Effective Practices: Supporting Youth in Transition in Achieving Employment and Self-Sufficiency

1. Effective Practices:Supporting Youth in Transition in Achieving Employment and Self-Sufficiency Operations Support ManagerSocial Security’s Ticket to Work program July 16, 2013

2. Presenters • David Leon, Ticket to Work Coordinator, Virginia DARS • Richard Kriner, Autism Research Coordinator, Virginia DARS

3. Learning Objectives • The use of an EN partnerships to increase service capacity within the context of Project SEARCH and similar public/ private transition models • The value of an EN partnership in funding vocational services and supports which have resulted in enhanced employment outcomes for DARS clients with ASD and increased opportunities to reach self-sufficiency • The potential programmatic challenges which should be avoided and characteristics of a successful EN partnerships with a Project SEARCH program

4. Project SEARCH • The basic model • Year- long community based school-to work program/ goal of employment • Highly structured and collaborative approach • 3 Internship rotations, daily class room instruction • Imbedded job coaching and class room instructor • Service characteristics • Immersion in a community business • Opportunities for career exploration, assessment, and skills development • Continual process of service and employment planning • Customized approach to job development

5. VCU ASD Career Links • Additional supports above and beyond SEARCH • Behavioral Consultation with Behavior Analyst • Consistent Structure to Seemingly Unstructured Internships • Behaviorally Defining Idioms, Social Skills, and Work Expectations • Visual Supports to Increase Implementation of Strategies • Self Monitoring Checklists and Reinforcement Programs • Role-Playing and Practice for Required Social Skills • Ongoing Intensive Instruction and Monitoring of Student Success (2012) McDonough VCU-RRTC

6. Project SEARCH – A promising option for EN Partnerships VADARS site 1 preliminary results 2009-2011: • 100% placement • 90% retention rate at 3 months • Average wage $9.53 at 3 months Deans (2012) review of RSA data shows in 2009 nationally- • 33% of young adults with ASD employed, • Youth with ASD averaged $196 weekly at VR closure • Earning outcomes for those with 10 years of job tenure remained poor going from an average annual income of $5,642 in 1998 to $8,358.00 by 2009.

7. VA DARS Admin. EN Pilot • Our ticket to work pilot was directed towards two Project SEARCH sites that focus on clients’ with autism. • Pilot was started in late 2011 to : • Address a systems level gap with covering the cost of high intensity and long-term supports, and • To gauge the effectiveness of utilizing ticket revenue to pay for long term employment supports

8. VA DARS Admin. EN Pilot • DARS is the EN of Record • Partner organization provides intensive autism focused interventions and follow along • Partner org. receives Project SEARCH milestones payment with client is in the program • Split payments for phase 1 and 2 • Outcome payments go to partner organization minus 10% for admin

9. Pilot Outcomes to date • 2011 – 3 students enrolled in pilot all working near or above SGA, 2 in outcome payments • 2012 – 5 students enrolled all working above TWP levels and in the process of submitting phase one milestone four payment requests • 2013 5 students enrolled, all have been offered jobs! • Over $15,000.00 have gone back to each partner in this pilot • Several changes have been made to our Work Incentive Services as a result of this pilot

10. Benefits of Pilot • All clients in this pilot require long-term supports • Ticket revenue allows the partner agency to provide just in time intensive services and long-term supports • Allowed our partner agency to focus on employment to people with autism • Cases do not need to be reopened to DARS in post employment services • Additional revenue coming in to both organizations

11. David • 7/01/11 –Completes SEARCH, hired by host business • Works as a mail clerk (e.g. mail delivery, metering and copying/binding) • Great work skills and work ethic • Has challenges with accepting criticism, and episodes of intense anger outbursts including aggression

12. David's Supports • Positive Behavioral Support Plan • Intensive skills training (e.g. social, coping, self-monitoring) • Hand-held technology and other visual supports • Support training for employers and/or co-workers • Increase supports around major changes and transitions • Support to family • Work Incentive Services

13. David’s Ticket Status • David is currently in outcome payments • EN has received all 4 phase 1 payments and first outcome payment • He continues to receive ongoing services and has successfully maintained employment for almost two years.

14. Next Steps • The pilot has shown tremendous potential • Work Incentive Services and a WorkWORLD analysis are now a part of all student’s at Project SEARCH sites in Virginia • Effectiveness has been hampered by the additional rules that state VR faces • DARS is working on a similar pilot where the roles would be reversed in order to capture 100% of the students enrolled in a site

15. Contact Us David Leon, Ticket to Work Coordinator, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services David.leon@dars.virginia.gov Richard Kriner, Autism research Coordinator, , Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services Richard.Kriner@dars.virginia.gov

16. Websites • VCU ASD Career Links Grant training and resources related to 4 research projects http://www.vcu-autism.org/about/index.cfm • Project/ SEARCH Official site with detailed program description, outcome, and enrollment resources http://www.projectsearch.us/

17. Effective Practices Supporting Youth in Transition in Achieving Employment and Self-Sufficiency Career Connection Whittier Union High School District

18. Presenters • Richard Rosenberg Ph.D, Vocational Coordinator, Career Connection, Whittier Union High School

19. Who We Are Career Connection assists participants with services and skill development leading to self-sufficiency: • Educational support • Job development and placement • Career development • Self-advocacy • Money management • SSA benefit consultation • Independent living skills

20. Career Connection coordinates the efforts of: • Whittier Union High School District • El Rancho Unified School District • Whittier Area Cooperative Special Education Program (WACSEP) • California Dept. of Rehabilitation WorkAbility II & TPP • California Dept. of Education WorkAbility I To provide employment opportunities for middle school, high school, transition students and adults with disabilities.

21. Transition Program Life skills Vocational skills Collaboration DOR SSA Work Investment Act (WIA) Regional Center Adult Community Support City of Whittier ROP Programs & Services Career/Vocational • Vocational Counseling • Job Development • Work Skills Training • Vocational Training • Job Coaching • Vocational Assessment • Mentoring Grant Support • BT3 DOR Sponsored Trainings • Middle School WorkAbility • Ticket to Work • CECY – CA Employment Consortium for Youth • Transition Partnership Project (TPP) & WorkAbility II • WorkAbility I • Why Try?

22. Transition - Employment Our Transition Program prepares students for: • Competitive employment • Supportive employment • Volunteer work

23. WorkAbility I WorkAbility I was initiated as a pilot project in November 1981 to test the concept of work experiences for youth with disabilities. WorkAbility I continues to successfully conduct interagency coordination of services beginning with a September 1982 Employment Development Department, State Department of Rehabilitation and California Department of Education non-financial interagency agreement.  Through a designation as one of the 10 best transition programs of its type in the United States, WorkAbility I has received national recognition of its success in matching young adults who have disabilities with employers who need workers.

24. Middle School Curriculum & Goals Curriculum • Career Awareness • Applications • Interviews • Appropriate Attire • Field Trips • Resumes  Goals • Vocational Guidance • Self Confidence • Appropriate Behaviors • Learning Styles • Career Days 

25. Middle School - Field Trips • Wal-Mart • Costco • Lowes • Marriott – Anaheim • Heliport • Post Office – Long Beach • Train Station – Fullerton • Airports • Edison Field • Aquarium of the Pacific • Regal Theater • Long Beach Animal Shelter • Cerritos & Rio Hondo Community Colleges

26. Work Skills Presents: Green Works Students at Santa Fe High School attend a workshop that helps them learn everything about indoor plants- a great opportunity for students unable to go off campus to gain work training. While learning plant care, students also develop shopping skills, money and time management, job safety, people and organizational skills. This training qualifies students to run a small business or work in a nursery.

27. Transition Partnership Project (TPP): WorkAbility II TPP, WorkAbility II provides Career Development services to high school juniors & seniors, recent high school graduates, ROP and Adult School students and is funded by the California Department of Rehabilitation.

28. Career Connection Success: Employment within a School District • Motivated Participants • Involved Families • Participant and Family Trainings • Include School Staff and Teachers • SSA Benefit Planning • Creative Job Developing • Technology • On-going Supports

29. The Bigger Picture • Going to work like everyone else • Earning money and paying their own way • Dating and socializing • Moving out • Joining in work and community events • Working off SSI, eligible for SSDI due to own work history

30. EN DilemmaWorking with Transition Age Youth • Typically • Part time employment • Entry level position • Minimum wage • Continues to be eligible for benefits • Few or no payments to EN • Not meeting TTW financial independence guidelines • However, quality of life, self worth and independence are life changing for students!

31. Career Connection Services • Resume writing • Updating resume • Interview skills and practice • Email account • Business attire • Job developing • SSA benefiting planning • On-going supports

32. Partnership Plus • Department of Rehabilitation consumer • Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) • Successfully complete program • Working successfully for 90 days • Case closed and ticket unassigned • Assign ticket with EN for Continuing Disability Review exemption and on-going supports and services

33. Motivated Participants • Enthusiastic and positive attitude • Family support and involvement • Employment is the Goal • Transportation • Able to accept criticism • Appropriate behavior • Responsible

34. Successful Long Term Employment ArnoldPizza makerClara Rio Pizza MiguelCounter helpMcDonalds

35. Family Involvement • Supportive family • Ongoing communication with CWIC • Back up transportation provider • SSA wage reporting support • Ticket to Work goals are outlined • CWIC at school site to answer emergency questions • Family and Participant are required to attend a SSA training with CWIC

36. SSA Benefit Planning • Proactive • Assist with SSA Paperwork • Reporting earnings • SEIE • Review any SSA letters with family • Work Incentives • Appeals • Attend IEP’s

37. Trainings • Ticket to Work Goals • Understanding the Benefit • SSI • SSDI • CDB • Reporting wages to SSA • Work Incentives • Job Club

38. Include Teachers and Staff • SSA benefits trainings provided to staff • Teachers may be the first to hear if a student requires assistance on a job • Parents often speak with teacher or staff regarding SSA benefit concerns • Provides additional information to CWIC

39. Continuation of Services • CWIC services continue indefinitely • CWIC’s are located on school campus for convenient access to parents and participants • Flexible schedule, allow for early morning and evening appointments

40. New Job Developing Techniques • QR Codes • Video Resumes • Social Media • Technology in the Workplace (TiW) • Business Cards

41. Contact Us Richard L. Rosenberg Ph.D. Richard.rosenberg@wuhsd.org (562) 698-8121 ext. 1250 Julie Johnson, CWIC Julie.johnson@wuhsd.org (562) 698-8121 ext. 1253 Teri Chang, CWIC Teri.chang@wuhsd.org (562) 698-8121 ext. 1236 Ginni Bachtelle Ginni.bachtelle@wuhsd.org (562) 698-8121 ext. 1284