1. The Pennsylvania Community of Practice in Support of Secondary Transition National Association of State Directors of Special Education March 10, 2004

2. Learner Objectives Participants will learn how Pennsylvania used a regulatory requirement as a springboard for developing effective cross-agency practices in transition. Participants will develop an understanding of the relationship of events that lead to the development of Pennsylvania ’ s Community of Practice for Secondary Transition. Participants will learn how each of the Panel Members functions within the Community and how the Community benefits the member and their Agency. Participants will learn about the future goals and upcoming events for Pennsylvania ’ s Transition Community of Practice.

3. “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Henry Ford

4. IDEA Memorandum of Understanding Interagency Team Dept. of Education - Bureau of Special Education –Bureau of Career & Technical Education Dept. of Labor & Industry –Office of Vocational Rehabilitation –Bureau of Workforce Investment Dept. of Public Welfare –Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services –Office of Mental Retardation –Office of Children, Youth & Families –Office of Medical Assistance Program Dept. of Health –Bureau of Family Health –Bureau of Drug & Alcohol Programs

5. Compliance to Commitment State policymakers charged four state agencies with the responsibility of developing a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the requirements of IDEA (1997). Months of debate among agency legal, policy, administrative and program staff occurred with much “posturing” about who was responsible for what and more importantly who was fiscally responsible for what. Program staff from the four state agencies began to meet to discuss how they would accomplish one of the MOU requirements ……informing the field of the MOU terms.

6. Compliance to Commitment Program staff from each of the ten offices party to the MOU met on a monthly basis. They reached agreement to roll-out the MOU to the field through a teleconference – each of the four agencies had one person present. The newly named MOU Training Team then decided to do a tour of the state - again each agency had equal time but during this training a member of the training team from each of the ten offices presented. We cooperated, but still presented information as separate entities.

7. Compliance to Commitment Over time, we transformed into a project-oriented team, by planning cross-system training and youth and young adult-focused activities. We developed trusting relationships and used the team as a forum to problem-solve around systems issues. We evolved into a transition community of practice to promote our shared vision for the successful outcomes of youth and young adults with disabilities. As a state team, we develop cross-system strategies to support the strengthen and expand local transition coordinating councils and teams’ impact on youth and young adult outcomes.

8. IDEA Memorandum of Understanding Interagency Team The Team is continually evolving and building new partnerships, such as: –Transportation –Social Security –Local Government Officials –Juvenile Justice –Business/Employers –Higher Education –Local Service Providers

9. Families as Equal Partners Recognizing the Critical Role of Families in All Transition Activities. Expanding Partnerships with Families: –Parent Training & Information Centers (Parent Education Network) –Agency Family Groups –Local Family Groups –Individual Families.

11. Framework: Shared Responsibility for Increasing Youth and Young Adult Outcomes Strategic Planning –Pennsylvania IDEA Memorandum of Understanding Interagency Transition Team –Shared Agenda Youth and Young Adult Outcome Data to Inform Decision Making (Needs Assessment) –Cross-System Data Sharing and Needs Assessment –Systematic Youth and Young Adult Follow-up Studies

12. Framework: Leveraging Resources Capacity Building –Sharing Expertise and Knowledge. –Combining Training and Technical Assistance Programs. Policy & Practice –Aligning Regulations, Policies and Standards Across Agencies. –Maximizing the Impact of Financial Resources. –Replicating Cross-System Practices to Promote Shared Responsibility for Youth and Young Adult Outcomes.

13. Agency Driven Cross Systems Initiatives Shifting from Isolated, Single Agency Activities to: –Cross Systems Policy Development. –Implementation of Promising Practices. –Capacity Building. –Sharing Resources.

14. PA Dept. of Education Bureau of Special Education –Financial support of collaborative training and technical assistance through the State Improvement Grant. –Mentor-Replication Mini-Grants to Expand Promising Transition Practices for self-determination, post- secondary education and training, community living, career development, employment and cross-agency strategies. –Cross-Systems Training and Networking Opportunities. Bureau of Career & Technical Education –Cross-Systems Training and Technical Assistance.

15. PA Dept. of Labor & Industry Office of Vocational Rehabilitation –Creative Funding Strategies to Enhance and Expand Transition to Employment Strategies. –Forty Local Projects: Outreach-Underserved, Vocational Assessment, Mentoring, Post-Secondary Education and Training, Employment. –Two Statewide Projects: Capacity Building, Statewide Needs Assessment. –Cross-Systems Training & Technical Assistance. Bureau of Workforce Investment –State Youth Council Collaboration. –Technical Assistance Workgroup Strategies.

16. PA Dept. of Public Welfare Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse –Transition Pilot Project Programs. Office of Mental Retardation –Transition Employment Pilot Coalitions. Office of Children, Youth & Families –Systems of Care Initiative. –Policy and Practice Standards.

17. PA Dept. of Health Bureau of Family Health –Health Transition Survey Special Health Care Needs Consultant. Cross-Systems Development. Special Kids Network –Community Systems Development. –Information and referral network.

18. Transition Communities of Practice: Communication Network and Support Structure LOCAL TO STATE TO LOCAL

19. Foundation of State and Local Team Collaboration Seven Essential Factors to Consider for Successful Interagency Collaborations: Commitment Communication Strong Leadership from Key Decision Makers Understanding the Culture of Collaborating Agencies Providing Adequate Resources for Collaboration Minimizing Turf Issues Engaging in Serious Preplanning. Stakeholders' views of factors that impact successful interagency collaboration Exceptional Children; Reston; Winter 2003; Lawrence J Johnson; Debbie Zorn; Brian Kai Yung Tam; Maggie LaMontagne; Susan A Johnson

20. State to Local and Local to State Strategies Membership –Local Transition Coordinating Councils (LTCC) and Teams Surveys. –LTCC Directory. –Expanding Membership on State MOU Interagency Team to support local needs.

21. State to Local and Local to State Strategies Capacity Building –Transition Portfolio Assessment Strategies Training & Financial Support. –Non-traditional Cross-Systems Team Funding Strategies. –Expanded Cross-system Learning Opportunities.

22. State to Local and Local to State Strategies Policy & Practice –Recognition of LTCC’s & Team’s Activities, Products, & Projects: Expanding Community of Practice Opportunities. –Strengthening the PA Transition Communities of Practice Communication Network.

23. Local Community Transition Team Sixty-three Local Transition Coordinating Councils and Teams in Pennsylvania are Focusing on Projects, Products, and Activities such as: –Information Sharing –Assessment –Career Exploration and Employment –Post-Secondary Education & Training –Youth and Young Adult Focused Cross-Agency Planning –Community Living Programs –Follow-up Surveys –Parent Partnerships –Recognition Programs –Funding Strategies.

24. Strategies to Sustain the Community Developing mutually defined goals. Redefining roles. Sharing of power and expertise. Welcoming diversity. Supporting professional development over time. Developing a shared language. Providing opportunities for practice/practical knowledge. Focusing on effects of implementation on youth and young adults. Willingness of members to take risks. Building personal relationships. Considering alternative points of view to expand perspectives.

25. PA Communities of Practice: Future Strategies Strategic Planning Needs Assessment Capacity Building Policy & Practice Third Annual PA Transition Conference: Reaching Our Outcomes Together. Two-Year Local Transition Coordinating Councils and Teams Outcome Strategies. Developing Potential Cross-System Funding Strategies.