© CCHMC 1/3/06

Supported Employment

AgencyDistrict of Columbia

Public Schools

Federal Agency: Education, Health & Human Services or Labor

Rehabilitation Services

Administration

Department on Disability Services

© CCHMC 1/3/06

Project SEARCH is Project SEARCH is doing more than doing more than providing valuable providing valuable work experiences work experiences for students. It is for students. It is massaging and massaging and changing changing corporate culture corporate culture and the receptivity and the receptivity of workplaces to of workplaces to employ people with employ people with disabilities. disabilities.

Diversity World Magazine, November Diversity World Magazine, November 20062006

Benefits for DCPS Students• One year of training and three

internships experiences. • Opportunity to learn skills and work in

federal government agency. • References from federal managers• Develop strength areas.• Work toward independence in many

areas such as transportation, daily living skills, etc.

Benefits for Federal Department • Building a more inclusive work force• Training youth to enter the

competitive workforce• Identifying entry level workers to

fulfill a secession plan• Assisting Federal Departments to

reach President Obama’s Executive Order of 2% of the workforce to be people with disabilities

Program DescriptionProgram Description• One school year – follows DCPS One school year – follows DCPS

calendarcalendar• 12 students in each program12 students in each program• Students with a variety of disabilitiesStudents with a variety of disabilities• Last year of HS eligibility Last year of HS eligibility • Rotate through three unpaid Rotate through three unpaid

internships internships • Outcome of employmentOutcome of employment

Student SelectionStudent Selection• Information Sessions – Winter 2011Information Sessions – Winter 2011• DCPS staff complete referralDCPS staff complete referral• Complete application – early springComplete application – early spring• Students tour program to determine Students tour program to determine

interest and good fit - springinterest and good fit - spring• Students interviews with committee - Students interviews with committee -

springspring• Committee selects studentsCommittee selects students• Develop DCPS IEP for Project SEARCHDevelop DCPS IEP for Project SEARCH

Eligibility GuidelinesEligibility Guidelines• 18 – 21 years old18 – 21 years old• Desire to work in community at end Desire to work in community at end

of program of program • Have appropriate hygiene, social and Have appropriate hygiene, social and

communication skillscommunication skills• Ability to take direction, follow code Ability to take direction, follow code

of conduct in federal agency of conduct in federal agency • Utilize Metro Utilize Metro • Pass drug screen, background check, Pass drug screen, background check,

immunizations up to date immunizations up to date

Sample School DaySample School Day• 7:50 Arrive at federal site7:50 Arrive at federal site• 8:00 Employability Skills 8:00 Employability Skills • 9:00 Worksites9:00 Worksites• 12:00 Lunch 12:00 Lunch • 12:30 Worksites12:30 Worksites• 2:00 Review day, 2:00 Review day,

planning, communicationplanning, communication2:30 Depart – Metro 2:30 Depart – Metro

Annual CalendarAnnual Calendar

August June

1st Internship (12 weeks)

Graduate & begin work

in community

Begin PS Program (follow DCPS

calendar)

2nd Internship (12 weeks)

3rd Internship (12 weeks)

2

OrientationOrientation

Internship 1, 2 & 3 Internship 1, 2 & 3 AugSummer

Program

Job SearchJob Search

SummerSummer• Engage parents / give them informationEngage parents / give them information• 4 week preparation course4 week preparation course• Travel Training on MetroTravel Training on Metro• Criminal Background CheckCriminal Background Check• Immunizations, TB Test, Drug ScreenImmunizations, TB Test, Drug Screen• BadgeBadge• Identify federal internships and skills Identify federal internships and skills

to be learnedto be learned

4 Week Preparation Course4 Week Preparation Course

• Complete mandatory new employee Complete mandatory new employee education: safety, confidentiality, etc. education: safety, confidentiality, etc.

• Tour possible internshipsTour possible internships• Create resume Create resume • Practice interviewing skillsPractice interviewing skills• Guest speakers from federal Guest speakers from federal

departmentdepartment

Employability Skills CurriculumEmployability Skills Curriculum

• Work BehaviorWork Behavior• Problem SolvingProblem Solving• CommunicationCommunication• BudgetingBudgeting• Team Work Team Work • TechnologyTechnology• NutritionNutrition

Internships /Work Rotations Internships /Work Rotations • Competitive, Competitive,

Marketable SkillsMarketable Skills• 4 – 5 hours of day 4 – 5 hours of day • Work/ Social SkillsWork/ Social Skills• 12 weeks/Flexible12 weeks/Flexible• Constant Constant

Feedback & Feedback & Assessment Assessment

Monthly Team MeetingsMonthly Team Meetings

• Student plans and leads meetingsStudent plans and leads meetings• Discuss skills learned, challenges, Discuss skills learned, challenges,

progress toward employmentprogress toward employment• Plan activities needed to gain jobPlan activities needed to gain job• Communication with all members is Communication with all members is

critical: student, family member, RSA critical: student, family member, RSA Counselor, instructorCounselor, instructor

• Network of friends, family and others Network of friends, family and others all focused on employment all focused on employment

Code of ConductCode of Conduct

• Students are interns in federal Students are interns in federal departments departments

• Must adhere to disciplinary process Must adhere to disciplinary process of department including: of department including: attendance, behavior, dress code, attendance, behavior, dress code, etc. etc.

• Consequences for violating code of Consequences for violating code of conductconduct

Develop Overall Develop Overall Career Plan: Career Plan:

Identify interests and Identify interests and job preferencesjob preferences

Identify skills needed Identify skills needed

to learn during to learn during internships necessary internships necessary

for employmentfor employment

• Data EntryData Entry• FilingFiling• Imaging and ScanningImaging and Scanning• DocumentationDocumentation• Mail Sorting and DeliveryMail Sorting and Delivery• Facilities Facilities • CommunicationCommunication• Problem SolvingProblem Solving

Sample Entry Level Skills for Job Sample Entry Level Skills for Job in Federal Government in Federal Government

Student RoleStudent Role• Identify area of interestIdentify area of interest• Write cover letter to agencyWrite cover letter to agency• Send letter and resume/data sheetSend letter and resume/data sheet• Interview for positionInterview for position• Department calls student to confirmDepartment calls student to confirm• Notify teacher & department for absencesNotify teacher & department for absences• Continual Continual Evaluation by all by all• Give two weeks notice Give two weeks notice • Participate in exit interviewParticipate in exit interview• Write Thank You letterWrite Thank You letter• Update portfolio and resumeUpdate portfolio and resume

Instructor RoleInstructor Role

• Identifies career goal / IEP for studentIdentifies career goal / IEP for student• Teaches Employability Skills Curriculum Teaches Employability Skills Curriculum • Provides employer education to federal Provides employer education to federal

staffstaff• Disability informationDisability information• Supervision strategiesSupervision strategies

• Communicates with parentsCommunicates with parents• Assists team to develop employment Assists team to develop employment

opportunities opportunities

Job Coach RoleJob Coach Role• Observes department workObserves department work• Identifies core skills needed for job Identifies core skills needed for job • Develops job description / task analysisDevelops job description / task analysis• Teaches core skills to studentTeaches core skills to student• Develops work aids/ accommodationsDevelops work aids/ accommodations• Works with department mentor to provide Works with department mentor to provide

natural supportsnatural supports• Evaluates progress of student internEvaluates progress of student intern• Layers additional skillsLayers additional skills• Advocates for hire when there is opening and Advocates for hire when there is opening and

“good fit”“good fit”

Evaluation of StudentsEvaluation of Students

• Common feedback instrumentCommon feedback instrument• Job CoachJob Coach• InstructorInstructor• Student does Self AssessmentStudent does Self Assessment• Supervisor/managers from federal Supervisor/managers from federal

departmentdepartment

Job Placement Job Placement • Can happen at any time during Can happen at any time during

program yearprogram year• Approximately 25% get hired at host Approximately 25% get hired at host

sitesite• Job coaches and other team members Job coaches and other team members

assist students to find job in the assist students to find job in the community using skills learnedcommunity using skills learned

• All team members work together to All team members work together to locate job that meets interests & skillslocate job that meets interests & skills

Internship to JobInternship to Job • 11stst Rotation/ Internship: Rotation/ Internship:

Administrative Office – Administrative Office – focus on phone skills focus on phone skills

• 22ndnd Rotation / Internship: Rotation / Internship: Consumer Lending – Consumer Lending – focus on computer skills focus on computer skills

• 33rdrd Rotation / Internship: Rotation / Internship: Receptionist in Lobby Receptionist in Lobby

• Hired as receptionistHired as receptionist• 2 Years: Hired in HR with 2 Years: Hired in HR with

additional duties additional duties

Roles and Responsibilities Roles and Responsibilities

• Host Federal Department Host Federal Department • Instructor from DCPSInstructor from DCPS• Job Coach / Job Developer Job Coach / Job Developer • RSA CounselorRSA Counselor• Long Term SupportLong Term Support• Family membersFamily members

Federal Departments: Education, Federal Departments: Education, Health & Human Services, Labor Health & Human Services, Labor

• Classroom on siteClassroom on site• Business liaisonBusiness liaison• Internships Internships • Marketing of programMarketing of program• Possible employment Possible employment

opportunities opportunities

District of Columbia Public SchoolsDistrict of Columbia Public Schools

• InstructorInstructor• CurriculumCurriculum• SuppliesSupplies• Specialized staff if necessarySpecialized staff if necessary• Liability insuranceLiability insurance

Rehabilitation Services Rehabilitation Services Administration Administration

• Individual funding for job Individual funding for job coaching and job developmentcoaching and job development

• Maintenance funding for travel Maintenance funding for travel and lunchand lunch

• Additional support based on Additional support based on individual needs individual needs

Community Rehab ProviderCommunity Rehab Provider

• Job coaching support during Job coaching support during internships internships

• Support to federal offices who are Support to federal offices who are supporting studentssupporting students

• Job Development for paid job in DC Job Development for paid job in DC communitycommunity

• Assistance with travel trainingAssistance with travel training

Department on Department on Disability Services Disability Services

• Overall support and coordination of Overall support and coordination of the program and DC organizations the program and DC organizations

Overall OutcomeOverall Outcome

Employment for Project SEARCH graduates at end of program in federal department or other DC business