byron Center that can only talk about working on cars?  Adult perspective: What am I going to do with these guys?  MiConnections perspective: Ask ‘em!... And listen...

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!  Youth solution: Write a proposal to do volunteer work at a homeless shelter and...  Take home a car out of the deal!  Adult Response: What???

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!  The Automobile of the Present  1990 Suburban  Two-tone: blue and grey  The Automobile of the Future  Jet Black  With “Lifters”  Youth Attitude: Just wait, you’ll see!

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Common theme throughout our schools Lack of safety net is seriously affecting outcomes

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! What do YOU do when the bottom falls out? Most of us have developed a group of friends and relatives that we can turn to Is this the case with our students? Where do they turn? In Kent County, we see this as the critical first step, if we are going to impact outcomes. Without a safety net, rest doesn’t matter If this is affecting outcomes for graduates, what about the dropouts?

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Interviews with students that had dropped out of school show that –Most kids thought about dropping out before 8 th grade –Less that 5% reported talking to someone at schools about their thoughts –Of students that participate in at least one extracurricular activity, 70-75% graduate. –Of students that participate in no extracurricular activities, 15% graduate. (Larry Kotering, Appalachian State University)

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Three levels of Supportive Networks being developed 1.Local Sites 2.Countywide Network 3.Individualized Networks for each student

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! 1.Local Sites Identify at least one staff person in each school Begin with at least five students that are –Fired up to explore their interests –Willing to do the planning

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! 1.Local Sites (Cont.) Funding available for activities Network expands as youth –Invite their buddies –Venture into the community and do more activities In this way we are leveraging the strengths we identified

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!

2.Countywide Network 25 developing sites Youth, adults, community partners Learning community is being created for –Dissemination of effective practices –Sharing resources and information –Collaboration We have so many effective practices across the county. But how do they improve outcomes across the whole county???

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! 2.Countywide Network Resources for Local Sites –CD Rom of effective practices and community resources –Community Resource Cards »Identifies resources for specific activities –MiConnections Startup Guide –Countywide, Coordinated Activities –Contact information between sites

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! 3.Individualized support networks through pre-IEP Student Planning Process Research-based group planning process –Strategic Planning »Consider at all potential influences »Systems approach »Build on strengths to minimize barriers (red flags)

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! 3.Individualized support networks through pre-IEP Student Planning Process –Strength / Asset Based Planning –Appreciative Inquiry and Dialogue Principles –Person-centered planning –Wraparound Services Model

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!  Identify Problem  Conduct Root Cause Analysis  Brainstorm Solutions & Analyze  Develop Action Plans Metaphor: A person is a problem to be solved  Appreciate “What is” (What gives life?)  Imagine “What Might Be”  Determine “What Should Be”  Create “What Will Be” Metaphor: A person is a solution/mystery to be embraced.

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Too much on my plate FLUNKED BURNOUT Critical Thinking Adequate Yearly Progress TURF BATTLES Failure Rate Disorder Report Cards Spell Check Under-Staffed UNFAVORABLE Community Criticism PARENTAL COMPLAINTS AT-RISK High-Stakes Testing LABELED Red Tape WARNING UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS Rejection Dropout Rate Impaired Challenged Deficit Handicapped Isolation SILOS

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! The outcomes of youth are much more than an educational problem. Community issues must be tackled by the community. Brenda VandeVoort is one of our community partners (Disability Advocates of Kent Co.)

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Disability Advocates of Kent County Student Planning Process Provide resources to local sites Summer activities

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! ARC of Kent County Cascade Engineering Disability Advocates Goodwill Industries Grand Rapids Community College M-TEC Noto’s Fine Italian Dining VSA ARTS Michigan Rehabilitation Services Michigan Commission for the Blind Association for the Blind Michigan Works Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns Michigan Community Service Commission

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Four Design Features: Research-Based Activities That Improve Outcomes for Youth State Resources

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Kent County: Ron Irvine Brenda VandeVoort Statewide: Marcie Alling Lynn Boza Shannon Berkin

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Deficit Based Change : Unintended Consequences  Much lamented fragmented responses  Slow: Puts attention on yesterday’s causes  No new positive images of future  Visionless voice... fatigue  Weakened fabric of relationships & defensiveness…negative culture  out of sync with the embedded economy of speed, partnerships, alliances, & e-commerce

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! June Results Commitments Met BusinessResidence REGION'95 YTD'95 YE6/96'96 YTD'96 OBJFAV/UNF)'95 YTD'95 YE6/96'96 YTD'96 OBJFAV/(UNF) California Florida (0.5) Hawaii (2.1) Midwest (4.1) (0.1) North (4.4) (0.9) Northeast (1.3) Northwest (3.1) (1.0) S outh (4.7) (1.6) TX/NM (1.0) Virginia (2.1) Total Telops (2.0) Objective Not Met

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! To a hammer everything is a nail!

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Ap-pre’ci-ate, v., 1.valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems 2. to increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value. Synonyms: VALUING, PRIZING, ESTEEMING, and HONORING.

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! In-quire’ (kwir), v., 1. the act of exploration and discovery. 2. To ask questions; to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY, SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION, STUDY.

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! What would you call it? (all these things taken together) Achievements Strategic opportunities Product strengths Technical assets Innovations Elevated thoughts Best business practices Positive emotions Financial assets Organization wisdom Core competencies Visions of possibility Vital traditions, values Positive macrotrends Social capital Embedded knowledge Business ecosystem +s eg. suppliers, partners, competitors, customer

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Best Way to Build High Enthusiasm? Do an organization survey of low morale? Magnify and learn from moment of highest enthusiasm?

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! The Art of the Question What’s the biggest problem here? Why did I have to be born in such a troubled family? Why do you blow it so often? Why do we still have those problems? What possibilities exist that we have not thought about yet? What’s the smallest change that could make the biggest impact? What solutions would have us both win? What makes my questions inspiring, energizing, and mobilizing?

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Discovery Opportunity Context Positive Core Discovery Opportunity Context Positive Core Dream Purpose Vision Dream Purpose Vision Design Constitutional Propositions Relationship & Organization Design Constitutional Propositions Relationship & Organization Destiny People/Members Structures Practices Destiny People/Members Structures Practices AI “4-D” Cycle Typical Summit Summit Topic

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!

Unemployment Rate in 2002Median Earnings in 2001 $56,589 $46,969 $36,399 $34,340 $29,187 $22,350 Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor Master’s degree Bachelor’s degree Associate’s degree Some college, no degree High school graduate Some high school, no diploma $75,182 $82,421 Doctoral degree Professional degree 1.6% 2.8% 3.1% 4.0% 4.8% 5.3% 8.5% Earnings of College Graduates

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!

Clarification of Previous Chart PROFESSIONAL –Baccalaureate Professional –Degree Required SKILLED –Certificate –Apprenticeship –Possible Associates Degree UNSKILLED –High School Diploma

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! 20% 4-Year Bachelors Degree Certificate, Apprenticeship, Associates Degree High School Diploma

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! The Changing Nature of Work

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! % Of High School Students Planning To Attend College

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! % Of High School Graduates Not Earning Bachelors Degrees

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! % Of College Graduates In Jobs Not Requiring College Degrees

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! % Of Community College Students Holding 4-year College Degrees

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! % Of Year Olds In U.S. Earning Minimum Wage

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Post-Secondary Plans of Kent Co. Students: “Results of the Student Survey, Kent County, June 1997,” Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! How Education Boosts Your Bottom Line Average gross weekly salary for U.S. Workers with various levels of education (1994 Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!! Family Wage Through the 1960’s, a single production worker with a high school diploma could earn enough to support a spouse and child, buy a car and own a home. Today, it takes two earners, each with two years of college to achieve the same standard of living.