Life after High School: Where do we go now!!! The importance of future’s planning, creative ideas and community connections.

Gateways Community Services We are a not for profit agency serving the Greater Nashua community. We are a not for profit agency serving the Greater Nashua community. One of the ten designated Area Agencies in the state of NH. One of the ten designated Area Agencies in the state of NH. We support individuals who experience developmental delays, chronic illness and elders in need. We support individuals who experience developmental delays, chronic illness and elders in need. Eligibility is based on an intellectual disability however we do provide services to those with dual diagnoses. Eligibility is based on an intellectual disability however we do provide services to those with dual diagnoses.

Beginning the Process Family Support Service Coordinators first meet with a family when the student is 16 years of age. Family Support Service Coordinators first meet with a family when the student is 16 years of age. We work on building a relationship with all parties that work with the student in school and in his/her own community. We work on building a relationship with all parties that work with the student in school and in his/her own community. FSSC’s begin to talk about future plans and what the student’s hopes and dreams are. FSSC’s begin to talk about future plans and what the student’s hopes and dreams are.

The process cont’d The FSSC will learn more about the abilities of the student and work with the family, school district and community providers to enhance those abilities. The FSSC will learn more about the abilities of the student and work with the family, school district and community providers to enhance those abilities. All FSSC’s are trained in future’s planning facilitation for mapping sessions. These sessions can be done in the home or in the community. It is wherever the family and student are most comfortable. All FSSC’s are trained in future’s planning facilitation for mapping sessions. These sessions can be done in the home or in the community. It is wherever the family and student are most comfortable.

Building Partnerships Being able to ask someone to be involved in the process. Being able to ask someone to be involved in the process. Talking to neighbors, local store owners, church participants, high school peers etc. Talking to neighbors, local store owners, church participants, high school peers etc. Networking: accessing resources through the internet, connecting to local groups. Networking: accessing resources through the internet, connecting to local groups. Collaboration: working with your team to accomplish goals of the student. Remember the source of the process. Collaboration: working with your team to accomplish goals of the student. Remember the source of the process.

Maintaining Partnerships Set up regular meetings and use them as brainstorming sessions. Set up regular meetings and use them as brainstorming sessions. Keep people involved by giving them action steps to accomplish before next meeting. Keep people involved by giving them action steps to accomplish before next meeting. Make the meetings as fun as possible. Have someone facilitate that is a more objective team member. Make the meetings as fun as possible. Have someone facilitate that is a more objective team member. Be careful not to meet too often as people can get burned out. Be careful not to meet too often as people can get burned out.

Setting up the Facilitation Meeting Chose your members carefully. Let them know that their input is very important to the process and that everyone on the team will have projects to do along the way. Chose your members carefully. Let them know that their input is very important to the process and that everyone on the team will have projects to do along the way. Pick people that will be invested in the process for the long term. Pick people that will be invested in the process for the long term. Try to look outside of your comfort zone to chose people that know the student in a different light and can offer different insight. Try to look outside of your comfort zone to chose people that know the student in a different light and can offer different insight.

Facilitation Cont’d Establish the ground rules at the first meeting. Make sure you post the group rules up on paper and everyone has input. Establish the ground rules at the first meeting. Make sure you post the group rules up on paper and everyone has input. Give everyone a chance to talk about how they know the student. Give everyone a chance to talk about how they know the student. Use the first meeting to get to know each team member. Use the first meeting to get to know each team member. Be as creative as possible making sure the student knows that this process is important to everyone. (Team T-shirts) Be as creative as possible making sure the student knows that this process is important to everyone. (Team T-shirts)

Following Through It is important that action steps are established and followed through. It is important that action steps are established and followed through. Try to make all action steps attainable for all members. Don’t set up unrealistic goals. Try to make all action steps attainable for all members. Don’t set up unrealistic goals. Make sure the student also has work to do as part of the team. Make sure the student also has work to do as part of the team. Ex: if the student wants to be an astronaut, have them take a tour in a space station to see what intrigues them. Ex: if the student wants to be an astronaut, have them take a tour in a space station to see what intrigues them.

Mapping

Mission Possible A program designed using a small grant opportunity from BDS for employment initiatives. A program designed using a small grant opportunity from BDS for employment initiatives. The program was designed and implemented by our Family Support Council in collaboration with the Family Support Service Coordinators. The program was designed and implemented by our Family Support Council in collaboration with the Family Support Service Coordinators. Our first step was to find a community site that would partner with us to offer an employment internship at their facility. Our first step was to find a community site that would partner with us to offer an employment internship at their facility. The idea was that if they offered their space and the employment opportunities, we would pay their wages and pay for a job coach to supervise the program. The idea was that if they offered their space and the employment opportunities, we would pay their wages and pay for a job coach to supervise the program.

Mission Possible Cont’d Due to the intense structure of the program, a local vendor was brought in to provide the daily program support that was needed. Due to the intense structure of the program, a local vendor was brought in to provide the daily program support that was needed. The program consisted of 5 students who were paid 7.25hr for a total of 10 weeks to work various jobs throughout the Boys and Girls Club. Each participant worked two 5 week internships at different jobs to enhance their skills. The program consisted of 5 students who were paid 7.25hr for a total of 10 weeks to work various jobs throughout the Boys and Girls Club. Each participant worked two 5 week internships at different jobs to enhance their skills.

Successful Collaboration The program brought together three agencies whose missions aligned with one another and their own employment initiatives. The program brought together three agencies whose missions aligned with one another and their own employment initiatives. The program was such a success that we were asked to recreate it again the following year. The program was such a success that we were asked to recreate it again the following year. A summer program was created where three people from the original group worked at the Boys and Girls Club for 10 weeks supported naturally by their own staff. A summer program was created where three people from the original group worked at the Boys and Girls Club for 10 weeks supported naturally by their own staff.