TRN: Partnerships for Transition

2011

Partnerships for Transition Project Abstract Partnerships is a collaborative venture between the Rural Institute?s Transition Projects and PLUK, Parents Lets Unite for Kids. The project will increase transition outcomes for youth with developmental disabilities through a systematic six-prong approach that includes: skill development, information dissemination, and increasing support to families and communities statewide. 1) The capacity of five Family Support Specialists at PLUK will be enhanced in the area of transition and employment through: on-site training, long distance training, and the development of tools that can be used in local communities with agencies, schools and families. 2) Tools to support the coordination of cross-agency, school and family networks and information delivery forums will be developed and utilized to support the first annual transition forum in five Montana communities. 3) Strategies to encourage early employment experiences, discovery activities (determining who the young person is in terms of interests, aspirations, support needs?) and planning for transition will be developed for youth in middle school. 4) Middle schools in the five implementation communities will be supported by PLUK and Rural Institute staff to implement these strategies with youth with developmental disabilities. Sites will be networked together through Vision Net for the purposes of training and sharing information across the state. 5) Successful implementation of these strategies will be documented and shared through the Transition and PLUK Web sites, quarterly electronic newsletters, and through articles in PLUK?s newsletter. 6) Transition information will be disseminated to 15 sites across the state through a quarterly teleconference training series accompanied by visual presentations. Topics will include Social Security and the impact of work on SSI; connecting with the Developmental Disabilities system; collaborative funding; blending resources and funding of school, Workforce, DD, VR, and MH.; and transition planning and work experience in middle school. Family Support Specialists currently employed by PLUK have indicated a strong interest in the area of Transition themselves and they recognize a need for enhanced Transition planning in the communities they serve; therefore, project intervention will take place in five communities across Montana where these staff are based. In addition to impacting the five communities in the first year, this project will build statewide capacity of the Family Resources staff and the Parent Support agency. To further increase the project?s reach, all trainings will be recorded and available for checkout through PLUK?s lending library.

Transition, youth with developmental disabilities

Training Trainees, Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Developing & Disseminating Information

Employment-Related Activities

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers

Geographic Areas, Reservation, Rural/Remote, Urban

State

N/A