CSAVRFall ConferenceNovember, 2015

The Transition Alliance of South Carolina

Working together to increase successful post-secondary transition outcomes for youth with

disabilities through active interagency collaboration

Presentation Overview

TASC Initiative Highlights

Partner Agency Perspective

Local Collaborative Team

Perspective

Getting Involved

Able South Carolina

Center for Disability Resources

Family Connection of South Carolina

Francis Marion University

Lexington Richland School District Five

ProParents of South Carolina

SC Assistive Technology Program

SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs

SC Department of Education

SC Department of Employment and Workforce

SC Developmental Disabilities Council

SC Vocational Rehabilitation

SC Department of Educational Studies

Working together to increase successful

postsecondary outcomes for youth

with disabilities through active

interagency collaboration

Working together to increase successful

postsecondary outcomes for youth

with disabilities through active

interagency collaboration

Grantors

SC Department of Education, Office of Special Education Services

SC Developmental Disabilities Council

Grantee

Center for Disability Resources at the University of SC School of Medicine

South Carolina TEAMA Model for Improving Transition to Employment Programming

Grantor

South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council

Grantee

Center for Disability Resources at the University of South Carolina

Purpose

Utilize information and resources from local, successful high school transition programs in the state, coupled with the evidence-based literature, to build capacity for improved outcomes for youth with ID/DD transitioning from high school to adult life.

IntentRefine and implement a framework of support for local interagency transition teams

1. Build awareness and understanding of evidence based practices in secondary transition.

2. Assist local stakeholders in forming and cultivating interagency transition teams.

3. Assist local interagency teams in creating collaborative strategic plans for program improvement.

4. Assist local teams in implementing strategic plans.

5. Improve Post-School Outcomes for Youth with Disabilities

1. Statewide Interagency Transition Conferences

Education

Networking

Strategic Planning

2. Website

3. Moderate Support for up to 20 teams

4. Intensive Support for 4 teams

5. Statewide Trainings

6. Community Partner Support

Capacity Building Strategies

1. Statewide Interagency Team Transition Conferences

2. Moderate Support System

3. Intensive Support System

4. Statewide Trainings

5. Website

6. Community Partner Support

Strategy 1

Statewide Interagency Transition Conferences

2 Years, 3 Events

52 Local Interagency Teams

57 SC School Districts

Education, Networking, Strategic Planning

Participation Opens Access to Support System

Local Transition Team Strategic

PATH Plan

Local strategic PATH plans include goals grounded in both legislation and literature.

Strategy 2

Moderate Technical Assistance

Up to 20 Teams First-come, first-served application process Technical assistance, training, and/or provision of

materials/resources Supports implementation of EBPs & strategic plan

goals Connection of local experts for TA/Training

Strategy 3

Intensive Technical Assistance 4 Local Teams Competitive Application Process Technical Assistance, Training, and/or Provision of

Materials/Resources Teaming/Collaboration 1 Additional Domain Area Supports implementation of EBPs & strategic plan goals Connection of local experts for TA/Training

Strategy 4

Statewide Trainings 3 statewide or regional trainings Spring, 2016 Topics based on local team priorities 2015 Trainings

• Interagency Collaboration/Teaming (January, 2015)• Transition Assessment (February, 2015)• Student Engagement (April, 2015)

Strategy 5

TASC Website

Best Practices Training and TA Content

Local Team Pages Local Team Networking Component State Resource Clearinghouse Training Calendar & Registration

Strategy 6

TASC Community Partner Support

TASC team members (e.g., DDSN, VR, Able SC, Family Connection)

Connection of state partners to support local program development

Building Capacity in South Carolina

Anticipated Results of TASC

Sustainable system of support for local interagency collaborative transition teams. It is expected that this will result in: Increased collaboration among state-level transition stakeholders Increased collaboration among local-level transition stakeholders Increased stakeholder knowledge Increased local capacity to improve employment and other post

school outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities Ultimately, improved post-school outcomes for SC’s youth and

young adults with disabilities.

Partner Agency Perspective

South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department

Collaboration

Communication

Consistency

The Three C’s to Success

Collaboration is Key!

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

~Helen Keller

Collaboration

• Have a common mission• Key players at the table• Each agency has support from top

leadership (MOU)• Collaboration cannot just be on

the state level

Communication

“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I might remember.

Involve me and I will understand.”

~Benjamin Franklin

Communication

• Communication is more than just talking to each other.

• Understanding each other’s mission and where it fits in our scope and purpose.

• Communication is not just amongst ourselves. It can be what we project in our community. Have a presence together in the community.

Consistency

“If you are persistent, you

will get it. If you are

consistent, you will keep it.”

Consistency

• Have a presence together in the community

• Each agency is able to send a consistent message not only to the local teams but to the top leadership as well

• Staying focused and keeping it simple

Our Path Plan Experience

Angie Slatton, Ph.D.District Five of Lexington and

Richland Counties

Where We Started with our Path Plan

May, 2014: • 2 district reps with an

assigned community partner

• undocumented baseline data

• began to develop a plan for improved practices to include:

– increased community experiences

– increased student readiness for community experiences

– increase student engagement with community partners

– develop a PST team

Early Fall, 2014

o Defined our Steering Committee and Core Teams

o Identified Community Partnerso Set monthly (Core) and Triennial

(Steering) meeting dateso Collected reliable baseline datao Updated goals

Fall, 2014

● Signed Project Search MOA● Signed Community Options MOA● Began planning for Transition Fair● Attended the follow-up Path Planning

conference ● Updated progress monitoring tools for job

coaches

Spring, 2015

● Meet 2 of 5 Path Plan goals● Increased outcomes for other goals● Held Transition Fair (17 community

partners, 150 visitors)● Initiated initial steps for Project Search● Received DD Council grant for program

evaluation for PST programming

Fall, 2015

● Opened the second Project Search site in South Carolina

● Attended the Interagency Conference● Updated our path plan ● Expanded our partners on our Path Plan

Steering Committee● Conducting system-wide evaluation of

post-secondary transition services

What’s to Come in 2015-16

● Second Annual Transition Fair with expanded activities

● Increased Community Based Training● Increased community partnerships with

exiting seniors● Continued work and progress monitoring of

goals through a thoughtful, organized plan● Develop plan for Improved practices based

on evaluation of PST programming

For More Information, Please Contact….

Joy IvesterE-TASC DirectorUSC CDRJoy.Ivester@uscmed.sc.edu

Laura Spears TASC Chair, Transition Coordinator SC Vocational RehabilitationLspears@SCVRD.STATE.SC.US

Angie Slatton

Special Education DirectorLexington School District 5sslatton@lexrich5.org

Kinsey B. Carlson-BrittingE-TASC Assistant DirectorUSC CDRKinsey.Carlson@uscmed.sc.edu

Antosh, A.A., et al. (2013, April). A collaborative interagency, interdisciplinary approach to transition from adolescence to adulthood. Silver Spring, MD: Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

Cornell University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics. (2012). Disability status report: South Carolina. Retrieved from: http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/

Health Information Technology Research Center. (2013). Continuous quality improvement (CQI) strategies to optimize your practice. Retrieved from: http://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/nlc_continuousqualityimprovementprimer.pdf

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 (2004).

National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center. (2013). Secondary transition evidence-based practices and predictors of post-school success. Retrieved from: http://www.nsttac.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdf/pdf/ebps/Description%20of%20EBPs_updated.pdf

Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network. (2014). Pennsylvania secondary transition guide. Retrieved from: http://www.secondarytransition.org/

Test, D.W., Mazzotti, V.L., Mustian, A.L., Fowler, C.H., Kortering, L., & Kohler, P. (2009). Evidence-based secondary transition predictors for improving postschool outcomes for students with disabilities. Career

Development for Exceptional Individuals. Retrieved from: http://www.nsttac.org/ebp/practicedescriptions/

References: