ive How does your garden grow? Tools for Success in 2009

YTP is like a Garden… We planted the seeds back in 1990 to create an innovative transition program In 2009, we are faced with rocky ground, pests, and storms to weather The YTP garden will take care and nourishing to continue to flourish

Five tools every gardener needs… Vision Space Plants Tools Patience and Persistence

YTP VISION Building innovative transition service delivery models Developing partnerships between schools and VR Improving post school outcomes for youth with disabilities Creating systems change

For Also tracking: APPLICATION  50 % by 6/30/10  75% by 1/31/11  100% by 6/30/11 ENGAGEMENT  70% at exit  70% at 6 months  70% at 12 months Grade in school Time in delayed status Information and referral services provided IPE development Benchmarks to measure outcomes

OUR GARDEN SPACE Statewide in Oregon Large and small schools Rural and nonrural communities

OUR SPACE: Oregon YTP 37 local sites implementing the YTP model  35 continuation sites  2 new sites (Banks, South Linn)  105 high schools High unemployment rates statewide School and agency budget constraints

PLANTS What will you be planting this year?

TENDING TO THE PLANTS Who are the “right” youth for your program? Insuring equal access and outcomes for marginalized groups  Gender  Ethnic diversity  Language  Poverty Transition services for younger students (freshman, sophomores)

Diverse Youth We are becoming more diverse as a YTP network statewide  Caucasian 79 %  Latino/Hispanic 8%  Native American 4.5%  Multiracial 4%  African American 2%  Asian 2% Almost half of YTP students come from low income families (48%) Some good news  95 % of students of color in YTP earn a high school diploma  At exit from YTP youth from low income families are  working an average of 31 hours per week  earning 9.17 an hour Continuing challenges  Gender wage differences  Language and documentation issues  Culturally appropriate transition services

GARDEN TOOLS Your local team!  Transition Specialist  VR Counselors  Other school staff YTP Training  Statewide and regional events Technical assistance Web site and data base Other tools?

PATIENCE & PERSISTENCE Patience with changes and new requirements Thinking creatively to meet new challenges Flexibility in designing services to meet needs

Wrap up: Growing your Garden Maintaining the vision for a bountiful crop (outcomes) Designing the garden to fit your space (school & community) Selecting and preparing the right plants (youth) Using the right tools Persistence in the face of storms!