1. Preparing Teachers, Social Workers, and Rehabilitation Counselors to Work Together to Support Youth's Self-Directed Transition Ann Fullerton & Sue Bert: Portland State University Mike Ward: George Washington University Jim Martin: University of Oklahoma

2. What Supports and Improves Outcomes for Youth in Transition? Two of many factors are: A youth-directed transition process Interagency collaboration that aligns services and supports for youth transition Family Involvement

3. Youth’s Transition Experiences Few opportunities to develop over time skills and attitudes for self-determination. Self-directed transition planning. Few opportunities to identify and cultivate natural supports and allies. Weak link to post-secondary and adult services. Multiple systems with separate, uncoordinated transition rules and timelines.

4. How Do We Prepare Professionals to Work With Youth Preparing to Transtion? We may provide few opportunities: to observe youth in the process of becoming self-determined. to learn and practice facilitating youth – directed transition planning with service providers, families.

5. Teach our own discipline ’ s vocabulary, practices, boundaries, views of youth, discipline-defined role. Provide little or miss- information about the goals and practices of other professions. Offer insufficient knowledge/practice for effective interagency collaboration (leadership, relationship-building, outcome-based, aligning services). How Do We Prepare Professionals to Work with Each Other?

6. New Approaches to Preparing Teachers, Social Workers, Counselors In Transition Common goals: Cross discipline preparation (pre- service or in-service) Focus on youth-directed transition Different preparation approaches….

7. Discussion Questions What disciplines need to be involved in cooperative transition education training? What examples exist of successful cross- discipline transition activities? What made these cross-discipline transition education activities possible?

8. Discussion Questions - cont. What hinders cross-discipline transition education activities? How can you use your role to promote self- determined, self-directed transition activities?

9. Contacts: Ann Fullerton fullertona@pdx.edufullertona@pdx.edu Sue Bert berts@pdx.eduberts@pdx.edu Jim Martin jemartin@ou.edujemartin@ou.edu Mike Ward drmikeward@verizon.netdrmikeward@verizon.net