2016 VISIONS Conference:

Delivering VR Transition Youth Services under WIOA

Kirk Hall and Regina RiceApril 27, 2016

How to Connect with the VR Transition Youth program to access services

Explore agency partnerships which support evidence-based transition models

Understand how the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requirements align with VR practice and enhance services

Learn how new and innovative VR services will connect youth to community resources

Learning Objectives-What will we cover today?

WIOA validates Florida’s vision and direction.

Establishes the need for career exploration and work experience for transition youth with disabilities in law

Identifies VR as the primary agent for service delivery

Establishes the importance of early engagement

Removes barriers so that youth may access critical services and illustrates existing service gaps

Requires allocation of funding to assure services can be delivered

WIOA requires VR to use 15% of the annual

federal VR allocation to serve youth.

WIOA describes services for youth in high school as

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

Youth with disabilities have to be in high school,

ages 15 to 21

VR will make services available to Youth with

Disabilities in high school- No Application Required!

Includes current VR services of Career Assessment,

Counseling, Work Readiness, and Work Experience

Hands-On Education

Career

ExplorationWork

Experience

Counseling & Services

School Districts should provide information

to families and students by age 14

Counselors will begin taking applications at

age 15 and beyond for youth in high school

VR will consistently provide Pre-Employment

Transition Services to students in high school

More youth will be served by more VR staff

What does this mean for our work?

NEW OPTION

School Districts will identify students with:

A 504 Plan

An Individualized Education Program/Plan

Other means (Based on Final Regulations)

Parental/Age of Majority permission for VR referral

VR is currently programming the new system:

Projected delivery is August 2016

Will allow access to Pre-ETS services only

Students with additional service needs will apply to VR

Legally Speaking…

VR services delivered under WIOA do not remove, reduce, or change the school district’s responsibility to deliver a Free and Appropriate Public Education for students served under the auspices of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

VR services will supplement, but will not supplantservices delivered through the school districts.

AreaYouth Cases

(16-21)Total

Caseload% of

Caseload

1 1,615 5,182 31%

2 2,296 6,699 34%3 2,440 7,130 34%

4 2,074 6,525 32%5 3,637 8,142 45%

6 3,885 8,295 47%

Statewide 15,947 41,973 38%

December 2015 Transition Snapshot

CURRENT VR CUSTOMER

Career Assessment

Vocational Counseling

Pre-Placement Training (Work Readiness)

Work Experiences (OJT)

Pre-ETS Core Services-

Available at VR Referral and Beyond:

Postsecondary Education and/or Placement

Medical and Psychological Treatment

Assistive Services and Devices

Transportation (e.g. bus passes, etc.)

Uniforms (e.g. employer required, interview clothes, etc.)

Pre-ETS Services with Additional Services or

Supports Require VR Application-

VR Eligibility/IPE Required:

Discovery

Post Secondary Education (PSE) Programs*

Third Party Cooperative Arrangements

Project SEARCH

VR Services for Transition Youth with the

Most Significant Disabilities:

* Programs for youth in high school with intellectual or other developmental disabilities served under FAPE as required by IDEA

* Programs for youth in high school with intellectual or other developmental disabilities served under FAPE as required by IDEA

Discovery

May be used for youth when necessary and VR is

expanding capacity to deliver service throughout Florida

Discovery may now be used throughout the VR process-

eligibility, trial work, plan development, and in-service

VR is working collaboratively with two entities (USF and

the Center for Social Capital) to train VR providers in

Florida

Transition Youth will be the focus of training this Summer

VR support for transition students is determined on an

individual basis and is subject to availability.

DISCOVERY

Post Secondary Education (PSE) Programs*

Many PSE Programs have or will become VR Providers to

deliver Pre-ETS Work Experiences and/or Work Readiness

PSE Liaisons in each area will assist youth in high school

to identify appropriate PSE options

PSE expansion is being supported legislatively & by

Institutions of Higher Education (IHE)

Additional information on PSE options is available through

The Florida Consortium on Postsecondary Education and

Intellectual Disabilities found at: http://fltpsid.info/

PSE Programs

* Programs for youth in high school with intellectual or other developmental disabilities served under FAPE as required by IDEA

Third Party Cooperative Arrangements (TPCA)

School District delivery of the Supported Employment

curriculum has declined each of the last 5 year

22 school districts were approved to deliver TPCA

services for the 2015-16 school year

32 employment specialists have provided community

based work experience and coaching to youth

Students are then able to transition directly into VR

Supported Employment (SE) services

TPCA

Project SEARCH

School Districts refer students ages 18 to 21 for internship rotations in at least three distinct occupations

The FDDC will support development of at least 15 new PS sites during the 2016-17 school year

School Districts provide the FTE for instruction at the host business (referrals are sufficient to offset cost)

VR funds the job coaching, work experience, and other provider services

Florida has 6 sites with 100% placement and 16 sites with over 60% placement rate

2016 Expansion

CareerSource Centers

High School High Tech

Volunteer Florida

VR Provider Recruitment

These VR Efforts Offer Additional

Opportunities for Youth:

CareerSource Center Youth Programs

Pre-Placement Training (i.e., Work Readiness)

Processing applications to become VR providers

VR support for youth in high school

VR referrals for out of school youth

Youth will become familiar with and access

additional CareerSource programs and resources

Collaboration

High School High Tech (HSHT)

High School High Tech www.abletrust.org/hsht

Increased in VR involvement across the state with participation doubled in the 2015-16 school year

VR funds the HSHT internships for VR Transition Youth participants which enables HSHT to serve more youth

VR participation is tracked in the HSHT Quarterly Report

A Technical Assistance Paper will be available for the coming school year

Collaboration

Volunteer Florida (VF)

VF programs offer service based learning in actual jobs available at the project site

VR customers are able to work alongside project members engaged in these work experiences

VR providers deliver the work experience and needed supports for students

VF gives us access to a work site, which reduces the demand on local employers

Collaboration

VR Transition Youth Team recruitment of providers:

Presenting to current providers to increase delivery of VR transition youth services

Recruiting CIL and ARC providers for delivery of VR transition youth services

Help School Districts, PSE, and other partners become VR Providers for summer services

Local VR Staff recruitment includes:

Early coordination to determine provider needs in order to deliver transition youth services

Helping providers understand the demand for each service and the number of students to be served

Provider Recruitment and Support

Increasing Capacity

Course in Career Exploration at Florida Colleges

Youth Peer Mentoring with Policy Works, FAU, and Stand Among Friends

Self-Advocacy Training with the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

SSA Benefits Planning for Youth and Families

New VR Services and Partnerships for

Youth with Disabilities:

Intellectual Disability

7% Other Health Impaired 8%

Autism Spectrum Disorder

9%

Specific Learning Disability

38%

Emotional/Behavioral Disability

5%

Language Impairment

12%

Speech Impairment

13%

Other8%

Students with Disabilities in High School

Employment By Training Level

Less Than High School

17.26%

High School19.11%

PSAV 35.96% Associate

Degree13.90%

Bachelor's10.05%

Master's or Higher3.72%

Less Than High School

17.34%

High School18.64%

PSAV 36.01% Associate

Degree13.99%

Bachelor's10.15%

Master's or Higher3.88%

2012 2020

There is little change in Florida between 2012 and 2020. Nearly 86% of all entry level jobs will require an Associate’s Degree or less. Jobs requiring a Bachelor’s degree or higher are primarily in education or health service industries.

Florida Colleges

Will explore careers available through education found in the local community

Training at college, career and technical, apprenticeships, and workforce certifications

Information will be provided on applying for financial aid

Youth will be better prepared to pursue postsecondary options available

Collaboration

is an intensive, time-limitedservice which leverages like-aged peers to engage youth by connecting them to long-term community resources

and delivering the initial social supports needed to effectively transition into postsecondary training,

education, and employment.

VR Youth Peer Mentoring

VR Youth Peer Mentoring Pilot Design

Will initially focus on in-school youth (15 -21) and be expanded to include transition-aged youth (16-24)

While anyone could benefit from Peer Mentoring, the VR service is designed to meet specific needs

Peer Mentors will provide linkages to community organizations and resources needed for support

Peer Mentors may also assist in developing the social connections needed to network effectively

Peer Mentoring reduces the demand on VR Staff time and provides a source for documenting these services

SSA Benefits Planning for Youth-

Youth and families have difficulty accessing benefits planning as those pursuing employment have priority

VR is exploring the potential to deliver benefits planning as a contracted service for youth that can’t access it

Self-Advocacy Training-

Though available as part of the high school curriculum, self-advocacy education (e.g. Stand-Up for Me) is not consistently provided

FDDC is conducting a study of these resources which will be helpful as VR identifies a curriculum to use for self-advocacy

New VR Services in the Works

The Future

Technical Assistance Site Visits

Increasing VR service capacity through use of data, transition targets, and resource allocation

Improving VR efficacy and equity by building rapport, following best practices, improved communication, and leveraging community partnerships

Using Interagency Committee work to advance School District and VR efforts

Diversifying caseloads and increasing the number of VR staff serving transition youth

SHEILA WARD

You have questions, we have answers:

Please contact the VR Transition Youth Team @ 1-800-451-4327

Carmen Dupoint Carmen.Dupoint@vr.fldoe.org

Jan Pearce Jan.Pearce@vr.fldoe.org

Regina Rice Regina.Rice@vr.fldoe.org

Sheila Ward Sheila.Ward@vr.fldoe.org

Kirk Hall Kirk.Hall@vr.fldoe.org