marty kester, idea partnership at nasdse dick mccorkle, idea partnership at nasdse

Working Across States and Stakeholders to Working Across States and Stakeholders to Build Interagency Bridges for Youth: Build Interagency Bridges for Youth:

The IDEA Partnership’s Interagency The IDEA Partnership’s Interagency Community of PracticeCommunity of Practice

Marty Kester, IDEA Partnership at NASDSEMarty Kester, IDEA Partnership at NASDSE Dick McCorkle, IDEA Partnership at NASDSEDick McCorkle, IDEA Partnership at NASDSE Alabama State Team:Alabama State Team:

Dalee Chambers, Department of EducationDalee Chambers, Department of Education Linda Hames, Department of RehabilitationLinda Hames, Department of Rehabilitation Linda Graham, Children’s Rehabilitation Linda Graham, Children’s Rehabilitation

ServicesServices Brian Burrows, Local Transition PartnershipBrian Burrows, Local Transition Partnership

Arizona State Team:Arizona State Team: Susan Voirol, Vocational RehabilitationSusan Voirol, Vocational Rehabilitation

New Hampshire State Team: New Hampshire State Team: Anne Huff, ParentAnne Huff, Parent Emily Huff, Youth AdvocateEmily Huff, Youth Advocate

Pennsylvania State Team: Pennsylvania State Team: Michael Stoehr, Pennsylvania Training and Michael Stoehr, Pennsylvania Training and

Technical Assistance Network Technical Assistance Network

Transition Communities Transition Communities of Practiceof Practice

RationaleRationale

Today’s ClimateToday’s Climate

Crisis of youth: Crisis of youth: Drop out ratesDrop out rates IncarcerationIncarceration Poor academic skillsPoor academic skills Lack of education and employment. Lack of education and employment. There is a spirit of collaboration in the legislation There is a spirit of collaboration in the legislation

that ensures equal access to employment and that ensures equal access to employment and communities. communities.

Interagency transition teams suggested as appropriate Interagency transition teams suggested as appropriate vehicle for planning and implementing transition vehicle for planning and implementing transition services for students with disabilities.services for students with disabilities.

Johnson, L., Zorn, D., Yung Tam, B., LaMontagne, M., Johnson, S., Johnson, L., Zorn, D., Yung Tam, B., LaMontagne, M., Johnson, S., 2003; DeFur, S., 1997; Repetto, J. & Weiss, K., 19972003; DeFur, S., 1997; Repetto, J. & Weiss, K., 1997

Transition “Communities of Practice”Transition “Communities of Practice”

““Transition teams can be a Transition teams can be a strong force within the strong force within the communitycommunity. .

Their primary purpose is to assess how a Their primary purpose is to assess how a community’s transition services system works and community’s transition services system works and to develop policies and procedures to to develop policies and procedures to make this make this system work bettersystem work better. .

They can identify the They can identify the best way to meet the needs best way to meet the needs of youth with disabilitiesof youth with disabilities leaving the local schools leaving the local schools within their community. within their community.

They can They can promote actions through school promote actions through school boards and other governmental entitiesboards and other governmental entities in areas in areas such as policy and funding.”such as policy and funding.”

deFur, 2002, p. 17deFur, 2002, p. 17

The Spirit of Community: The Spirit of Community: We Are In This Together!We Are In This Together!

A way of workingA way of working • Involving those who do Involving those who do

shared workshared work• Involving those that Involving those that

share issuesshare issues• Always asking “who isn’t Always asking “who isn’t

here?”here?”

A way of learningA way of learning• To create new knowledge To create new knowledge

grounded in ‘doing the grounded in ‘doing the work’work’

• With those who can With those who can advocate for and make advocate for and make changechange

The Knowing and Doing GapThe Knowing and Doing Gap

• ‘‘Knowing’ isn’t ‘doing’!Knowing’ isn’t ‘doing’!

• Practices often do not Practices often do not transfer across transfer across organizations.organizations.

• Practices often do not Practices often do not transfer across sites transfer across sites within the same within the same organization.organization.

Communities of PracticeCommunities of Practice

SharingSharing

SupportingSupporting

LearningLearning

Often organized as same Often organized as same level, role, site and/or issuelevel, role, site and/or issue

Creating new knowledge Creating new knowledge across organizational across organizational boundariesboundaries

Communities of PracticeCommunities of Practice

• Learning how to move from Learning how to move from ‘knowing’ to ‘doing’‘knowing’ to ‘doing’

• Translating learning to Translating learning to policypolicy

• Encouraging investments Encouraging investments that will move the workthat will move the work

• Recognizing the value of all Recognizing the value of all contributions to a more contributions to a more complete & effective complete & effective approachapproach

• Creating new relationships Creating new relationships among policymakers, among policymakers, researchers, & implementersresearchers, & implementers

Communities in StatesCommunities in States

Alabama Alabama

ArizonaArizona

CaliforniaCalifornia

New HampshireNew Hampshire

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

VirginiaVirginia


Alabama Alabama

AlabamaAlabama

ADRS Jointly Funded Job ADRS Jointly Funded Job CoachesCoaches

Local Transition Partnerships Local Transition Partnerships GrantGrant

Auburn Transition Leadership Auburn Transition Leadership InstituteInstitute

Student Tracking SurveyStudent Tracking SurveyAlabama Transition ConferenceAlabama Transition Conference

Alabama Department of Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services Jointly Rehabilitation Services Jointly

Funded Job CoachesFunded Job Coaches

AlabamaAlabamaLocal Transition Partnerships GrantLocal Transition Partnerships Grant

Project Objectives:Project Objectives: To establish a Local To establish a Local

Partnership Model.Partnership Model. To establish Capacity To establish Capacity

Building Strategies.Building Strategies. To extend the Local To extend the Local

Partnership Model to Partnership Model to other Local Education other Local Education Agencies.Agencies.

To evaluate Systems To evaluate Systems Change at the Local Change at the Local Level.Level.

AlabamaAlabamaAuburn Transition Leadership InstituteAuburn Transition Leadership Institute

Institute Priorities:Institute Priorities: Preparing highly Preparing highly

qualified teachers;qualified teachers; Evaluating and Evaluating and

researching programs researching programs and services; and services;

Continuing education Continuing education for practitioners; and for practitioners; and

Initiating and Initiating and developing innovative developing innovative new programs.new programs.

AlabamaAlabamaLocal Transition Partnerships GrantLocal Transition Partnerships Grant

In-School Version:In-School Version: administered to administered to

students who are in students who are in the 11th grade.the 11th grade.

Post-School Version:Post-School Version: administered to administered to

students 1 year after students 1 year after exiting high school.exiting high school.

AlabamaAlabamaAnnual Transition ConferenceAnnual Transition Conference

Conference ObjectivesConference Objectives

(a) Increase the participant's knowledge of transition (a) Increase the participant's knowledge of transition problems, issues, resources, and programs, especially problems, issues, resources, and programs, especially as they pertain to Alabama; and as they pertain to Alabama; and

(b) Expand and strengthen the network for all persons (b) Expand and strengthen the network for all persons interested in Alabama's youth and young adults with interested in Alabama's youth and young adults with disabilities who are in transition from school to work and disabilities who are in transition from school to work and community.community.


Arizona Arizona

ArizonaArizona

Interagency Agreement: Division of Interagency Agreement: Division of Development (DDD), Vocational Development (DDD), Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Exceptional Student Rehabilitation (VR), Exceptional Student Services (ESS) and Department of Services (ESS) and Department of Education Education Cooperation and CollaborationCooperation and Collaboration Joint ProgrammingJoint Programming

ArizonaArizona

Transition/School to Work Agreement Transition/School to Work Agreement between VR and School Districts:between VR and School Districts: VR counselor working in the High SchoolVR counselor working in the High School Building rapport and networkingBuilding rapport and networking

ArizonaArizona

Successful Programs with a Joint Effort:Successful Programs with a Joint Effort: Work Bridge: A high school class where Work Bridge: A high school class where

students gain knowledge, skills, training and students gain knowledge, skills, training and employmentemployment

Youth Employment Training Program (YETP): Youth Employment Training Program (YETP): A summer program for students to gain work A summer program for students to gain work skills and work experienceskills and work experience

Youth Transition Program (YTP): A class in Youth Transition Program (YTP): A class in high schools where youth learn life skills, work high schools where youth learn life skills, work skills and all needed transition servicesskills and all needed transition services

ArizonaArizona

Parent Information Network (PIN)Parent Information Network (PIN) Contractors with Arizona Department of Contractors with Arizona Department of

Education (ADE)Education (ADE) Seven parents in AZ run this network; All have Seven parents in AZ run this network; All have

special needs childrenspecial needs children PIN works with educators, agencies and PIN works with educators, agencies and

parents to provide information to help folks parents to provide information to help folks advocate for themselves, remaining neutral at advocate for themselves, remaining neutral at all timesall times

Website: Website: www.ade.az.gov/ess/pinpalswww.ade.az.gov/ess/pinpals

ArizonaArizona

Giving Voice to the FutureGiving Voice to the Future

2005 Transition Conference in Arizona2005 Transition Conference in Arizona

September 20-22, 2005September 20-22, 2005

www.ade.state.az.uswww.ade.state.az.us


California Transition SummitCalifornia Transition Summit

June 23, 2005June 23, 2005


Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles Support and maintain the secondary education and Support and maintain the secondary education and

transition initiatives that are occurring throughout the transition initiatives that are occurring throughout the statestate

Identify effective and evidence-based practices occurring Identify effective and evidence-based practices occurring on local, state and national levelon local, state and national level

Leverage our secondary education and transition Leverage our secondary education and transition initiatives resourcesinitiatives resources

Build local community capacityBuild local community capacity Establish cross partnership connectionsEstablish cross partnership connections Interagency partnerships: DOE including Special Ed and Interagency partnerships: DOE including Special Ed and

VR, and DHHS (Bureau of Children’s Mental Health)VR, and DHHS (Bureau of Children’s Mental Health)


What are the benefits from participating in the What are the benefits from participating in the Community of Practice (CoP)?Community of Practice (CoP)?

We learn about the national initiative and perspectives We learn about the national initiative and perspectives from Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and from Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and National Association of State Directors of Special National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)Education (NASDSE)

Provide unique opportunities for a small state like New Provide unique opportunities for a small state like New Hampshire i.e., National Disability Mentoring DayHampshire i.e., National Disability Mentoring Day

We learn expand our “learning loop” to include state to We learn expand our “learning loop” to include state to state initiatives and state to other agency initiativesstate initiatives and state to other agency initiatives

The monthly CoP conference calls gives us the chance The monthly CoP conference calls gives us the chance to share our progress with other states, as well as learn to share our progress with other states, as well as learn from one another so that we might replicate practices from one another so that we might replicate practices and activities that are successful in other states.and activities that are successful in other states.


What has been happening as a result of our What has been happening as a result of our participation in the Community of Practice (CoP)participation in the Community of Practice (CoP)

Mentoring GrantMentoring Grant Technical Assistance GrantTechnical Assistance Grant Identified the need to Reach out to Juvenile Justice and Identified the need to Reach out to Juvenile Justice and

Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF)Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) New Hampshire and Pennsylvania CollaborationNew Hampshire and Pennsylvania Collaboration The Parent Information Center has designated a The Parent Information Center has designated a

representative to NH’s teamrepresentative to NH’s team Thirty-three transition initiatives are currently underway Thirty-three transition initiatives are currently underway

in NH. Our CoP is promoting the value of collaboration in NH. Our CoP is promoting the value of collaboration and sharing information by submitting articles for and sharing information by submitting articles for publication in newsletterspublication in newsletters

Training opportunities are posted on websitesTraining opportunities are posted on websites


What are the barriersWhat are the barriers

There is no coordination of transition initiatives in the There is no coordination of transition initiatives in the state. Each agency or bureau has its own plan. No one state. Each agency or bureau has its own plan. No one agency has been given the charge to develop a agency has been given the charge to develop a statewide planstatewide plan

There is no vehicle to help us tap into the expertise area There is no vehicle to help us tap into the expertise area of each agency. We are working on getting partners “at of each agency. We are working on getting partners “at the table” to ensure we are including all agencies the table” to ensure we are including all agencies involved with transition servicesinvolved with transition services

There is no central clearinghouse for secondary There is no central clearinghouse for secondary education and transition initiatives around the state. We education and transition initiatives around the state. We tend to know the initiatives within our own area of tend to know the initiatives within our own area of expertiseexpertise

Each agency does not speak the same languageEach agency does not speak the same language


Impact on Students and FamiliesImpact on Students and Families

History tells us that:History tells us that:

All too often, youth and parents must start All too often, youth and parents must start over after the youth leave schools. over after the youth leave schools. Weak link between youth services and the Weak link between youth services and the

adult service system. adult service system. Fragmented service delivery system.Fragmented service delivery system. An overlap in service definitions.An overlap in service definitions. Multiple funding bases.Multiple funding bases. Varying models of service delivery. Varying models of service delivery.


Impact on Students and FamiliesImpact on Students and Families

Interagency coordinating teams have emerged in Interagency coordinating teams have emerged in literature and practice as nucleus of change in literature and practice as nucleus of change in communities attempting to work collaborative to communities attempting to work collaborative to serve children with special needs and their families. serve children with special needs and their families.

As members of the transition community, it is As members of the transition community, it is essential to recognize the urgency to work as a essential to recognize the urgency to work as a team with mutual interest in and a shared vision of team with mutual interest in and a shared vision of all students to live and work in their community as all students to live and work in their community as productive citizens. productive citizens.

Lehman, C., Hewitt, Clark, Bullis, M., Rinkin, J., Castellanos, L., 2002; Lehman, C., Hewitt, Clark, Bullis, M., Rinkin, J., Castellanos, L., 2002; Wischnowski, M. & McCollum, J., 1995; Repetto, J. & Weiss, K., 1997Wischnowski, M. & McCollum, J., 1995; Repetto, J. & Weiss, K., 1997

PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaCompliance to CommitmentCompliance to Commitment

Over time, we transformed into a project-oriented Over time, we transformed into a project-oriented team, by planning cross-system training and youth team, by planning cross-system training and youth and young adult-focused activities. and young adult-focused activities.

We developed trusting relationships and used the We developed trusting relationships and used the team as a forum to problem-solve around systems team as a forum to problem-solve around systems issues.issues.

We evolved into a transition community of practice to We evolved into a transition community of practice to promote our shared vision for the successful promote our shared vision for the successful outcomes of youth and young adults with disabilities.outcomes of youth and young adults with disabilities.

As a state team, we develop cross-system strategies As a state team, we develop cross-system strategies to support the strengthen and expand local transition to support the strengthen and expand local transition coordinating councils and teams’ impact on youth and coordinating councils and teams’ impact on youth and young adult outcomes.young adult outcomes.

PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaGuiding Principles: How we Progressed to Make Guiding Principles: How we Progressed to Make

the Changes...the Changes... Mutual RespectMutual Respect

Building networks and relationships across Building networks and relationships across "systems" and audiences"systems" and audiences

Valuing one another's perspectivesValuing one another's perspectives Creating transition strategies and activities Creating transition strategies and activities

based upon the bigger picturebased upon the bigger picture Building the foundation...collaborate, Building the foundation...collaborate,

cooperate, and communicate.cooperate, and communicate.

A SHARED VISIONA SHARED VISION

PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaOld Way of Doing Business: Old Way of Doing Business:

Separate Pages in Separate BooksSeparate Pages in Separate Books

Professional Professional DevelopmentDevelopment

Policy & Regulation Policy & Regulation DevelopmentDevelopment

Strategic Planning Strategic Planning Service Delivery Service Delivery

SystemsSystems AssessmentAssessment Service PlanningService Planning Service DeliveryService Delivery

Program Initiatives & Program Initiatives & Allocation of ResourcesAllocation of Resources

Data CollectionData Collection


The Shift: The Shift: From Isolated, Single Agency Activities to Cross-From Isolated, Single Agency Activities to Cross-

Systems EffortsSystems Efforts

Professional Development

Policy & Regulation Development

Strategic Planning

Service Delivery System

Data Collection

Program Initiatives

PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaProfessional Development: Integrated ModelProfessional Development: Integrated Model

Capacity Building EventsCapacity Building Events TrainingTraining Transfer of Learning in Language of Transfer of Learning in Language of

AgencyAgency Contextual FrameworkContextual Framework Eliminate Duplicative Cost of Eliminate Duplicative Cost of

Development and Provision of TrainingDevelopment and Provision of Training


Transition Communities of Practice: Communication Transition Communities of Practice: Communication Network and Support StructureNetwork and Support Structure

LOCALTO

STATE

STATETO

LOCAL


Working Smart: Program Initiatives & Allocation Working Smart: Program Initiatives & Allocation of Resourcesof Resources

Parent Education Network (PEN)Parent Education Network (PEN)

- PEN's transition activities - PEN's transition activities

- Parent involvement in the transition process- Parent involvement in the transition process

• Bureau of Special Education Mini-Grants- Linked to Team requirements through the Conference

PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaWorking Smart: Program Initiatives & Allocation of Working Smart: Program Initiatives & Allocation of

ResourcesResources

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Transition ProjectsTransition Projects Financial Memorandum of Understanding Financial Memorandum of Understanding

Funding MechanismFunding Mechanism• 24 Types of Cross-system Partnerships 24 Types of Cross-system Partnerships

in 40 Local Program Initiativesin 40 Local Program Initiatives• 2 Statewide Projects2 Statewide Projects

Capacity BuildingCapacity Building Needs AssessmentNeeds Assessment

PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaWorking Smart: Program Initiatives & Allocation of Working Smart: Program Initiatives & Allocation of

ResourcesResources

Office of Mental RetardationOffice of Mental Retardation Transition Employment Pilot CoalitionsTransition Employment Pilot Coalitions

Office of Mental HealthOffice of Mental Health Transition Pilot ProjectsTransition Pilot Projects

Office of Children, Youth & FamiliesOffice of Children, Youth & Families Independent Living Grants: Growing Independent Living Grants: Growing

Number of Youth to Serve -- Importance of Number of Youth to Serve -- Importance of Developing Collaborative PartnershipsDeveloping Collaborative Partnerships

Dept. of HealthDept. of Health Transition ChecklistTransition Checklist


Transition Healthcare ChecklistTransition Healthcare Checklist

Health Care and Personal SkillsHealth Care and Personal Skills Arranging to move from Pediatrics to Arranging to move from Pediatrics to

Adult Doctors Adult Doctors Insurance Coverage Insurance Coverage Eligible ProgramsEligible Programs

PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaKeeping up with GrowthKeeping up with Growth

September 2003 - Started with 7 people including September 2003 - Started with 7 people including parents and 4 agenciesparents and 4 agencies

July 2004 - Grew to 27 people with 7 families and 11 July 2004 - Grew to 27 people with 7 families and 11 agencies-Panel of 9 people representing parents and agencies-Panel of 9 people representing parents and all major systemsall major systems

October 2004 - 9 teams of 9 people were convened October 2004 - 9 teams of 9 people were convened for 9 presentations across PAfor 9 presentations across PA

February 2005 - Interest has grown in PA systems February 2005 - Interest has grown in PA systems and nationally and nationally


Expanding our Capacity through Expanding our Capacity through the IDEA Partnershipthe IDEA Partnership

State to Federal…Federal to StateState to Federal…Federal to StateState to StateState to State

Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development Opportunity to Impact Federal PolicyOpportunity to Impact Federal Policy Expanding Youth and Family LeadershipExpanding Youth and Family Leadership Issue Focused Practice GroupsIssue Focused Practice Groups


Action Strategies for the Action Strategies for the FutureFuture

Expand State to Local and Local to State Expand State to Local and Local to State Communication Network and Support StructureCommunication Network and Support Structure

Agency Driven Cross-Systems InitiativesAgency Driven Cross-Systems Initiatives

4th Annual PA Transition Conference: 4th Annual PA Transition Conference: Strengthening Transition: Achieving ResultsStrengthening Transition: Achieving Results


Action Strategies for the FutureAction Strategies for the Future Creating Linkages and Focus Among PA’s Creating Linkages and Focus Among PA’s

various Family Support Groupsvarious Family Support Groups

Further develop Youth Leadership and Self Further develop Youth Leadership and Self Advocacy Advocacy

5 Year Strategic Planning for State and 5 Year Strategic Planning for State and Local TeamsLocal Teams


VirginiaVirginia

VirginiaVirginia

Virginia State Transition MeetingVirginia State Transition Meeting

March 14-16, 2005March 14-16, 2005

Williamsburg, VA Williamsburg, VA


Welcome !Welcome ! DelawareDelaware AndAnd District of Columbia District of Columbia

The National Community of PracticeThe National Community of Practice

StatesStates OSERSOSERS

OSEPOSEP RSARSA NIDRRNIDRR

National OrganizationsNational Organizations AAPDAAPD Fiesta EducativaFiesta Educativa Others…Others…

National TA CentersNational TA Centers OthersOthers

Community ActivitiesCommunity Activities Focus: Interagency and Youth RoleFocus: Interagency and Youth Role

Face-face meetingsFace-face meetings Representative Participation in State meetingsRepresentative Participation in State meetings Monthly CallsMonthly Calls Learning CallsLearning Calls Practice GroupsPractice Groups

• Interagency ParticipationInteragency Participation• Youth RoleYouth Role• Juvenile Justice, Mental Health and Child WelfareJuvenile Justice, Mental Health and Child Welfare• TransportationTransportation

ActivitiesActivities• National Disability Mentoring DayNational Disability Mentoring Day• Washington InternshipsWashington Internships• Collaborate with NCSET on the National SummitCollaborate with NCSET on the National Summit• Collaborate with federal projects and other cross-state Collaborate with federal projects and other cross-state

communitiescommunities• Emerging…..Emerging…..

““Coming together is a Coming together is a beginning, staying beginning, staying

together is progress, together is progress, and working together and working together

is success.”is success.”

Henry FordHenry Ford

The IDEA Partnership’s The IDEA Partnership’s Interagency Interagency

Community of PracticeCommunity of Practice

Questions & AnswersQuestions & Answers

More information on the Interagency Transition More information on the Interagency Transition Community and other Cross-state/Cross Role Community and other Cross-state/Cross Role Communities will be available soon at:Communities will be available soon at:

www.ideainfo.orgwww.ideainfo.org

Watch for our web launchWatch for our web launch……or call us toll free at :or call us toll free at :

1-877- IDEAINFo1-877- IDEAINFo

marty kester, idea partnership at nasdse dick mccorkle, idea partnership at nasdse

Documents

interagency transition

local partnership model

local level

local schools

nasdsealabama state

local education agencies

spirit of community

needs of youth