Kentucky’s Framework for Successful Transition

1. Kentucky’s Framework for Successful Transition from School to Post-High School Settings for Youth with Disabilities REGIONAL INTERAGENCY TRANSITION TEAMS (RITTs) Organized around the Special Education Cooperative structure, Kentucky has 11 RITTs that provide a forum for information sharing and problem solving at the regional and/or local levels. RITTs are comprised of local and regional representatives of agencies with central roles in the transition of youth from high school. In addition, RITT membership includes representatives of resources/supports specific to the particular region or community of the Commonwealth. RITTs are supported by the Core team. STATE IMPROVEMENT GRANT A central goal of Kentucky’s current State Improvement Grant (SIG) is to improve post-school outcomes for students with disabilities. The SIG, therefore, works hand in hand with the Core Team, Council, Regional Transition Consultants, and Regional Interagency Teams in developing and implementing the state plan for secondary transition. KENTUCKY DIVISION OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSITION The Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT), a division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), is a membership organization for persons and families interested in career and vocational issues for students with disabilities. Our mission, principles and beliefs guide our work and focus on career development and transition from school to adult life for individuals of all exceptionalities. If you are interested in joining Kentucky’s newly formed DCDT chapter, contact Tammy Williams at tammy.williams@wkec.org or Beth Harrison at bharris@uky.edu HOW IT ALL FITS TOGETHER INTERAGENCY TRANSITION COUNCIL FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES The Council is comprised of representatives from twenty different state agencies. It has met on a quarterly basis since 1989 in order to collaborate in the design, delivery, and improvement of statewide transition services for young adults (ages 14 – 21). The Council’s work is supported by an interagency agreement, voluntarily entered by all twenty member agencies. Examples of Council work include development of a statewide Interagency Resource Summary; hosting of Interagency Transition Conferences; development of Kentucky’s first transition plan template. TRANSITION CORE TEAM The Core consists of representatives from parent and consumer groups and from those state agencies which play a key role in the transition of youth from high school to post-secondary settings. The Core develops and implements a statewide transition action plan by keeping abreast of issues, concerns and trends as identified by the Council, the Regional Interagency Transition Teams (RITTs), the Special Education Cooperative Transition Consultants (SECTC), and state and national contexts. The Core provides support and guidance to the Regional Interagency Transition Teams, Department of Education State Transition Coordinator, and the State Improvement Grant -Transition Director. SPECIAL EDUCATION COOPERATIVE REGIONAL TRANSITION CONSULTANTS Kentucky has 11 Regional Transition Consultants (RTC). Each school district in the Commonwealth belongs to a region served by an RTC. The RTCs provide training and technical assistance to the school districts within their respective regions. and chair the Regional Interagency Transition Team (RITT) for their part of the state. The Regional Transition Consultants are supported by the Department of Education and serve as liaisons between transition direct service providers and the Core Team. KENTUCKY TRANSITION CORE TEAM KEY PRINCIPLES TO SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION COLLABORATING PARTNERS Families and consumers; Kentucky Dept. of Education ~Division of Exceptional Children, Division of Career & Technical Education, Special Education Cooperative Regional Transition Consultants; Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs; Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; Kentucky Deaf/Blind Project; Kentucky Department for Mental Health & Mental Retardation Services; Kentucky School for the Blind; Kentucky School for the Deaf; Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC); Department of Employment Services; Office of Training and Re-Employment; Office of Career and Technical Education; School-To-Work Branch; Office for the Blind; Impact Plus; Kentucky Developmental Disability Council; Department for Community Based Services; Ky. Partnership for Families and Children; Protection and Advocacy; Justice Cabinet; Council on Postsecondary Education; Kentucky Community & Technical College System; University of Louisville; Human Development Institute @ the University of Kentucky; Kentucky Adult Education; Social Security Administration FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KENTUCKY’S SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR YOUTH IN TRANSITION CONTACT: Kathy Eversole, Kentucky Dept. of Education Transition Coordinator kathyeversole@alltel.net Beth Harrison, SIG Transition Director b.harrison@uky.edu STATE INTERAGENCY TRANSITION COUNCIL STATE TRANSITION CORE TEAM KENTUCKY STATE IMPROVEMENT GRANT SPECIAL EDUCATION COOPERATIVE REGIONAL TRANSTIION CONSULTANTS REGIONAL INTERAGNCY TRANSITION TEAMS (RITTS) Wilderness Trail Big East Caveland Central Kentucky Upper Cumberland River Region Jefferson Kentucky Valley Northern Kentucky Ohio Valley West Kentucky