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Interagency Collaboration Toward Improved Student Outcomes

Interagency Collaboration Toward Improved Student Outcomes. Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Richard Yahola and Robert Eames. Collaboration. Working together to achieve a goal (Wikipedia). Partnership.

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Interagency Collaboration Toward Improved Student Outcomes

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  1. Interagency Collaboration Toward Improved Student Outcomes Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Richard Yahola and Robert Eames

  2. Collaboration • Working together to achieve a goal (Wikipedia)

  3. Partnership • An arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests (Wikipedia)

  4. Student Success • What is it? • Educated, well-behaved, socially adjusted, good citizen, graduated!!! • How is it measured? • Grades, test scores, observation • Is it changing over time? • What was it when we were in school? • What does it look like now?

  5. How does DRS/RSA Define Success? • Obtaining a positive employment outcome • Working in the community • Working in an integrated setting • Earning minimum wage or higher • Working independently

  6. What do we do to affect success? • We ask the question, “who aren’t we working with to help youth with disabilities prepare for careers?”

  7. Oklahoma DRS Services • School Work Study (SWS) • Paid work experience within school or in community while earning high school credit • Work Adjustment Training (WAT) • Work readiness training including soft skills and employability skills and earning high school credit • Project SEARCH™ • Total immersion in the workplace unpaid internship for a school year (high school and young adult) • Brighter Futures In Transition (BFIT) • Summer training program including one week of in-house soft/employability skills and 8 weeks of paid work experience in the community (high school)

  8. Oklahoma DRS Services • Job Club/Job Readiness Training • Training conducted in high school classes or outside of school day focusing on preparation for employment (job search, interview techniques, how to dress, keeping a job) • Foster Youth Outreach Event • Annual event targeting youth in foster care to connect them with DRS and other resources; includes employment related breakout sessions, vendor scavenger hunts, motivational speakers, etc. • 5th Year Program at OK School for the Blind • Program to better prepare high school students for college and employment; includes paid work experiences, job shadowing, visiting colleges, job readiness training, etc.

  9. Oklahoma DRS Services • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Pilot • Targeting students with Asperger Syndrome • Partner with Goodwill Industries of Tulsa • Contract with occupational therapist for technical assistance, training, behavior management, etc. • Use of technology (i.e., Smart board, iPod touch, video modeling) • Specialized curriculum and assessments • Small group employment preparation

  10. Oklahoma DRS Services • Strengthening Custody Youth Pilot at Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center (COJC) • Partnership between DRS, Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA), and Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY) to identify gaps in services, provide earlier connection to DRS and other services, and help with the transition back into home communities. • Part of a pilot project directed by the board of the OCCY.

  11. COJC Pilot Program • Who benefits from this partnership between DRS, OJA, and OCCY? Picture of crowd on streets near marina

  12. COJC Pilot Program • OCCY provides guidance, oversight, and self-study team to COJC. • DRS provides a full-time VR counselor at COJC. • Vocational Evaluations • Counseling and Guidance • Job Readiness Training • Connection to counselor in home town • Liaison with other service providers and educators • Technical assistance and recommendations to other facilities statewide • Paid work experiences through CareerTech • OJA provides office space to DRS counselor

  13. Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center Photo of COJC facility

  14. COJC Pilot Program • COJC has its own high school on premises. Instructors are from local LEA. • OJA has an Education Coordinator who works with the school and DRS to ensure referrals are made. • Armed Forces Day held at COJC. • Partner with Oklahoma Healthy Transitions Initiative for post-release after care with Wraparound Services. • Partner with Tribal re-entry programs. • Partner with COJC Volunteer Services to help with relationships in the community.

  15. COJC Pilot Program • DRS counselor initiates and implements field office meetings to connect local DRS and OJA staff. • Possibility of expansion of pilot • Partner with Southwest Oklahoma Juvenile Center, Lions Club Boys Ranch, and Oklahoma Boys Ranch • Facilitate more interaction of OJA custody youth at CareerTech • Facilitate community employment for “community” level youth • Share information about Systems of Care Wraparound Services with OJA

  16. Map of OJA/JSU Units across the state

  17. COJC Pilot Program • Problems Youth in Custody Face • As early as 1921, only 5% of youth are performing at or above average on school testing (Doll, 1921). • In 1984, Meltzer and associates found that delinquent youth had lower academic skills that same-aged non-custody youth. • There is a correlation between low academic achievement and high rates of re-offending and recidivism (Archwamety and Katsiyannis, 2000). • A 1995 study by Kessler showed that the top psychiatric determinant for dropping out (after disabilities) was Male Conduct Disorder and Female Anxiety Disorder.

  18. Oklahoma DRS Resources • Social Security Administration (SSA) comparison brochure • Easy to understand comparison brochure Snapshot of the brochure

  19. Oklahoma DRS Resources • Transition Planning Folder • Planning folder to help families begin connecting with resources as early as elementary Snapshot of the folder

  20. Oklahoma DRS Resources • Transition Care Notebook • Due to be completed in May 2012; electronic tool to help families and youth begin preparing for further education and employment; helps organize and keep important information Snapshot of the notebook

  21. Oklahoma DRS Resources • IEP Goals Bank for DRS Services • Resource for DRS counselors and schools to improve annual IEP goals (due out Spring 2012)

  22. Where to Start? • The power of one. It starts with you! • Who do you know that can share the transition vision? • Magnetic attraction. Your transition vision.

  23. Joining Forces • Traditionally rehabilitation has not sought out partnerships. • But, in the face of overwhelming transitional challenges it could be a good idea. • “For the good of our children” often brings out the best in others.

  24. Joining Forces (cont.) • There are a number of agencies dedicated to high school youth and young adults. • Building a bridge to the future • Sustaining those partnerships through common ground and common goals.

  25. Reflection • Who isn’t at your table Picture of woman thinking, question mark, table, and man with Groucho Marx mask thinking

  26. Contact Information • Richard Yahola, Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist • (580) 235-7872 • ryahola@okdrs.gov • Robert Eames, Programs Manager • (918) 508-2600 • reames@okdrs.gov • Kimberly Osmani, Transition Coordinator • (405) 635-2768 • kosmani@okdrs.gov

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