Kansas Youth Kansas Youth Vision Team:Vision Team:Serving Our Serving Our

Neediest YouthNeediest YouthAtlanta, GAAtlanta, GA

September, 2006September, 2006

Who Are We?Who Are We? Kansas Department of CommerceKansas Department of Commerce Kansas Department of EducationKansas Department of Education Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation ServicesKansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Kansas Juvenile Justice AuthorityKansas Juvenile Justice Authority Topeka Youth ProjectTopeka Youth Project Social Security AdministrationSocial Security Administration Kansas Enrichment NetworkKansas Enrichment Network Kansas Housing AuthorityKansas Housing Authority Kansas Kids @ Gear UpKansas Kids @ Gear Up Kansas Commission on Disability ConcernsKansas Commission on Disability Concerns Workforce Investment Act Local Area OneWorkforce Investment Act Local Area One Native American Workforce Investment ProgramNative American Workforce Investment Program College and University SystemsCollege and University Systems

What Do We Want To What Do We Want To Accomplish?Accomplish?

Insure the neediest of youth and those Insure the neediest of youth and those with disabilities including Native with disabilities including Native Americans receive the services they needAmericans receive the services they need EducationEducation Job skills trainingJob skills training

Improve employment outcomes for youthImprove employment outcomes for youth Qualified, educated workersQualified, educated workers Prepared for the workforcePrepared for the workforce

Enhance communication and Enhance communication and collaboration among agenciescollaboration among agencies Interconnection of resourcesInterconnection of resources Link for shared data and communicationLink for shared data and communication

How Will We Do This?How Will We Do This? Bring state and federal partners togetherBring state and federal partners together Promote local community involvementPromote local community involvement Identify existing services and resourcesIdentify existing services and resources Determine gaps and service needsDetermine gaps and service needs Interconnect services and resourcesInterconnect services and resources Provide a forum for communicationProvide a forum for communication Build on current initiatives Build on current initiatives

National Governor’s Association Policy National Governor’s Association Policy Academy on Improving Outcomes for Young Academy on Improving Outcomes for Young Adults with DisabilitiesAdults with Disabilities

Kansas Enrichment Network Afterschool Kansas Enrichment Network Afterschool Programs Programs

What is the NGA Policy What is the NGA Policy Academy? Academy?

Our Core and Home Teams: Our Core and Home Teams: Governor’s office, Kansas Senate, Special Education, Governor’s office, Kansas Senate, Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Developmental Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation, Developmental Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injury, Technology Physical Disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injury, Technology Dependent Children, Mental Health, Native American Dependent Children, Mental Health, Native American Education, Student & Parent, University of Kansas, Kansas Education, Student & Parent, University of Kansas, Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, ADA Coordinator, Council on Developmental Disabilities, ADA Coordinator, Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Environment, Department of Department of Health and Environment, Department of Education, Community Mental Health Center, Community Education, Community Mental Health Center, Community Developmental Disabilities Organization, Independent Developmental Disabilities Organization, Independent Living Center, Family Advocacy Organization, Consumer Living Center, Family Advocacy Organization, Consumer Advocacy Organization, Youth Leadership Forum, Advocacy Organization, Youth Leadership Forum, Commission on Disability Concerns, Workforce Investment Commission on Disability Concerns, Workforce Investment Board, Tribal VR, One Stop, Haskell Indian Nations Board, Tribal VR, One Stop, Haskell Indian Nations University, Department of Transportation, Department of University, Department of Transportation, Department of Housing, and young adults with disabilities.Housing, and young adults with disabilities.

What is the NGA Policy What is the NGA Policy Academy?Academy?

Our Vision:Our Vision:Establishment of a responsive, Establishment of a responsive, collaborative, seamless service delivery collaborative, seamless service delivery system that is inclusive of language and system that is inclusive of language and cultural differences and results in cultural differences and results in quality outcomes for all citizens with quality outcomes for all citizens with disabilities regardless of severity, disabilities regardless of severity, emphasizing youth with mental illness emphasizing youth with mental illness and youth with disabilities who are of and youth with disabilities who are of Native American, Hispanic, and Asian Native American, Hispanic, and Asian descent. descent.

What is the NGA Policy What is the NGA Policy Academy?Academy?

Our Goals and Activities:Our Goals and Activities: Establishment of a statewide interagency agreement Establishment of a statewide interagency agreement

on employment & transition that is committed to by on employment & transition that is committed to by all agencies through a signed Memorandum of all agencies through a signed Memorandum of Understanding.Understanding.

Design and implementation of a shared data Design and implementation of a shared data collection, tracking, monitoring, and reporting collection, tracking, monitoring, and reporting system across agencies.system across agencies.

Assign a Governor-appointed Statewide Interagency Assign a Governor-appointed Statewide Interagency Collaboration Team on Disabilities with oversight Collaboration Team on Disabilities with oversight and monitoring responsibilities.and monitoring responsibilities.

Incorporate effective cross-agency outreach, Incorporate effective cross-agency outreach, training, and outcome strategies within all agencies.training, and outcome strategies within all agencies.

What is the Kansas What is the Kansas Enrichment Network? Enrichment Network?

Statewide programStatewide program Opportunities for learningOpportunities for learning Expand school-linked, school-based Expand school-linked, school-based

programsprograms High quality, affordable after school High quality, affordable after school

programsprograms Enhance education of neediest youthEnhance education of neediest youth Print media campaignPrint media campaign

What are Our Next What are Our Next Steps?Steps?

We would like to:We would like to: Continue to build on the commitment of Continue to build on the commitment of

our partnersour partners Expand our teamExpand our team Explore funding ideasExplore funding ideas Develop new projectsDevelop new projects Obtain advanced technical assistance Obtain advanced technical assistance

For More For More Information, Information,

Contact:Contact:Michael HuffmanMichael Huffman

Youth Services CoordinatorYouth Services CoordinatorWorkforce Development DivisionWorkforce Development Division

(785) 296-1865(785) 296-1865mhuffman@kansascommerce.commhuffman@kansascommerce.com