Program Management · 2. SCHOOLS/VR/FAMILY COLLABORATION: YTP and VR staff meet regularly to review client progress, program benchmarks, and the coordinated delivery of services.

• Essential Program Characteristic 1: Provide a systems-level infrastructure to monitor and guide students to obtain post-school goals.

• Essential Program Characteristic 10: Provide training and resources to families to involve them in transition planning and connect them to adult agencies and support and information networks.

• Essential Program Characteristic 7: Use interagency collaboration with clearly defined roles and responsibilities to provide coordinated transition services to assist students in meeting their postsecondary goals.

Program Management

1. YTP STAFF ROLES:YTP staff have clearly developed roles and responsibilities that capitalize on individual team members’ strengths and interests.

Program Management




Program Management

2. SCHOOLS/VR/FAMILY COLLABORATION:YTP and VR staff meet regularly to review client progress, program benchmarks, and the coordinated delivery of services. The team communicates regularly with family regarding student participation and ways to support the student in the YTP program.

Program Management




Program Management

3. COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS:A process exists for coordinating the YTP with existing school and community programs in the delivery of transition services. The family clearly understands the roles of agencies and programs that are supporting their young adult.

Program Management




Program Management

4. MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS:YTP staff have created opportunities for marketing the program in order to more effectively integrate YTP services into the school and community. Families are included as an integral part of the community of practice.

Program Management

Essential Program Characteristic 5: Provide individualized transition services based on students’ postsecondary goals in postsecondary education, employment, and independent living.

Screening, Referral, and Eligibility

1. INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT SERVICES:Potential YTP students and their parents are given information (verbal and/or written) about the YTP and VR, so that they may make an informed choice about their participation.




2. INITIAL SCREENING DECISIONS:Screening information is collected for potential YTP students including school records, information on functional limitations, existing evaluation/assessment data, and work history information, so that the YTP team (VR counselor and school staff) can make joint decisions about the students who are most likely to benefit from YTP/VR services.




3. ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION PROCESS:School and VR staff work together effectively to support students and families during the VR eligibility determination process.




4. ONGOING COLLABORATION:Implementation of the YTP screening and referral process continues to improve services to students in transition by streamlining the school to VR referral and eligibility determination process.




5. SYSTEMS CHANGE:Coordination of IEP and IPE. Bringing functional limitation language into the special education transition IEP process, age appropriate transition assessments, measurable postsecondary goals, the Summary of Performance




6. FAMILY INVOLVEMENT:Since families are involved in the IEP process, a family vision of the future for the young adult involved in YTP must be developed. That vision should include work as one of the components. Using IEP discussion starters (see forms and procedures section) can facilitate this process. Events such as family information nights and transition fairs enhance the families’ ability to see what is possible in the future.


Essential Program Characteristic 9: Use multiple strength-based assessments across multiple domains at different points in time to assist student and IEP teams in post-school planning.

YTP Services

1. FAMILY INVOLVEMENT:Student and family preferences and interests are documented and incorporated into the YTP transition planning process, in order to ensure that the planning process is "client-driven".

YTP Services


YTP Services

2. STUDENT SKILLS:The current skill levels of YTP students are documented and this information is incorporated into the transition planning process.

YTP Services


YTP Services

3. COLLABORATIVE PLANNING:The transition plans are developed in collaboration with key players from appropriate school and adult service agencies and coordinated with the student’s IPE developed by VR counselor.

YTP Services


YTP Services

4. POSTSECONDARY GOALS:IDEA transition planning incorporates all relevant areas of transition, including, education, training, employment, and, when appropriate, independent living goals. However, YTP services and activities are focused on the student’s postsecondary employment goal.

YTP Services


YTP Services

5. SYSTEMS CHANGE:YTP procedures provide a model for using student input to drive a seamless movement from high school to adult life through collaborative planning and coordinating delivery.

YTP Services

• Essential Program Characteristic 2: Provide an integrated instruction in all areas of independent living for all students with disabilities.

• Essential Program Characteristic 3: Provide an individualized transition-focused curriculum and instruction based on students’ postsecondary goals in postsecondary education, employment, and independent living.

• Essential Program Characteristic 4: Provide instruction and training in natural environments supported by classroom instruction.

Instruction

1. POSTSECONDARY EMPLOYMENT GOAL:YTP students’ instruction in academic, vocational, independent living and personal social areas is based on meeting each student’s postsecondary employment goal.

Instruction




Instruction

2. SELF-DETERMINATION:YTP instruction emphasizes goal setting, problem solving, self-determination skills, so students can make their own decisions and direct their own futures.

Instruction




Instruction

3. INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES:To prepare YTP students to live and work independently in their community, they receive instruction in academic, vocational, independent living, and personal-social areas tied to their postsecondary employment goal.

Instruction




Instruction

4. SYSTEMS CHANGE:Instructional strategies, formats, an/ or curriculum have been modified within the existing school structure to accommodate students’ transition needs as a result of the implementation of YTP instructional services.

Instruction




Instruction

5. FAMILY INVOLVEMENT: Families are the first instructors. Finding ways to involve families leads to positive post-school outcomes for youth participating in the YTP.

Instruction

Essential Program Characteristic 4: Provide instruction and training in natural environments supported by classroom instruction. Essential Program Characteristic 5: Provide individualized transition services based on students’ postsecondary goals in postsecondary education, employment, and independent living. Essential Program Characteristic 6: Provide participants opportunities for engagement with non-disabled peers in the school and community.

Employment

1. SYSTEMS CHANGE:The YTP supports employment as the first priority consideration for students with disabilities.

Employment


Employment

2. EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIPS:YTP staff provide information to community employers and develop a network of employers who assist in the provision of YTP services.

Employment


Employment

3. JOB PLACEMENT:YTP students receive the instruction and support needed to obtain meaningful, paid jobs that are matched to their interests and skills.

Employment


Employment

4. JOB MAINTENANCE:YTP staff work effectively with employers, co-workers, and students to assist students in increasing job satisfaction and retention.

Employment


Employment

5. ALTERNATE PATHS TO EMPLOYMENT:Programmatic changes within the school district or VR have been created through the development of employment opportunities for YTP students.

Employment


Employment

6. TRANSITION SPECIALIST:The role of the transition specialist is to be a job developer. Building relationships in the community and assisting in job placements are essential duties of the transition specialist.

Employment


Employment

7. FAMILY INVOLVEMENT:Families and friends provide opportunities for resources that can be used to help YTP participants locate, obtain, and maintain integrated CIE.

Employment

Essential Program Characteristic 8: Monitor and assess students’ progress in the domains of academics, daily living, personal and social, and occupational.

Final Job Placement

1. Assist the student in finding a job placement that aligns with their IPEOnce a student has developed the skills and independence necessary to hold a job, the TS helps them to find a suitable placement through Job Development.

Final Job Placement


Final Job Placement

2. Monitor Student’s SuccessFollowing the successful placement, the TS and VRC will monitor the student’s performance. At 90 days of successful employment, the Core YTP Team, with the student will decide whether to exit the student from YTP. Both the VR closure date and agreed upon YTP exit date are entered into the YTP Database.

Final Job Placement

Final Job Placement


3. Conduct follow-up interviews and documentationAt 6- and 12-months, the TS interviews the student and records the student’s engagement status in the YTP database.

Final Job Placement

Essential Program Characteristic 11: Conduct program evaluation to assess effectiveness of transition program.

Program Performance and Outcomes

1. YTP STAFF ROLES:YTP staff have clearly developed roles and responsibilities that capitalize on individual team members’ skills, strengths and interests.




2. SCHOOLS/VR/FAMILY COLLABORATION:YTP school and VR staff meet regularly to review client progress, program benchmarks, and coordinate delivery of services. The team communicates regularly with the family regarding student participation in the YTP program.




3. COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS:The delivery of transition services is coordinated among the YTP, existing school programs, adult agencies and community programs. The family clearly understands the roles of agencies and programs that are supporting their young adult.





4. SYSTEMS CHANGE:YTP staff have created opportunities for marketing the program in order to more effectively integrate YTP services into the school and community. Families are included as an integral part of the community of practice.

Program Management · 2. SCHOOLS/VR/FAMILY COLLABORATION: YTP and VR staff meet regularly to review client progress, program benchmarks, and the coordinated delivery of services.

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