Collaborative Practice in the Transition Years Starting Work and Careers as Teens and Young Adults Marsha Threlkeld, PIVOTAL Consulting/Training TEXAS TRANSITION CONFERENCE 2016

Believe Everyone Can Work Employment First is a declaration of both philosophy and policy stating that: Employment is the first priority and preferred outcome of people with disabilities. 2

The Department of Justice is Currently Looking At More Than 20 States Settlement Agreement in Oregon with Department of Justice No “mock” work similar to sheltered industry work No sending student to sheltered industry as part of their school day Real work experiences Placement based on the student’s skills, abilities, and preferences Employment in the community at minimum wage or better 3

What is Seamless Transition? Seamless transition occurs when the first day after school exit looks the same for youth as their last day of school. That is, they exit school already in an integrated job, with supports in place to keep this job. And not only that, services are available to support the acquisition of new jobs and career advancement throughout their adult life. 4 Luecking, D.M. & Luecking, R., 2015, Translating Research into a Seamless Transition Model

Features of a Seamless Transition Model Work experiences throughout secondary school years to help students identify interests, skills and supports relevant to the attainment of adult employment; Employment in integrated settings during their last year of school where they are hired directly by the employer; Non-work activities performed in normalized community settings; Adult agency employment specialists working in conjunction with school personnel before school exit; Cost sharing resources of the school system, state vocational rehabilitation services, and state intellectual/ developmental disabilities agency; and An outcome of paid work with post-school support in place before school exit. 5 Luecking, D.M. & Luecking, R., 2015, Translating Research into a Seamless Transition Model

Key Elements to Obtain Jobs for Students - Education 1. Discover preferences, interests, and abilities 2. Identify Post School Employment Goals 3. Identify Community Based Learning Objectives/Content 4. Participate in Community Based Work Experiences (partner with employers) 5. Open case with Vocational Rehabilitation (partner with VR) 6

Key Features Continued 6. Secure an employment services provider (partner with employment providers) 7. Begin Job Development and Marketing prior to exiting school 8. Secure a job prior to exiting school 9. Stabilize a job prior to exiting school 7

So What Does It Look Like? Students spend time primarily on the job during the last year in school. Jobs are developed prior to the start of the final school year, and are in integrated settings, at minimum wage or better, paid directly to the student by the employer. Each job is located based on student interest and preferences. When students are not working, they are engaged in individually arranged community referenced instruction and activities.. 8 Luecking, D.M. & Luecking, R., 2015, Translating Research into a Seamless Transition Model

What Teachers Can Do Use Person Centered Planning or Personal Profiles to identify the student’s individual post school employment goal based or preferences, interests, and abilities. Create Community Based Work Experience Sites based on Student goals Create Student Career Portfolios to use during interviews and other engagement with adult services Create strategies for student success to include assistive technology and strategies for centering and calming, or being at one’s best Facilitate students connecting with Voc Rehab and employer service provider agencies Help educate families on the power and satisfaction of employment 9

Cost Sharing School Districts Vocational Rehabilitation Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Workforce Mental Health 10

Education and Voc Rehab Typical Responsibilities Teachers – Work with Students to adopt post school employment goals, set up community based learning/work experiences, work in partnership with adult service systems Voc Rehab – Opens student cases early, paying for assessment while student is still in school, paying for job development while student is still in school, works in partnership with schools, I/DD, Mental Health and other adult services 11

Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Typical Responsibilities: Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) – Braids funding with Voc Rehab to pickup long timer supports immediately upon school exit, helps forecast students coming up in future years, runs transition fairs and family info nights, works very closely with area employment provider agencies, often leads the pilot school-to-work efforts offering a coordinator and covering training costs for providers and teachers. 12

Expected Key Outcomes Schools teaming with VR, community provider Families engaged in transition process Early VR involvement Early Community Provider involvement Positive personal career planning Individualized paid work experiences Individualized paid inclusive job Supports in place prior to exit Luecking, D.M. & Luecking, R., 2015, Translating Research into a Seamless Transition Model 13

Personal Profiles or Person Centered Planning Student Career Planning Connecting to the IEP or Transition Plan Developing a Postive Personal Profile Materials I created, available on WISE website 14

Community Based Work Experiences 15 Work with community employers Have a marketing strategies Placements must not replace regular employees Have a learning plan for the student Track student progress

Student Career Portfolios Used to market students and as an aide during job interviews PowerPoint Video Resumes Jacob's Jobs 16

Schools Working With Voc Rehab Have a day annually for Voc Rehab Counselor to come to the school to enroll students Invite Voc Rehab to Family Info Nights Educate families on what Voc Rehab can do: Offer counseling around work pursuits, pay for initial job search, placement, and coaching efforts from an employment placement agency 17

Schools Working With Employment Agencies Facilitate employment specialists getting to know students while still in school, as part of their school day Facilitate employment specialists taking students out on job interviews and related activities Support the work of employment specialists as they coach students in jobs prior to exiting school It is a partnership. Adult Services will be part of the school day. 18

Service Outcomes 10th Grade (or 3 yrs prior to exit) ENROLL 11th Grade (or 2 yrs prior to exit) VR opens case Applications for Post school (DD,MH) 12th Grade (or 1 yr prior to exit) In Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Post School Completion (2 yrs beyond high school) Post school Follow Up Selection Criteria Desire to participate Need supports to seamlessly transition Receiving Special Education services Eligible for VR service In CIE employment receiving supports from CRP (if needed) or Enrolled postsecondary education receiving supports from Disability campus services (as needed/as requested) Direct Services Self-determination instruction Positive personal/ career profile Work-based Experiences Paid Employment Supports DISCOVERY PROCESS Student-led IEP developmentHealth & Social Linkages Family Support/ParticipationPublic Benefits Management (all services are adjunct to school and academic preparation) Seamless Transition Flow of Student Services Luecking, D.M. & Luecking, R., 2015, Translating Research into a Seamless Transition Model, Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals.

Oregon Seamless Transition Project Positive Personal Profiles for Students Discovery Process from Customized Employment Community Based Work Experiences Paid Summer Youth Employment Voc Rehab comes to school for intake Students connect with Employment Providers Family Info Nights Placement prior to leaving school Ongoing supports for students with I/DD 20

Washington State Specifics WA DDA collects outcomes data on students, employment providers, # of hours, rate of pay. Creates Employment Outcomes Monitoring Report. Department of Ed collects data one year after exit, available online to all survey-and-outcomes/post-school- outcomes-reports/ survey-and-outcomes/post-school- outcomes-reports/ 21

Efforts Statewide in Washington WA DDA sends funds to County DD for School-to-Work and Employment Services and training for providers Counties and partners forecast and reach students Data of all students and those in service is tracked Outcomes data tracked Statewide Transition Conference funded by DDA, counties, and VR Training and Technical Assistance for Employment funded by DDA and VR VR Counselors attached to schools 22

Finding and Tracking Students Forecasting by birthdates Grad year Birthdate range to to to DATA PROVIDED BY WASHINGTON STATE DDA- EMPLOYMENT AND DAY UNIT. 23

King County Embedded Employment Specialist Model Job before exit is the goal Schools interview and choose employment service provider Employment Specialist works with school program to provide Discovery, job development, placement, and initial coaching. Employment rates at about 70% 24

King County High Support Project Students with the highest support needs Components: Parent meetings, employment provider consortium, person centered career planning, Assistive Technology Assessment, Behavior and Employment Support Plan, Discovery, Customized Employment Approach Outcomes: 80% employment rate School Refers Students with Higher Support Needs; Funds Approximately 1/3, VR and County funds the rest Last two years of school 25

Rural and Mid Sized: Whatcom County, Braided and Systematized Cross system teams present to schools and families School-to-Work partners meet regularly Adherence to timeline Countywide Transition Fair and Parent Training Sessions Person Centered Career Planning for students County DD, VR, providers, Arc, and schools Ongoing training and technical assistance 26

Tips Start with a pilot, all students from a given district Don’t leave families behind Blend or Braid funding Offer ongoing learning Put outcomes data in front of partners on a regular basis 27

Contact Information Marsha Threlkeld PIVOTAL Training and Consulting