Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin

Navigating Services and

Funding Streams to Enhance

Community-Based Transition

Services

Diane Scheerer, Children With Special Needs Unit Supervisor,

Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services

Linda Branson, Director Community Options/Opportunities, Inc.

Ann Noltner, Educational Specialist, Opportunities, Inc.

Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin

Transition Services and Employment

Benefits

• Independence

• Inclusion

• Quality of Life

• Health

• Hope

Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin

Federal Perspective

• Federal regulations

– Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

2014

– Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Home

and Community-Based Services Settings Final Rule

2014

• Inclusion

Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin

Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin

WIOA Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

• Implemented July 2014

• Reinforces ongoing interagency collaboration between

DVR and schools to serve youth in transition

• Youth 14-24 can no longer go directly from school to

employment paying sub minimum wage-WIOA requires

DVR first Schools are responsible for provision of Pre-ETS in collaboration with DVR

Job exploration

Work based learning experiences

Counseling for post secondary education

Workplace readiness

Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin

State Perspective

• Community-Based Integrated Employment

Stipends

– Transition Improvement Grant

– New Berlin School District

• Technical assistance from the Department of

Health Services

– Waukesha County

– Children’s Long-Term Support Waivers

What are waivers? • HCBS Medicaid Waivers

• Children and youth with significant disabilities

▫ SED

▫ Developmental Disabilities

▫ Autism

▫ Physical Disabilities

• Funding to support children and their families in their homes and communities

▫ Not new funding, using it differently to support youth in planning for their future and developing skills

Waukesha CLTS Waivers

Identified a Need

• What to do with transition-aged youth in the waivers?

• Felt unsure about what happens after CLTS Waivers/school transitions

• Limited CLTS staff knowledge

about transition and employment

▫ Staff thought school was doing it

▫ Unclear who was responsible

• Informal gap/needs analysis

Waukesha CLTS Process

• Identified need ▫ Talking with CLTS Waivers Staff about their needs for

training DHS technical assistance and other free trainings

(www.witig.org)

• Contacted Opportunities, Inc. (community-based vocational provider)

• Contacted DHS about CLTS Waivers rules • Timeline

▫ 6 months from brainstorming to first youth beginning services with Opportunities, Inc.

▫ Pilot implementation Started with 4 youth

Opportunities, Inc. Experience

• Existing community-based transition services program

▫ Contracts with schools in Waukesha County

▫ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

Resource Review for Youth Waukesha County

Authorizes Opportunities, Inc.

Resource Review

School Funded Transition

Services

DVR Funded Services

Unmet Transition

Service Needs

Determine

Braiding Funding

School Transition

Services

DVR Services

CLTS Waivers

Services which may be funded and/or provided by schools: ▫ Career Exploration

▫ Classroom Instruction

▫ Assessment

▫ Work Experiences

▫ Job Development

▫ Job Coaching

▫ Other

School Funded Transition Services

Services which may be funded and/or provided by schools: ▫ Job shadow

▫ Assessment

▫ Benefit analysis

▫ Temporary work experience

▫ Internship

▫ Job development

▫ Youth OJT

▫ Job coaching

▫ Other

DVR Funded Transition Services

Authorized Transition Services

Waukesha County Authorizes

Opportunities, Inc. Transition Services

School Funded Transition Services

DVR Services Waukesha CLTS Waiver Funded

Transition Services

Coordinate

Resource Mapping Overview

• SPC Code 513 • Timeframe:

▫ Initial review completed during the first month of participation

▫ Reviewed and updated, along with the Individual Service plan, quarterly

• Acquire input from: ▫ Student ▫ Parents / care providers / guardians ▫ IEP teacher ▫ DVR Counselor ▫ Other active support team members

Resource Review • Review:

▫ Individualized Education Program (School IEP) ▫ Individualized Plan for Employment (DVR IPE) ▫ Care Plan (Family Care when developed)

• Acquire information: ▫ Skills and interests related to school ▫ Skills and interests related to household chores ▫ Skills and interests related to activities ▫ Skills and interests related to work ▫ Weekly schedule ▫ Disability factors ▫ Support needs ▫ Current and future transportation plans ▫ Housing ▫ Payroll documentation

Resource Review

• Develop Community Mapping

▫ Local employers

▫ Transportation services

▫ Community centers

▫ Recreational options

▫ Volunteer opportunities

▫ Local public services

• Discuss:

▫ Career Goal

Resource Review

• Consider:

▫ What is being provided by the school district

▫ What is being provided by DVR

▫ What is being provided by other entities

▫ What is needed for ensure the best transition for this student

• Determine Transition Services:

▫ Mentoring

▫ Daily Living Skills

▫ Supported Employment

Mentoring (SPC 513)

▫ Interest Gathering

▫ Role Modeling

▫ Job Shadows

▫ Employability Skills

▫ Employer Interactions

▫ Transition Service Resource Review

▫ Community Mapping

Daily Living Skills (SPC 110)

▫ Money Management

▫ Community Mobility

▫ Community Resources

▫ Grooming/ Hygiene

Supported Employment (SPC 615)

▫ Assessment

▫ Job Development

▫ Job Coaching

▫ Benefit Analysis

Waukesha CLTS Waiver Funded Transition Services

Conover Online

• Transition assessments and curriculum for all ages and ability levels

• Educational • MECA – Interest Indicator, Work Samples, Learning Assessment Programs, Career

Planning • Workplace Readiness • Personal Responsibility • Success Profiler • Anger Management • The Bullying Prevention Program • Functional Skills System • Workplace Readiness • Personal Responsibility • Success Profiler • Anger Management • Resources for Life Skills • Resources for Soft Skills

Natalie’s Journey Career Exploration Conover Online Career Exploration and Skills Training program – Interest Inventory

First Job Career Cards

Reading-Free vocational interest inventory COPS interest inventory

Careeronestop.com interest inventory Visiting Local Businesses on a weekly basis

Job Shadows Vernon Presbyterian Child Care – 4 year olds

Little Lambs Child Care – infants Pick n Save – utility clerks/baggers, cashiers, deli clerks and stockers

Blooms on Bloom - florist Mukwonago Police Department – dispatcher Blue Bay Restaurant - hostess

Tour

WCTC

Volunteer Work Experiences

YMCA – wiping down equipment, washing windows/mirrors Linden Grove Nursing Home – hands on craft activities with the residents, sanitizing objects, meal prep, pouring

beverages and serving food, playing noodle ball or balloon volleyball, delivering mail

Self-Advocacy Lessons

Mukwonago High School and DVR provided work experience at Walgreens, which turned into a permanent hire by Walgreens – Stocking shelves

Gaining Experience

YMCA

YMCA

YMCA “Our expectations for John have always included working in the community and having paid employment. When we were approved for CLTS, John was 16 and lacked the prevocational skills that which would have made it difficult for him to benefit from the service and/or what Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) offers. We knew that he needed more time to learn those skills and to have the opportunity to practice those skills in the community. When our case manager told us about the unique partnership between Waukesha County and Opportunities, Inc., which uses CLTS funding to work on employment skills, we jumped at the chance. John has made so much progress in the past two years! He volunteers at our local YMCA for two afternoons a week, washing, folding and putting away towels and doing some cleaning in the lounge. He started out two years ago with just doing one fold of each towel and has now progressed to loading and unloading the machines, putting away towels, wiping tables and sweeping floors. In addition he greets the YMCA staff and interacts with others at the YMCA. You just have to look at John's face when he comes home and in the pictures to see how important work is to him. Our family firmly believes that anyone can do meaningful work with the right training and supports and John is a testimony to this. We appreciate the innovative way Waukesha County CLTS and Opportunities Inc are working together to make employment a reality for individuals with disabilities.” Marion, John’s mother

Gaining Experience

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity

“I really like the CLTS program. I am learning how to do lots of different things while volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, like helping to sand furniture and take apart lamps so the parts can be recycled. I also get to go on job shadows. I especially liked my shadow at Pizza Hut. They helped me make a pizza and I was able to take it home.” EL

Gaining Experience

Goodwill

Goodwill

“I like this program because I was able to get work experience by volunteering at Goodwill. I work with great job coaches and all of the nice ladies at Goodwill”. CM

Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin

Contact Us

Diane Scheerer

dscheerer@waukeshacounty.gov

262-548-7704

Linda Branson

lbranson@oppinc.com

920-563-2437