Early Reach Initiative Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Early Reach Initiative Early Reach Initiative Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Workshop Objectives 1. Understand why the OVR Early Reach Initiative was started. 2. Learn more about the OVR Early Reach Initiative. 4. What are your objectives for being here today…? Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative ...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 Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative “The future starts today, not tomorrow.” John Paul II Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative What do these companies have in common? Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative

“We want Riverdale to look like the world.” Harper Lodge June 18th 2014 Issue #656. According to Publisher Jon Goldwater… “We want Riverdale to look like the world.” >

Early Reach Initiative Jewel Kats Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Welcome to the Future… Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative OVR is Ready… Are Youth with Disabilities Ready? Click to add footer text > Hershey “HEROS” Program

Early Reach Initiative OVR is Ready… * Project Search Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) Ephrata 6/19/2014 LGH- Summer Intern Salad/Dessert Worker FT $9.35 Food Production Manheim Central 4/14/2014 LGH Housekeeper Housekeeping Penn Manor 6/16/2014 LGH- Horizon Healthcare Warehouse Associate PT $8.00 Warehouse Hempfield 4/28/2014 $10.35 Conestoga Valley 5/1/2014 Ruby Tuesday's Busser $3.00 + tips NA 5/27/2014 WalMart Inventory Associate * Jobs for All On the Job Training (Youth OJT) * Business Services Representatives http://www.wgal.com/8-on-your-side/amputee-makes-huge-steps-toward-independence/21674184 Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Transition Definitions – The Rehabilitation Act and IDEA “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) “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) Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative “Where’s OVR during the transition years and the transition process?” Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Approximately 104,000 total students with an IEP in Pennsylvania between ages 14-21 Approximately 430 OVR Counselors in Pennsylvania Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative OVR “Transition Realities” OVR doesn’t have the staff and resources to go to all IEP meetings for all students with an IEP beginning at age 14. 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. Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Question: How could OVR resolve these conflicting “Realities” in serving transitioning youth… …without additional resources? >

Early Reach Initiative

Early Reach Initiative 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 and when to expect it. Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Coordinator   In each of the 15 OVR District Offices Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative 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 Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Goal: Early Reach Coordinator in each of the 15 BVRS District Office Phase 2 – January 2014: Added six district offices District Office Early Reach Coordinator Allentown LaRonda Moorefield Altoona Holly Stapleton Erie Hillary Hubbell Pittsburgh Sarah Vogel Melissa Demchak Washington Amanda Smith York Erin Lohr >

Early Reach Initiative Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Goal: Early Reach Coordinator in each of the 15 BVRS District Office Phase 3 – Fall 2014: Add the final four district offices District Office Early Reach Coordinator Reading Andrea Merrick (August 18th) Johnstown Joni Henry (October 20th) New Castle Williamsport Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” St. Francis of Assisi The OVR Early Reach Initiative will include the following… Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative 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. Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative

Early Reach Initiative 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. Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Group Outreach OVR Services Early Reach Individual Outreach Application Closed Successfully Employed Eligibility Employed Early Reach Individual Referral to OVR Counselor Service Provision Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative “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 Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative 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. Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Mary Jane Saras in action… Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Early Reach Coordinators will: 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. Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Stacy Shirk in action… Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Early Reach Coordinators will: 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). Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative

Early Reach Initiative Early Reach Coordinators will answer the question… “Where’s OVR?” Click to add footer text >

Early Reach Initiative By Being There! Click to add footer text >