1. F ORMATION OF AND U SE OF C OMMUNITIES OF P RACTICE IN N EW H AMPSHIRE Amy Jenks, NH SPDG Coordinator SPDG Day Presentation July 18, 2011

2. NH COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE COP Support/Resources Structure Challenges Tools and Techniques 2

3. THREE NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE (COP) 1. Transition COP Share information Develop and share best practices 4-5 Regional COPs Since 2004 – 11+ states 2. School Behavioral Health COP Share information Policy Reform Since 2004 -12 states 3. Employment COP Medicaid Infrastructure Grant project team Transform to COP for sustainability Share information Develop and share best practices Regional COPs IDEA PARTNERSHIPOTHER NH COPs 3

4. HTTP :// WWW. IDEAPARTNERSHIP. ORG / 4

5. IDEA P ARTNERSHIP - S UPPORT / R ESOURCES Provide monthly teleconference calls Provide Sharedwork.org website Sponsor National COP meetings Provide connections to other TA Centers/organization/initiatives Develop COP Resources/Tools Communities of Practice: A New Approach to Solving Complex Educational Problems http://www.ideapartnership.org/documents/Co PGuide.pdf 5

6. The IDEA Partnership Housed at the National Association of State Directors of Special Education is a grant funded initiative of the Office for Special Education Programs at the US Department of Education. The IDEA Partnership brings together colleagues and partners across child-serving systems and organizations to work in targeted areas toward improved outcomes for children, youth and their families. National Community of Practice on Transition 11 States and District of Columbia NCLB/IDEA Collaborative Community National Community of Practice on Collaborative School Behavioral Health New Hampshire’s Transition Community of Practice A learning community for individuals in all roles who share a passion and responsibility related to improving post- school outcomes and experiences for youth. Engages in Community work in ways that best further individual and organizational goals. All members have equal voice and opportunity to participate, learn and share work. NH Transition Community of Practice Coordinating Group (State Team) The convener of NH’s Transition Community through which all partners can align work and make contacts more quickly, facilitating deeper, more meaningful work. This group meets regularly to develop and engage supports for the community of practice strategy and its implementation using topical subgroups. IDEA Partnership Communities of Practice Focused on advancing policy and practice in the four key areas listed below. As partner organizations work together with states, districts, local sites and individuals, they form Communities of Practice whose members learn from each other and take action together in coordinated ways. Key work and communication tool: www.sharedwork.org www.sharedwork.org NH Transition Regional/Local Community of Practice Groups Regional Transition Community of Practices focused on regional transition issues and connected to NH Transition COP coordinating group. National Community of Practice on Professional Development and Adult Learning 6

7. NH TRANSITION COP MISSION AND GOALS The mission of the NH Transition Community of Practice is to make a difference in the lives of New Hampshire youth and support successful transitions to life after high school by fostering cooperation, collaboration and the development of best practices among cross-stakeholder communities. Goal Areas: Share information and resources Facilitate the development of additional regional COPs Increase meaningful youth engagement Promote best practices in the area of transition to life after high school, while seeking new ideas through various avenues and partnerships Plan and implement annual Summit Evaluate the COP strategy 7

8. NH T RANSITION COP R EPRESENTATION N = 54 8

9. NH T RANSITION COP Non-hierarchal and Voluntary Varied stakeholder representation People united over a shared passion, issue(s) or experiences Convene on a regular basis Focus on relationships and outcomes Organic in its development Always asking who is missing Open to varied perspectives Work collaboratively to share, plan and take action Connect the work at the local, state, and national level CHARACTERISTICS 9

10. NH T RANSITION COP 17 Members Representatives from specific agencies, org. Met monthly Paid facilitator/leader More time learning and building relationships Worked on annual goals as a whole group All face-to-face meetings 54 members Representatives from various agencies, org. Meet bi-monthly Shared leadership More time sharing and developing practices Developed workgroups Face-to-face meetings, teleconference calls, Go-to meetings, webinars Our Beginning StructureOur Current Structure 10

11. W HAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES TO THE COP S TRATEGY ? Leadership (established or shared?) Exploring ways to increase participation and multiple perspectives – who’s not at the table? Orienting and educating new members Time and energy Maintaining momentum when membership varies Alignment of our work to other efforts 11

12. T OOLS /T ECHNIQUES NH T RANSITION COP HAS D EVELOPED Developed a mission statement/fact sheet Developed a set meeting agenda Share facilitation and note taking Provide supports/resources as needed Built a communication mechanism Develop goals & outcomes (review annually) Provide training/TA in regional COPs Developed online evaluation for use by all NH COPs and review results annually The above resources are posted on the SIGNetwork.org under 2011 Regional SPDG Meetings – Day 2 Guidance on Structuring COPs http://www.signetwork.org/content_pages/27 http://www.signetwork.org/content_pages/27 12

13. NH TRANSITION COP ACCOMPLISHMENTS EXAMPLES AND BENEFIT S VALUE OF COP 13

14. A CCOMPLISHMENTS OF NH T RANSITION COP Annual Summit Networking across “silos” Program/practice development/ dissemination Collaboration on grant opportunities and resources Local attendance at national conferences Support regionalization of COP Strategy Statewide effort that supports local initiatives 14

15. ANNUAL SUMMIT 4 th Annual Summit – 250 attendees Keynote, 15 workshops youth strand developed by youth Collaboratively funded event 15

16. S UPPORTING R EGIONALIZATION OF COP S TRATEGY Provide training in COP strategy to regions Share structure, strategies, topics and tools Linkage to State and National Transition COP NH COP evaluation survey – handout and online survey (conducted annually) NH currently has four Regional COPs and one practice group 16

17. EXAMPLE: ACES SUMMER PROGRAM State to State COP sharing at National COP Mtg by PA ACES Summer Program two-week residential program Held at Keene State College high school students age 16-17 with learning disabilities or ADHD opportunity to find a career path or learn how to live independently. combines classroom learning, stimulating discussion groups, on-site experience of work environments, dorm living, recreation, and a weekend in an outside setting. ACES is made possible through a partnership between NH Transition COP members: NH Department of Education Vocational Rehabilitation Keene State College Monadnock Center for Successful Transitions (MCST), a program of Monadnock Developmental Services http://aces.keenecommons.net/home 17

18. BENEFITS OF USING COP STRATEGY Provided a needed service Tapped into knowledge and creativity of COP members Collaboration on funding and resources Student created portfolio of their experiences shared with families, VR counselors, and school staff Improved outcomes for these students Looking at ways this program can be replicated in other colleges or as part of high school programs 18

19. E XAMPLE : NH TRANSITION COP AND INDICATOR 13 COMPLIANCE COP collaboration with NH DOE in Development of Indicator 13 compliance review process and guidance document http://www.education.nh.gov/instruction/special_ed/doc uments/indicator13_guidance_document.pdf http://www.education.nh.gov/instruction/special_ed/doc uments/indicator13_guidance_document.pdf Common language and understanding Shared I-13 trainings using common training materials Trained reviewers for I-13 district compliance visits NH Transition COP developed additional webinars on best practices for measurable goals and age appropriate assessments NH Transition COP developed Transition and Career Development Resource website http://transitions.keenecommons.net/ http://transitions.keenecommons.net/ NH Transition COP work included as SPP indicator improvement activities 19

20. BENEFITS OF USING COP STRATEGY Access to knowledge, expertise, perspectives of COP members Common language and understanding developed and shared across stakeholders Developed and shared guidance document for transparency of I-13 review process and procedures Able to train more district personnel in short period of time NH Transition COP provided best practices resources beyond I-13 compliance 20

21. VALUE OF COP TO MY WORK AND MY ORGANIZATION 21

22. ANY QUESTIONS? My contact information: Amy Jenks NH SPDG Grant Coordinator ajenks@ed.state.nh.us (603) 271-3842 22