EARLY REACH INITIATIVE Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Early Reach Initiative Click to add...

Early Reach Initiative

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation


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Workshop Objectives

2. Learn more about the OVR Early Reach Initiative.

1. Understand why the OVR Early Reach Initiative was started.

4. What are your objectives for being here today…?



...why didn't I learn to treat everything like it was the last time, my greatest regret is how much I believed in the future.” Jonathan Safran Foer

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2617.Jonathan_Safran_Foer



“The future starts today, not tomorrow.”

John Paul II

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6473881.John_Paul_II



What do these companies have in common?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=5dwTr3YTGUyYLM&tbnid=fm3Um0-2AXLlMM:&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http://www.technologytell.com/gaming/128627/targets-trade-promotion-favors-early-bird/&ei=5K26U8HnKZKTyATa4ILoDg&psig=AFQjCNGmr2aqfIdbiun5Xu79YPLaPdDGYA&ust=1404829540781405

http://www.vandapharma.com/index.html



http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=5dwTr3YTGUyYLM&tbnid=fm3Um0-2AXLlMM:&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http://www.technologytell.com/gaming/128627/targets-trade-promotion-favors-early-bird/&ei=5K26U8HnKZKTyATa4ILoDg&psig=AFQjCNGmr2aqfIdbiun5Xu79YPLaPdDGYA&ust=1404829540781405

According to Publisher Jon Goldwater…

“We want Riverdale to look like the world.”

>

Harper Lodge June 18th 2014

Issue #656.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=vt9k0ezTWy5s8M&tbnid=Q1HDFBxe-K1ltM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.archiecomics.com/Blogs/tabid/97/EntryId/857/ARCHIE-COMICS-SDCC-12-PANEL-SIGNING-SCHEDULE.aspx&ei=zfHDU-3IOZenyATp1YGYCQ&bvm=bv.70810081,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNG9-zKlWBgGxrRkXlgcmd7cjNuZVQ&ust=1405436700206004



Jewel Kats

http://www.jewelkats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/jkpinkwhch3.jpg



Welcome to the Future…



OVR is Ready…Are Youth with Disabilities

Ready?

Hershey “HEROS” Program



OVR is Ready…

Ephrata 6/19/2014 LGH- Summer Intern Salad/Dessert Worker FT $9.35 Food ProductionManheim Central 4/14/2014 LGH Housekeeper FT $9.35 HousekeepingPenn Manor 6/16/2014 LGH- Horizon Healthcare Warehouse Associate PT $8.00 WarehouseHempfield 4/28/2014 LGH Housekeeper FT $10.35 HousekeepingConestoga Valley 5/1/2014 Ruby Tuesday's Busser PT $3.00 + tips NAEphrata 5/27/2014 WalMart Inventory Associate PT $8.00 NAManheim Central 4/28/2014 LGH Housekeeper FT $9.35 Housekeeping

* Project Search

Lancaster General Hospital (LGH)

* Jobs for All On the Job Training (Youth OJT)

* Business Services Representativeshttp://www.wgal.com/8-on-your-side/amputee-makes-huge-steps-toward-independence/21674184



“A coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that is designed within a result-oriented process, that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child’s movement from school to post-school activities,

including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation.” (IDEA 2004)

“A coordinated set of activities for a student, designed within an outcome-oriented process, that promotes movement from school to post-school activities,

including post-secondary education, vocational training, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation.” (Rehabilitation Act Amendments 1998)

Transition Definitions – The Rehabilitation Act and IDEA



“Where’s OVR during the transition years and the transition process?”



Approximately 104,000 total students with an IEP in Pennsylvania between ages 14-21

Approximately 430 OVR Counselors in Pennsylvania



OVR doesn’t have the staff and resources to go to all IEP meetings for all students with an IEP beginning at age 14.

OVR “Transition Realities”

Many students in transition, especially those who are 14 to 16 years old, don’t know what they want to be when they grow up and are not ready to discuss individualized vocational planning with OVR… not a good use of limited resources to have VR counselors going to IEP meetings for students beginning at age 14.

When students do start working with OVR, anywhere between 17 through 21 years old, they often come to OVR ill-prepared to benefit from OVR and vocationally focused services.


>

Question:

How could OVR resolve these conflicting “Realities” in serving transitioning youth…

…without additional resources?



Answer:

Develop an OVR Outreach Program, “Early Reach” to find youth earlier (14 – 16 years old) and their parents to discuss:

• OVR services and vocational planning

• What to expect from OVR andwhen to expect it.

Early Reach Coordinator


In each of the 15 OVR District Offices



Goal: Early Reach Coordinator in each of the 15 BVRS District Office

Phase 1 – July 2013: Began with five district offices

District Office Early Reach Coordinator

Dubois Kimberly Golding

Harrisburg Stacy Shirk

Norristown Stephanie Shuler

Philadelphia Jill Grossberg

Wilkes Barre Mary Jane Saras


>


Phase 2 – January 2014: Added six district offices


Allentown LaRonda MoorefieldAltoona Holly StapletonErie Hillary HubbellPittsburgh Sarah VogelPittsburgh Melissa DemchakWashington Amanda SmithYork Erin Lohr




Phase 3 – Fall 2014: Add the final four district offices


Reading Andrea Merrick (August 18th)

Johnstown Joni Henry (October 20th)

New Castle

Williamsport



The OVR Early Reach Initiative will include the following…

“Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” St. Francis of Assisi



Group Outreach – The main focus…

•To provide outreach presentations to school personnel, community agencies, students and families to outline the services offered by OVR.

•To provide vocational consultative services to school personnel, agencies, students and families to leverage the variety of services offered during the school years to best prepare students for OVR and vocational goals.

•To provide consultation on the benefits of early career planning and the development of independent living skills.



Individual Outreach…

• To track youth with disabilities not yet ready for referral to OVR so they don’t “fall through the cracks”.

• To assist appropriate students in making application to OVR and to provide pre-eligibility services, as needed.

• To facilitate a VR counselor’s ability to determine a student’s eligibility for OVR services.



OVR Services

Eligibility

EarlyReachGroupOutreach

ApplicationClosedSuccessfullyEmployed

Employed

Service Provision

EarlyReachIndividual Outreach

Early ReachIndividual Referral to OVRCounselor



“Collaboration, it turns out, is not a gift from the gods but a skill that requires effort and practice.” Douglas B. Reeves, Transforming Professional Development Into Student Results



Early Reach Coordinators will:

Outreach

Reach out purposefully – find youth with disabilities as early as age 14 and find their parents “where they are”, especially those who are most likely to be eligible for OVR services and may be under-identified and under-served. Reach out creatively - Early Reach is NOT only about interacting with schools and the education system. Outreach. Outreach. Outreach.



Mary Jane Saras in action…



Educate Tell youth and parents about OVR. Develop Clear Expectations. Tell them what to expect from OVR and when to expect it. Discuss “eligibility” vs. “entitlement” as youth “age out” of the education system and the childhood service delivery system.




Stacy Shirk in action…



Consult. Inform youth about the kinds of competencies they will need in order to be more job-ready and benefit from VR services (i.e.. time management, note-taking, assistive technology, leadership skills, self-advocacy skills, personal hygiene, navigating the community, public transportation, etc.) Inform youth about their entitlement to general education and special education.

Inform parents that their students in special education and general education should maximize their education entitlement so students are vocationally prepared and able to benefit from VR services. Consult on the availability of other community resources that provide services to youth and funding (especially Medicaid).




Early Reach Coordinators will answer the question…

“Where’s OVR?”


Click to add footer text >By Being There!

EARLY REACH INITIATIVE Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Early Reach Initiative Click to add...

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