Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!
Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!
A Process for Impacting Outcomes for Youth Through Planning Strategically & Collaboratively
Using Research-Based Activities (or effective practices)
Building on the Strengths of the System (community)
Built on the Unique Needs of Each Community
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The framework is what underlies what we’ve built
It is the effective practices, research, and processes
First I want to show you the house that Kent built (or, is building….) and why.
Then we’ll look at HOW the house was built: the tools, process, the builders, etc.
We’ll lift the hood, later . . .
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It depends on the needs of your community
It depends on the strengths of your community
It depends on what your students are saying . . . so listen well to them
It depends on decisions made collaboratively with your community partners
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This presentation will describe what MiConnections is in Kent County
Our model should be used as an example of what can be done with MiConnections in your community
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1. Identify your Partners• Community problems require community solutions
• More specifics, later . . ..
2. Environmental Scan:• What is the situation in your community?
• What are the strengths (resources)?
– Within the schools
– In the community
• What are the needs?
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Needs in Kent County:• Dropout Rates• At-Risk Youth• Poverty-Rates• Supportive Networks: youth need a safety net• Youth Leadership Development• Mentoring• Entrepreneurship
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Strengths in Kent County:• Disneyland of Community Resources
– Over 2000 community-based organizations – Over 300 after-school opportunities– Technical Training Programs
• Kent Transition Center
• Kent Career / Technical Center
• GRCC M-TEC and Applied Technology Center in collaboration with Ferris State University
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Strengths in Kent County:• Every school has a few teachers that are
looking for ways to go “above and beyond” and make a difference.
• Every school has a few key students that want to be more involved in things they are interested in.
• Every student has a LOT of energy
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Strengths in Kent County:• A growing willingness to collaborate
– Schools– Community Organizations– Examples:
• Kent County Mentoring Collaborative
• Community Development Initiatives
• Community Transition Council
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Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!
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Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!
Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!
Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!
• Local Sites (25 schools/programs)– That Key Staff Person– Those Fired Up Youth– Question #1:
• What are you really interested in?– Question #2:
• What are you gonna to do about it?
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• “Club” Model Captures the – Energy of youth – Interests of youth– Creativity of youth
• Blows right by us adults
• Takes the interests of youth seriously
• YOUTH can reach YOUTH
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What do you do with a bunch of guys from Byron Center that can only talk about working on cars?
Adult perspective: What am I going to do with these guys?
MiConnections perspective: Ask ‘em! . . . And listen . . .
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Youth solution: Write a proposal to do volunteer work at a homeless shelter and . . .
Take home a car out of the deal!
Adult Response: What???
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The Automobile of the Present 1990 SuburbanTwo-tone: blue and grey
The Automobile of the FutureJet BlackWith “Lifters”
Youth Attitude: Just wait, you’ll see!
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• Common theme throughout our schools
• Lack of safety net is seriously affecting outcomes
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• What do YOU do when the bottom falls out?• Most of us have developed a group of friends and
relatives that we can turn to • Is this the case with our students?• Where do they turn?
• In Kent County, we see this as the critical first step, if we are going to impact outcomes.
• Without a safety net, rest doesn’t matter
• If this is affecting outcomes for graduates, what about the dropouts?
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• Interviews with students that had dropped out of school show that– Most kids thought about dropping out before 8th
grade– Less that 5% reported talking to someone at schools
about their thoughts– Of students that participate in at least one
extracurricular activity, 70-75% graduate.– Of students that participate in no extracurricular
activities, 15% graduate.(Larry Kotering, Appalachian State University)
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Three levels of Supportive Networks being developed
1. Local Sites2. Countywide Network3. Individualized Networks for each
student
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1. Local Sites• Identify at least one staff person
in each school• Begin with at least five students
that are– Fired up to explore their interests– Willing to do the planning
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1. Local Sites (Cont.)• Funding available for activities• Network expands as youth
– Invite their buddies– Venture into the community and do
more activities
In this way we are leveraging the strengths we identified
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Experiences Limited Only By Imagination!!!
2. Countywide Network• 25 developing sites• Youth, adults, community partners• Learning community is being created for
– Dissemination of effective practices– Sharing resources and information– Collaboration
• We have so many effective practices across the county. But how do they improve outcomes across the whole county???
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2. Countywide Network• Resources for Local Sites
– CD Rom of effective practices and community resources
– Community Resource Cards» Identifies resources for specific activities
– MiConnections Startup Guide– Countywide, Coordinated Activities– Contact information between sites
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3. Individualized support networks through pre-IEP Student Planning Process
• Research-based group planning process– Strategic Planning
» Consider at all potential influences» Systems approach» Build on strengths to minimize barriers
(red flags)
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3. Individualized support networks through pre-IEP Student Planning Process
– Strength / Asset Based Planning– Appreciative Inquiry and Dialogue
Principles– Person-centered planning– Wraparound Services Model
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Identify Problem Conduct Root Cause
Analysis Brainstorm Solutions
& Analyze Develop Action Plans
Metaphor: A person is a problem to be solved
Appreciate “What is” (What gives life?)
Imagine “What Might Be” Determine “What Should
Be” Create “What Will Be”
Metaphor: A person is a solution/mystery to be embraced.
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Too much on my plate FLUNKED
BURNOUT
CriticalThinking
Adequate Yearly Progress
TURF BATTLES
Failure Rate
Disorder
Report Cards
Spell Check
Under-Staffed
UNFAVORABLE
Community Criticism
PARENTALCOMPLAINTS
AT-RISKHigh-Stakes Testing
LABELEDRed Tape
WARNING
UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONSRejection
Dropout Rate
ImpairedChallenged
DeficitHandicapped
Isolation
SILOS
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The outcomes of youth are much more than an educational problem.
Community issues must be tackled by the community.
Brenda VandeVoort is one of our community partners (Disability Advocates of Kent Co.)
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Disability Advocates of Kent County
Student Planning ProcessProvide resources to local sitesSummer activities
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ARC of Kent CountyCascade
EngineeringDisability AdvocatesGoodwill IndustriesGrand Rapids
Community College
M-TECNoto’s Fine Italian
DiningVSA ARTS
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Michigan Commission for the Blind
Association for the BlindMichigan WorksMichigan Commission
on Disability Concerns
Michigan Community Service Commission
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Four Design Features: Research-Based Activities That Improve Outcomes for Youth
State Resources
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Kent County:
Ron Irvine 616-301-6198 - [email protected]
Brenda VandeVoort 616-949-1100
Statewide:
Marcie Alling 517-335-0390 - [email protected]
Lynn Boza 517-241-3957 - [email protected]
Shannon Berkin 269-337-3449
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Unemployment Rate in 2002 Median Earnings in 2001
$56,589
$46,969
$36,399
$34,340
$29,187
$22,350Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor
Master’s degree
Bachelor’s degree
Associate’s degree
Some college, no degree
High school graduate
Some high school, no diploma
$75,182
$82,421
Doctoral degree
Professional degree1.6%
1.6%
2.8%
3.1%
4.0%
4.8%
5.3%
8.5%
Earnings of College Graduates
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0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
1950 1991 2000
Professional
Skilled
Unskilled
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Clarification of Previous Chart
• PROFESSIONAL– Baccalaureate Professional– Degree Required
• SKILLED– Certificate– Apprenticeship– Possible Associates Degree
• UNSKILLED– High School Diploma
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60%
20%
20%
35%
45%
20%
15%
65%
20%
1950 1991 2000
The Changing Nature of Work
Professional
Skilled
Unskilled
20%
4-Year Bachelors Degree
Certificate, Apprenticeship, Associates Degree
High School Diploma
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The Changing Nature of Work
TECHNOLOGY
KEY RESOURCE
STRUCTURE
VALUED TRAITS
Agricultural Age (1845-1900)
Plow
Land
Family/
Community
Self-reliance
Industrial Age
(1900-1980)
Machine
Factories
Factory/
Bureaucracy
Compliance
Digital Age
(1980-Present)
Microchip
Innovation
Networks/
Teams
Competence/ Adaptability
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% Of High School Students Planning To Attend
College
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% Of High School Graduates Not Earning
Bachelors Degrees
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% Of College Graduates In Jobs Not Requiring
College Degrees
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% Of Community College Students Holding 4-year
College Degrees
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% Of 18-24 Year Olds In U.S. Earning Minimum
Wage
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
1981 1991 2001?
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Post-Secondary Plans of Kent Co. Students:
RESPONSE PERCENT RESPONSE PERCENT
Work 25%
2-year degree 5%
Military 5%
4-year degree 21%
Technical training
6%
Post-graduate 6%
Take some college courses 16%
No response 41%
“Results of the Student Survey, Kent County, June 1997,” Grand Rapids Public Schools.
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How Education Boosts Your Bottom LineAverage gross weekly salary for U.S. Workers
with various levels of education (1994 Bureau of Labor Statistics)
$0 $200 $400 $600 $800 $1,000
Less than high school education $292
High school graduate $398
Some College $442
Associate's degree $503
Bachelor's degree $641
Journey-skilled $700-$900
Master's degree $816
Ph.D. $981
Professional degree $984
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Family Wage• Through the 1960’s, a single
production worker with a high school diploma could earn enough to support a spouse and child, buy a car and own a home.
• Today, it takes two earners, each with two years of college to achieve the same standard of living.