MiConnections High School/High Tech for Michigan’s Youth MiConnections is funded under a grant/contract supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U. S. Department of Labor, grant/contract #E

MiConnections = Good Transition Michigan CEC Conference March 3, 2005 Grand Plaza Hotel Grand Rapids, Michigan Presenters: Marcie Alling Shannon Berkin Ronald Irvine

High School/High Tech An enrichment program for youth A year round program serving youth between 14 – 22 who have disabilities Built upon at least 2 years of a youth participating Many activities are after school and on Saturdays Focus is on careers in technical occupations

Why MiConnections? Youth with disabilities have Poor education and bleak prospects for work Higher dropout rates than the general population Low rates of college enrollment 70% of youth with disabilities remain unemployed two years after they’ve graduated

Postsecondary Transition Concerns US General Accounting Office report: “Federal Actions Can Assist States in Improving Postsecondary Outcomes for Youth”

Congress asked GAO about: 1. Proportion of IDEA students completing high school with a diploma or alternative credentials & their postsecondary status 2. Transition problems being reported & state & local actions to address them 3. Types of transition services provided by VR, WIA and Ticket to Work & Self-Sufficiency programs, & factors affecting participation of IDEA youth.

GAO Found Of all IDEA youth leaving high school during , 57 % received a standard diploma An additional 11% received an alternative credential. High school completion patterns remained stable

GAO Found Youth with disabilities have difficulty developing necessary attitudes & skills to prepare for post-school lives Suggests: Youth who obtain self- determination skills are more likely to achieve positive education & employment outcomes.

General Education and Special Education Exit Status Fall 2002 to Spring 2003 Students Ages 14 to 22+ CEPI Database Fall 2002, Spring 2003, End-of-Year 2003 Michigan Department of Management and Budget DiedMaximum Age CertificateDropped Out Graduation Special Education General Education

MiConnections Purpose MiConnections is an enrichment project that links youth with disabilities to opportunities to explore jobs and careers in technology-related fields

State and Local Goals To ensure youth with disabilities are exposed to careers in high demand & in high tech industries To use the HS/HT design to provide both in- school & extracurricular opportunities for youth with disabilities To improve education, training & employment outcomes for youth with disabilities

What Is a Technology-Related Career? Engineer Medical Assistant or Technician Office Assistant Telecommunications Line Installer Automotive Technician Construction Worker Pharmacy Technician Food Inspector Registered Nurse Graphic Artist Chemical Process Technician Electrician Accountant Lighting Technician Computer Systems Analyst Laboratory Technician

“Technology” as defined for the purpose of High School/High Tech “ The tangible objects of the human designed world and the systems of which these objects are a part, as well as the people, infrastructure, and processes required to design, manufacture, operate, and repair the objects.” (Adapted from the Committee on Technological Literacy, Technically Speaking, 2002)

HS/HT Design Features 4 Categories based on research of proven effective practices: Preparatory Experiences Connecting Activities Work-Based Experiences Leadership Development

Design Feature I Preparatory Experiences Activities & services to get ready 1) Career Assessment 2) Opportunity Awareness Guest Speakers Informational Interviews

Design Feature II Connecting Activities Activities to establish supports & strengthen partnerships Academic Tutoring Mentoring Support Assistive Technology Transportation Workforce Preparation Post Secondary Education

Design Feature III Work-Based Experiences On-the-Job Experiences Site Visits and Tours Job Shadowing Internships - paid and unpaid Entrepreneurship Education

Design Feature IV Leadership Development Activities to assist youth to become self-sufficient & productive members of society Personal Growth Adult Role Models & Mentors Leadership Opportunities

Benefits Improve outcomes for youth with disabilities Align resources in a community, utilizing existing programs to their potential Develop a solid planning process for youth Increase individual ability to earn a living wage Increase individual capacity for economic self- sufficiency

Aligning Community Resources: Conducting an Environmental Scan Designed around HS/HT four design features Identifies who/what/when/where/how of activities/services to local youth Offers picture of gaps/needs in order to develop strategic plan

Kent County MiConnections

What we are doing? Improving outcomes through increasing research-based activities – Areas of Focus: Youth Leadership, Mentoring, Entrepreneurship How are we doing it? – Creating Supportive Networks Common theme throughout schools Lack of safety net is affecting outcomes

Kent County MiConnections – Who do you turn to 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. – If this is affecting outcomes for graduates, what about the dropouts?

Kent County MiConnections Interviews with students that had dropped out of school shows 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)

Kent County MiConnections Three levels of Supportive Networks being developed 1. Local Sites 2. Individualized Networks for each student 3. Countywide Network

Kent County MiConnections 1. Local Sites Identify at least one staff person in each school Begin with at least five students that are – Fired up to create, plan, and do activities that they are interested in – Willing to do the planning

Kent County MiConnections Local Sites (cont….) Funding available for activities Network expands as youth – Invite their buddies – Venture into the community and do more activities Stories

Kent County MiConnections 2. Individualized support networks through pre-IEP Student Planning Process Based on research-based group planning process – Strategic Planning Consider at all potential influences Systems approach Build on strengths to minimize barriers (red flags)

Kent County MiConnections 2. Individualized support networks through pre-IEP Student Planning Process (cont….) – Strength / Asset Based Planning – Appreciative Inquiry and Dialogue Principles – Person-centered planning – Wraparound Services Model

Kent County MiConnections 3. Countywide MiConnections Network 22 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???

Kent County MiConnections Future Direction: Countywide Micro-Enterprise Network Our Goal: Mentoring for all youth – Kent County Mentoring Collaborative – Community Partners Summer Youth Leadership Forum – In conjunction with MI Youth Leadership Forum and community partners Focused outreach to at-risk youth

MiConnections Youth Profile Is between the ages of 14 & 22 at enrollment Has a disability Has an interest in exploring technology-related jobs or careers Has the potential to pursue employment and/or postsecondary education or training Is serious about learning & working hard; agrees to participate to best of his/her ability Is able to obtain work identification

MiConnections Where Do the Youth Come From? Special Education settings General Education settings Alternative Education settings Private schools Charter schools Home schooling Training settings Not in school (graduated, dropouts, homeless) Adjudication

MiConnections State Level & Local Level Identify shared goals across organizations Maximize resources Address systems barriers Disseminate quality practices Demonstrate impact Implement sustainable policies & practices

MiConnections Is… A set of activities with a specific focus (i. e. technology) A framework A tool

MiConnections Local Affiliate Sites Prototypes Incubators … for promising & effective practices

MiConnections As a Tool To bring together a community around youth & develop a community vision To develop a common language To do strategic planning for youth, including youth with disabilities To strengthen linkages

MiConnections As a Tool Cont’d. For engaging youth more effectively & consistently For tying together EDP, IEP & Transition Plan into a coordinated, comprehensive, meaningful student- centered road map

MiConnections As a Tool Cont’d. For planning & developing transition services on a programmatic & individual student level To actualize the Taxonomy for Transition Programming

MiConnections As a Tool Cont’d. To address continuous improvement strategies or, in other words, To actualize TOP (Transition Outcomes Project) To impact systems through design/enhancement/change

Affiliated Sites Ingham County Kent County Bay/Arenac/Midland/Saginaw Counties Consortium

Requirements for Local Affiliation: Local Steering Group (may use existing group) Environmental/Community Resource Scan HS/HT 4 Design Features MI Vision, Purpose, Framework Local Affiliate Form Standardized Forms Standardized Data Collection & Reporting

MiConnections Offers: Technical Support & Assistance Information, Resources, Contacts (local, statewide, national) Small Pool of Funds for Initial Site Development Activities Toolkits & Website & Listserv E-Mentoring Program Statewide Networking

Available Resources Starter Kit disk Transition Explorer resource disk Website & Toolkit & Listserv—coming soon E-Mentoring Program

MiConnections Partners Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) – fiscal agent Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) MI Dept of Education/Office of Special Ed. & Early Intervention Services Michigan Works! Association (MWA) MI Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) MI Rehabilitation Council (MRC) MI Commission on Disability Concerns (MCDC) MI Disability Rights Coalition (MDRC)

MiConnections Contacts Marcie Alling Lynn Boza Shannon Berkin

Other Resources Toll Free Help Line (877) National program manual Monthly program bulletin Information briefs Website Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (800) Employer Assistance Referral Network (EARN) (866) EarnNow