e mployment f irst t ransition i nitiative mission to partner with keokuk community school district...
TRANSCRIPT
EMPLOYMENT FIRST TRANSITION INITIATIVE
Mission
To partner with Keokuk Community School District
(KCSD) to ensure that students with disabilities’
career readiness begins early - by taking a more deliberate
and planned approach to work preparation and employment for students with disabilities.
Employment First Initiative provided foundation for our transition project. Because integrated community employment should be the first and preferred option for individuals with disabilities receiving assistance from publicly funded systems.
The transition project goal is to increase access to community based, integrated, competitive employment as a viable option instead of funding students for sheltered workshops.
EMPLOYMENT FIRST PARTNERS
Iowa Coalition for Integrated Employment (ICIE)
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation (IVRS) Van Buren Job Opportunities (VBJO) Keokuk Community High School (KHS) Great Prairie AEA Department of Human Services
Targeted Case Management (DHS TCM) Southeast Iowa LINK-county funding Job Candidates and their parents
EMPLOYMENT FIRST ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
Early employment planning & work experiences
Collaboration to build formalized relationships
Paid work experiences while in school
Support and Follow-up to stabilize, maintain, & maximize individuals employment potential
FACTS ABOUT KEOKUKo Population 10,769o Number of Keokuk High School Students-
655o Number of Students served by local AEA at
KHS-78o Chamber of Commerce Members-197o Unemployment rate at highest in January of
2013- 11.60% (Y charts.com) Today 5.40%
TRANSITION PARTNERS
Keokuk Community High School
Van Buren Job Opportunities
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation
Services
Student and
Parents
HOW DID WE DO IT?TEAM COLLABORATION
Vocational Rehabilitation Introduced & coordinated
professional connections at KHS Initiated VR services for students
identified Connected families to support
services for successful employment Provided vocational counseling and
guidance, consultation & support services- placement, accommodations, social skills training, & work clothing
Identified & Secured long term supports/Team collaboration
Van Buren Job Opportunities Partnered with KHS and
student to provide employment focused services
Provided Customized Employment opportunities for students
Negotiated customized placement with local businesses for students
Provided quality supported employment services initially and long term
Together with the students and team members we… Developed individualized plans for employment Discovered students strengths and preferences Identified potential options for employment opportunities Utilized services creatively to aid in customized employment Planned for services needed for long term employment success
COLLABORATIVE SERVICESUTILIZED TO FACILITATE PLACEMENT
Discovery Job Shadow Community-Based Worksite Assessment Social Skills Training Job Readiness Training & Job Seeking Skills Employability Class Job Coach Training-provided to KHS school associate Supported Employment Employer Development Supported Employment Job Placement Supported Employment Stabilization Supported Employment 45 & 90 day job coaching Job Coaching long term supports –ID Waiver
OVERCOMING BARRIERS
Developing partnerships with school personnel, students, and parents
Introducing a different mindset and funding shift from sheltered work to integrated community employment
Identifying the partners roles in providing support and funding transition services
Connecting to adult employment services prior to exit from school
SUCCESS STORY – SHAQUILLE Shaquille was a junior in the severe
and profound classroom when services were initiated.
Services began with Discovery and Job Shadow which lead to a customized position as a utility worker at Dominoes Pizza.
Shaquille hands out flyers & samples in the Keokuk downtown area. He also assembles pizza boxes.
Shaquille and his mother are happy he was able to obtain employment while he was in school. Domino’s Pizza is willing to provide him with more hours if he chooses in the fall and winter.
SUCCESS STORY - EDDIE Eddie works at Hy-Vee as a recycling
processor. He greets customers, sorts bottles and cans, and takes sorted materials to the back of the store.
Eddie is identified as a level 3 student with significant learning limitations (on ID waiver waiting list)
Eddie has a social personality and likes to help others.
His KHS experience sorting recyclable materials aided in his success obtaining employment at Hy-Vee while in school
Upon graduation Eddie intends on maintaining his employment long term.
SUMMARY RESULTS
Studentand
Parents
IVRS
VBJO
DHS TCM
SEI Link
AEA
KHS
Employer
ICIE
EMERGING TRANSITION PRACTICES
Continued partnership between IVRS, SE providers, DHS/Community Service Agencies, and area schools
Early connections, planning, and focus on employment for transition students
Braiding of resources to enhance services provided to transition students
Increase paid work experiences for transition students while in high school
All students with significant disabilities will have the option of customized employment
CONTACT INFORMATION
Janet Phelps- Van Buren Job Opportunities
308 Mulberry Street
Keosauqua, IA 52565
319-293-6276
Cynthia Whalen- Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services
1000 N. Roosevelt Ave. Suite 7
Burlington, IA 52601
319-753-2231