Let's Get to Work
24
Wisconsin’s Let’s Get to Work: A Policy and Practice Approach for Launching Youth into the Work Force Beth Swedeen & Lisa Pugh May 30, 2012
-
Upload
wisconsin-board-for-people-with-developmental-disabilities -
Category
Business
-
view
229 -
download
2
description
Beth Swedeen, Lisa Pugh and Russell McCullough gave this presentation on May 30, 2012 at the National Transition Conference in Washington, DC.
Transcript of Let's Get to Work
Wisconsin’s Let’s Get to Work: A Policy and Practice Approach for Launching
Youth into the Work Force
Beth Swedeen & Lisa Pugh
May 30, 2012
Learning Objectives• Use evidence-based and promising practices at the
local and systemic level to measure employment outcomes
• Identify policy and practice barriers• Identify practical strategies for engaging policymakers
Project framework includes all stakeholders:Combines what research/data shows are:• Most significant barriers;• Strategies and practices that work; • policies that act as both facilitators and barriers to
employment.
Project framework includes all stakeholders:• School staff• Service agencies: Voc
Rehab; Long-term care system
• Students• Families• Broader community
(including employers)
Four project components• Statewide consortium• Pilot schools• On-site coaches• Policy team
Consortium’s Role• Large: includes representation from all stakeholders,
60-70 people• Provides input on what is and isn’t working, what
directions to pursue; what policies need to change or improve
• Includes progress updates from schools and three state agencies on progress: practice and policy changes
Pilot Schools• Did a statewide competitive application reviewed by
all six major partners (3 state agencies; 3 ADD partners)
• Looked for interest/ability to develop a broader stakeholder group in their school and community
• Had to commit to implement evidence-based or promising practices…
Practices:• Person-centered planning• School/community mapping of opportunities• Connection general education and co-curricular activities• Summer paid/volunteer community-based jobs• Early connection to DVR• Engaging broader community through a Community
Conversation• School learning circle/community of practice to learn from
each other
Russell’s Story• Person-centered planning• School/community mapping of opportunities• Connection general education and co-curricular
activities• Summer paid/volunteer community-based jobs
How I got my jobs
As a young student, I really liked riding the bus
In high school I really enjoyed hanging out with friends
My current position at BPDD
Always wanted to be a driver
Coaches• On-site supporters/cheerleaders/practitioners who
show school staff how to try new practices• Provide resources and direct instruction training• Connect them to other professional development,
training and resources
Policy Team• Members• What it does
Policy Barriers: DVR • Too many facility-based
assessments for youth• Lack experience and
comfort in supporting individuals with significant disabilities, both among counselors and provider networks
DVR Policy Solutions • Guidance to staff and the public from DVR leadership
on community-based assessments• Youth Transition On the Job Training (OJT)• Strengthening statewide training to new/existing DVR
staff on how to support individuals with the most complex disabilities (assumption that all are employable)
DPI Policy Barriers • No clear guidance on
LRE for youth in transition (ages 18-21)
• Inadequate pre-service preparation in transition
Long-Term Care Policy Barriers • Lack of competitive
employment focus in long-term care system
• Lack of understanding about the impact of employment on public benefits
Long-Term Care Policy Solutions• Changes to provider rates to
create incentives for employment outcomes (pay for performance)
• Increased focus on employment in managed care contract language
Long-Term Care Policy Solutions• Creating mentoring opportunities
among providers • Pursuing a pre-voc policy that
would prohibit/limit new entries to facility-based pre-voc
• Embed benefits counseling training into statewide long-term care system parent training and have benefits counseling expertise available at ADRCs
Practical Strategies for Engaging Policymakers• Making a solid case for change: using data, research
to create targeted asks• Focus on policymakers’ own interests• (play the players against each other)• Don’t take no for an answer: go to the next level
• Look at what is happening in the general population of youth regarding employment in your state
• Help policymakers make connections• Work in coalitions: create a “buzz”
