Post on 25-Dec-2015
© CCHMC 1/3/06
Supported Employment
AgencyDistrict of Columbia
Public Schools
Federal Agency: Education, Health & Human Services or Labor
Rehabilitation Services
Administration
Department on Disability Services
© CCHMC 1/3/06
Project SEARCH is Project SEARCH is doing more than doing more than providing valuable providing valuable work experiences work experiences for students. It is for students. It is massaging and massaging and changing changing corporate culture corporate culture and the receptivity and the receptivity of workplaces to of workplaces to employ people with employ people with disabilities. disabilities.
Diversity World Magazine, November Diversity World Magazine, November 20062006
Benefits for DCPS Students• One year of training and three
internships experiences. • Opportunity to learn skills and work in
federal government agency. • References from federal managers• Develop strength areas.• Work toward independence in many
areas such as transportation, daily living skills, etc.
Benefits for Federal Department • Building a more inclusive work force• Training youth to enter the
competitive workforce• Identifying entry level workers to
fulfill a secession plan• Assisting Federal Departments to
reach President Obama’s Executive Order of 2% of the workforce to be people with disabilities
Program DescriptionProgram Description• One school year – follows DCPS One school year – follows DCPS
calendarcalendar• 12 students in each program12 students in each program• Students with a variety of disabilitiesStudents with a variety of disabilities• Last year of HS eligibility Last year of HS eligibility • Rotate through three unpaid Rotate through three unpaid
internships internships • Outcome of employmentOutcome of employment
Student SelectionStudent Selection• Information Sessions – Winter 2011Information Sessions – Winter 2011• DCPS staff complete referralDCPS staff complete referral• Complete application – early springComplete application – early spring• Students tour program to determine Students tour program to determine
interest and good fit - springinterest and good fit - spring• Students interviews with committee - Students interviews with committee -
springspring• Committee selects studentsCommittee selects students• Develop DCPS IEP for Project SEARCHDevelop DCPS IEP for Project SEARCH
Eligibility GuidelinesEligibility Guidelines• 18 – 21 years old18 – 21 years old• Desire to work in community at end Desire to work in community at end
of program of program • Have appropriate hygiene, social and Have appropriate hygiene, social and
communication skillscommunication skills• Ability to take direction, follow code Ability to take direction, follow code
of conduct in federal agency of conduct in federal agency • Utilize Metro Utilize Metro • Pass drug screen, background check, Pass drug screen, background check,
immunizations up to date immunizations up to date
Sample School DaySample School Day• 7:50 Arrive at federal site7:50 Arrive at federal site• 8:00 Employability Skills 8:00 Employability Skills • 9:00 Worksites9:00 Worksites• 12:00 Lunch 12:00 Lunch • 12:30 Worksites12:30 Worksites• 2:00 Review day, 2:00 Review day,
planning, communicationplanning, communication2:30 Depart – Metro 2:30 Depart – Metro
Annual CalendarAnnual Calendar
August June
1st Internship (12 weeks)
Graduate & begin work
in community
Begin PS Program (follow DCPS
calendar)
2nd Internship (12 weeks)
3rd Internship (12 weeks)
2
OrientationOrientation
Internship 1, 2 & 3 Internship 1, 2 & 3 AugSummer
Program
Job SearchJob Search
SummerSummer• Engage parents / give them informationEngage parents / give them information• 4 week preparation course4 week preparation course• Travel Training on MetroTravel Training on Metro• Criminal Background CheckCriminal Background Check• Immunizations, TB Test, Drug ScreenImmunizations, TB Test, Drug Screen• BadgeBadge• Identify federal internships and skills Identify federal internships and skills
to be learnedto be learned
4 Week Preparation Course4 Week Preparation Course
• Complete mandatory new employee Complete mandatory new employee education: safety, confidentiality, etc. education: safety, confidentiality, etc.
• Tour possible internshipsTour possible internships• Create resume Create resume • Practice interviewing skillsPractice interviewing skills• Guest speakers from federal Guest speakers from federal
departmentdepartment
Employability Skills CurriculumEmployability Skills Curriculum
• Work BehaviorWork Behavior• Problem SolvingProblem Solving• CommunicationCommunication• BudgetingBudgeting• Team Work Team Work • TechnologyTechnology• NutritionNutrition
Internships /Work Rotations Internships /Work Rotations • Competitive, Competitive,
Marketable SkillsMarketable Skills• 4 – 5 hours of day 4 – 5 hours of day • Work/ Social SkillsWork/ Social Skills• 12 weeks/Flexible12 weeks/Flexible• Constant Constant
Feedback & Feedback & Assessment Assessment
Monthly Team MeetingsMonthly Team Meetings
• Student plans and leads meetingsStudent plans and leads meetings• Discuss skills learned, challenges, Discuss skills learned, challenges,
progress toward employmentprogress toward employment• Plan activities needed to gain jobPlan activities needed to gain job• Communication with all members is Communication with all members is
critical: student, family member, RSA critical: student, family member, RSA Counselor, instructorCounselor, instructor
• Network of friends, family and others Network of friends, family and others all focused on employment all focused on employment
Code of ConductCode of Conduct
• Students are interns in federal Students are interns in federal departments departments
• Must adhere to disciplinary process Must adhere to disciplinary process of department including: of department including: attendance, behavior, dress code, attendance, behavior, dress code, etc. etc.
• Consequences for violating code of Consequences for violating code of conductconduct
Develop Overall Develop Overall Career Plan: Career Plan:
Identify interests and Identify interests and job preferencesjob preferences
Identify skills needed Identify skills needed
to learn during to learn during internships necessary internships necessary
for employmentfor employment
• Data EntryData Entry• FilingFiling• Imaging and ScanningImaging and Scanning• DocumentationDocumentation• Mail Sorting and DeliveryMail Sorting and Delivery• Facilities Facilities • CommunicationCommunication• Problem SolvingProblem Solving
Sample Entry Level Skills for Job Sample Entry Level Skills for Job in Federal Government in Federal Government
Student RoleStudent Role• Identify area of interestIdentify area of interest• Write cover letter to agencyWrite cover letter to agency• Send letter and resume/data sheetSend letter and resume/data sheet• Interview for positionInterview for position• Department calls student to confirmDepartment calls student to confirm• Notify teacher & department for absencesNotify teacher & department for absences• Continual Continual Evaluation by all by all• Give two weeks notice Give two weeks notice • Participate in exit interviewParticipate in exit interview• Write Thank You letterWrite Thank You letter• Update portfolio and resumeUpdate portfolio and resume
Instructor RoleInstructor Role
• Identifies career goal / IEP for studentIdentifies career goal / IEP for student• Teaches Employability Skills Curriculum Teaches Employability Skills Curriculum • Provides employer education to federal Provides employer education to federal
staffstaff• Disability informationDisability information• Supervision strategiesSupervision strategies
• Communicates with parentsCommunicates with parents• Assists team to develop employment Assists team to develop employment
opportunities opportunities
Job Coach RoleJob Coach Role• Observes department workObserves department work• Identifies core skills needed for job Identifies core skills needed for job • Develops job description / task analysisDevelops job description / task analysis• Teaches core skills to studentTeaches core skills to student• Develops work aids/ accommodationsDevelops work aids/ accommodations• Works with department mentor to provide Works with department mentor to provide
natural supportsnatural supports• Evaluates progress of student internEvaluates progress of student intern• Layers additional skillsLayers additional skills• Advocates for hire when there is opening and Advocates for hire when there is opening and
“good fit”“good fit”
Evaluation of StudentsEvaluation of Students
• Common feedback instrumentCommon feedback instrument• Job CoachJob Coach• InstructorInstructor• Student does Self AssessmentStudent does Self Assessment• Supervisor/managers from federal Supervisor/managers from federal
departmentdepartment
Job Placement Job Placement • Can happen at any time during Can happen at any time during
program yearprogram year• Approximately 25% get hired at host Approximately 25% get hired at host
sitesite• Job coaches and other team members Job coaches and other team members
assist students to find job in the assist students to find job in the community using skills learnedcommunity using skills learned
• All team members work together to All team members work together to locate job that meets interests & skillslocate job that meets interests & skills
Internship to JobInternship to Job • 11stst Rotation/ Internship: Rotation/ Internship:
Administrative Office – Administrative Office – focus on phone skills focus on phone skills
• 22ndnd Rotation / Internship: Rotation / Internship: Consumer Lending – Consumer Lending – focus on computer skills focus on computer skills
• 33rdrd Rotation / Internship: Rotation / Internship: Receptionist in Lobby Receptionist in Lobby
• Hired as receptionistHired as receptionist• 2 Years: Hired in HR with 2 Years: Hired in HR with
additional duties additional duties
Roles and Responsibilities Roles and Responsibilities
• Host Federal Department Host Federal Department • Instructor from DCPSInstructor from DCPS• Job Coach / Job Developer Job Coach / Job Developer • RSA CounselorRSA Counselor• Long Term SupportLong Term Support• Family membersFamily members
Federal Departments: Education, Federal Departments: Education, Health & Human Services, Labor Health & Human Services, Labor
• Classroom on siteClassroom on site• Business liaisonBusiness liaison• Internships Internships • Marketing of programMarketing of program• Possible employment Possible employment
opportunities opportunities
District of Columbia Public SchoolsDistrict of Columbia Public Schools
• InstructorInstructor• CurriculumCurriculum• SuppliesSupplies• Specialized staff if necessarySpecialized staff if necessary• Liability insuranceLiability insurance
Rehabilitation Services Rehabilitation Services Administration Administration
• Individual funding for job Individual funding for job coaching and job developmentcoaching and job development
• Maintenance funding for travel Maintenance funding for travel and lunchand lunch
• Additional support based on Additional support based on individual needs individual needs
Community Rehab ProviderCommunity Rehab Provider
• Job coaching support during Job coaching support during internships internships
• Support to federal offices who are Support to federal offices who are supporting studentssupporting students
• Job Development for paid job in DC Job Development for paid job in DC communitycommunity
• Assistance with travel trainingAssistance with travel training
Department on Department on Disability Services Disability Services
• Overall support and coordination of Overall support and coordination of the program and DC organizations the program and DC organizations
Overall OutcomeOverall Outcome
Employment for Project SEARCH graduates at end of program in federal department or other DC business