Collaborating through Change:

Multnomah County EF Seamless Transition

Pilot

Main Presenters

• Sarah Statham• Transition Coordinator

• Centennial Transition Center

• Heidi Dirkse-Graw• CEO of Dirkse Counseling and Consulting, Inc.

• Pilot Lead

Pilot Project Team Members

• Transition Teacher/Coordinator – Sarah Statham

• Pilot Lead– Heidi Dirkse-Graw

• Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor – Julia Covert

• County Developmental Disabilities or Brokerage Case Manager – Skyler Whitley

• Employment Specialist/Job Developer – Allison Faucher and Sydney Umscheid

• Subject Matter Expert – Ray Jenson

• YTP – Peter Fitzgerald

Brief Historical Recap

• Began with opportunity presented by Molly Hollsapple at OAVSNP conference about 5 years ago. Employment First movement was grassroots effort to help individuals with intellectual disabilities get and keep competitive, community-based employment.

• Multnomah County Employment First team began gathering monthly. Invaluable connections made and understanding gained.

• From this team evolved the pilot project group. Centennial asked to be the Multnomah County school district involved.

Driving Values• Everyone can work!

• People have unique employment goals.

• Expectations of employment need to be created for everyone, including employers and parents and professionals.

• Self-determination is essential.

• Quality of life comes through meaningful activities.

• All people can contribute - creating benefit for both the client and employer.

• Strengths-based approach is required in discovery/job development

• Professionals must be culturally competent and sensitive in working with students and their families.

Mission

• To create a process of transition from school to work that envisions and secures employment for all students with disabilities regardless of level of functional impact while smoothly braiding needed services and funding to maintain long-term success.

Collaboration as Program Design

•Annual Family Info Night

•Student identification age 15-16

• IEP Creating Expectatio

ns

•Job readiness skills

•Work experiences

•Life skills

School Instruction •By 2nd Year

•VR/ODDS/WIN

Service Linkages

•School-based vocational exploration

•“Discovery” process through ODDS.

Discovery •2-4 weeks•Paid if possible•In job of choice

Work Experience

•Students have jobs by program exit

•Supports are in place through ODDS

Job of Choice

Transition teacher leads the programming through IEP. The Employment Team comprised of VRC, SC/PA, family and Employment Specialist each carry out

responsibilities in the program.

How We Communicate

Employers

Family Information Night

• Once per year (fall)

• Program orientation

• Shares success of other students

• Provides resources, referrals and next steps

• Connects team

• Presenters:• School

• VR

• DD/Brokerage

• Employment Provider

• Benefits Planning

• FACT

• Referral from Brokerage or County DD

• Possible Team Meeting with PA and VR counselor

• Orientation to DCC

Intake

• Home visit• Volunteer visit• School visit• Internship visit

Observations • Interview family and

friends• Job shadows• Informational

Interviews• Novel task

Activities

• Data Record• Profile• Team meeting

Summary Report

• Data Record• Profile• Team meeting• Recommendati

ons for next steps

Employment specialist discovers vocational themes over a maximum of three months.

Discovery Process

Work Assessment in Jobs of Choice

• Targeted Vocational Assessment• 2-4 weeks

• Allows for carves with employers who need a chance to see how the person can contribute to their workplace

• Provides chance for student to see what work is like in a setting prior to committing to regular employment.

• Summer Youth Employment• 4-6 weeks

• Paid if possible

• Not designed to lead to employment, but to give experience and to develop skills

The Pilot: Targeted Vocational Assessments and Summer Youth Employment

• Regal Cinemas (ticket taking) Hired!

• Walgreens (stocking shelves) Hired!

• Best Buy (processing items in backroom) Still in progress

• Local church (janitorial)

• New Seasons (stocking shelves)

• Doggy Day Care (cleaning, grooming)

• Burgerville (stocking, cleaning, light food prep)

Collaboration Continued…

• Job Search• Possibilities and

feedback if assessment did not lead to hire

• Employment• Shifting from

school to work lifestyle

CHALLENGE:

Changing mindsets of employers

Employment Specialist: Tools of the Trade

• Picture and Video Resumes

• Developing an Employer Network

• Incentivizing Employment

• Informational Interviews

• TVA and working interviewse

• ADA Accommodations

• Job Carving

Job Development

•Home Goods (item assembly)

•Local Bagel Co. (food prep)

FEATURES of Hannah BENEFITS to Bagel Shop

Eager—wants to work and make a difference in her community. Will be enthusiastic to contribute to the bagel shop

Interest – wants to work in food industry long term Passionate about the food that the shop sells, therefore, promoting its products

Organized – likes to keep things in order Will do her job properly as assigned

Caring – likes to be around people and know that she is helping Will help other staff when asked and ask for support if needed

Collaborative – recognizes the need to be a team player Will bring the bagel team together and take feedback well

Hard working – is motivated to get and maintain a job Will increase in her contributing capacity the more she works for the bagel shop

Friendly – smiles, laughs, and is personable Will be a friendly face to customers and coworkers

Positive – has a happy, content temperament Will add optimistic energy to the work environment

Punctual – has reliable transportation and is always on time You can count on her

Committed— will be committed to the company Long-term employee who will continue to increase her amount of contribution to the company and community

Inspiring – has a charming effect on others Hannah will inspire both coworkers and customers to know the benefits and contributions of a person with a disability working in the world

Graduation and Beyond

• Key players: Employment Specialist and Developmental Disabilities or Brokerage

• Services provided:• Coaching

• Family Support

• Psychosocial-Vocational-Social-Adjustment Counseling

How to Keep Students at Center

• Work with middle & high school learning specialists to develop employment talking points to share with families.

• Beginning the process early

• Parent Information Night

• Focusing on Customized Employment

• Team Meetings

Success Story Timeline!

• Spring 2014 - Enrolled with OVRS

• Summer 2014 – Discovery

• Fall 2014 - Targeted Vocational Assessment at Regal Cinemas

• Winter 2014-15 - Job Retention Services

• Spring 2015 - Long Term Supports (met her 90 days!)