Training Session #4 Linking & Leveraging for Success

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 2 MISSION To ensure that youth with disabilities are provided full access to high quality services in integrated settings in order to maximize their opportunity for employment and independent living

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 3 COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS Center for Workforce Development, the Institute for Educational Leadership Disability Studies & Services Center, the Academy for Educational Development National Conference of State Legislatures National Youth Employment Coalition National Association of Workforce Boards National Center on Secondary Education & Transition, the University of Minnesota TransCen, Inc.

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 4 TYPES OF PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES How to Guides Information and Policy Briefs Backgrounders Hot Topics Syntheses Funding Sources Training Materials

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 5 What You Will Find in this Training Session Defining Linking and Leveraging Importance of Linking and Leveraging Barriers to Linking and Leveraging Legislative support Use of Intermediaries Use of One-Stop Career Centers Use of Resource Mapping Resources/Handouts

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 6 Definitions Linking and Leveraging is the collaboration at the individual and systems level in pursuit of a common purposes Blended Funding: Funding which pools dollars from multiple sources and makes them in some ways indistinguishable. Braided Funding: Similar to Blended Funding, however, the funding sources remain visible while they are used in common to produce greater strength, efficiency, and/or effectiveness

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 7 Why is Linking and Leveraging Important? To build a coherent thread or alignment between missions, strategic planning and day-to-day activities across organizations and agencies To reduce the incidence of duplicative services or failure to provide services at all To develop partnerships that support a more inclusive vision To provide access to all community services and supports for youth prior to leaving high school

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 8 Why is Linking and Leveraging Important? (Continued) To address concerns over shrinking resources To meet the needs of youth requiring access to multiple agencies and sources of support To develop intensive, direct, and overlapping planning and service delivery systems

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 9 Why is Linking and Leveraging Important? (Continued) To acknowledge problems are not being addressed effectively by existing fragmented and, discontinuous services To consider the alteration of structures, policies and rules in order to make service delivery seamless To establish interagency cooperation at the state and local levels

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 10 Why is Linking and Leveraging Important? (Continued) To develop mechanisms for information sharing, communication, and coordination of services and supports across agencies and audiences To comprehensively improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the workforce development system

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 11 Why is Linking and Leveraging Important? (Continued) To shift the primary focus of interagency collaboration from disability-specific services to more generically available programs and services To reduce employer frustration with competing initiatives to recruit, train, and place young workers, and the myriad of services and programs offered by the education and workforce systems

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 12 Barriers to Linking and Leveraging Difficult past/present relationships among agencies Competition and turf issues Personality conflicts Differing organizational norms, values, and ideologies Lack of precedent

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 13 Barriers to Linking and Leveraging (continued) Lack of knowledge regarding each others systems Reluctance to bypass bureaucratic constraints Limited financial resources Differences in organizational size, structure and staffing between schools and community organizations

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 14 Barriers to Linking and Leveraging (continued) Different communication styles and values across disciplines Not understanding how things are done in another system Differences in the role and expectations of leaders Unwillingness to share power and resources with partners

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 15 Barriers to Linking and Leveraging (continued) Youth and families often expect adult service agencies/institutions to mirror the secondary school system with which they are familiar Each organization is structured to focus on its own particular goals, priorities and programmatic needs Service gaps and duplication in services occur as funding and eligibility sources vary

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 16 Legislation/Initiatives Support Linking and Leveraging IDEA stresses the need for collaboration on an individual planning level and on an interagency systems level IDEA emphasizes creating access, participation, and progress in the general curriculum for all students The New Freedom Initiative (2001) is a comprehensive plan to reduce barriers to full community integration for people with disabilities

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 17 Legislation Supports Linking and Leveraging (continued) The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) creates a comprehensive job training system that consolidates a variety of federally funded programs into an streamlined process allowing individual to access job training and employment services easily Vocational Rehabilitation Act, part of WIA, links State vocational rehabilitation programs and workforce investment activities

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 18 Ways to Link Services and Leverage Resources Use of Intermediaries to facilitate the process Use of One-Stop Career Centers Conduct Resource Mapping

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 19 What are Intermediaries? An entity that brokers and streamlines relationships among various community agencies providing services and resources An intermediary can be a single, organizational entity, a newly created non-profit, or a collaboration of several institutions in a community

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 20 Three Key Goals of Workforce Intermediaries To bring workers into the American mainstream To increase business efficiency and productivity To enhance regional competitiveness

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 21 Common Characteristics of Intermediaries Use a dual-customer approach- serving both businesses seeking employees and job seekers Organize partners and funding streams around common goals to improve labor market outcomes Provide or broker labor market services by understanding business needs Reduce turnover and increase economic worker mobility Achieve results through innovation Catalyze improvements in public systems and employment practices

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 22 Activities of Intermediaries Engaging local leaders Building a common vision across key stakeholders Generating public awareness and buy-in Connecting youth to quality experiences Providing communication links between partners

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 23 Activities of Intermediaries (continued) Using data to improve performance and measure success Influencing programmatic, local, and state policies Connecting to and aligning with other systems Generating resources

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 24 Benefits of Intermediaries To assist employers to work effectively with youth with disabilities To provide employers with both specific information about youth with disabilities, and information about strategies that will help them address training or supervision issues

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 25 Benefits of Intermediaries (Continued) To help build internal competence within a business to support and accommodate youth with disabilities To match employers with workers, thus contributing to the overall quality of the future workforce To be a mechanism by which educators connect to the world outside the classroom

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 26 Benefits of Intermediaries (Continued) To connect youth to quality work-based learning experiences To ensure the quality and impact of local efforts To promote policies to sustain effective practices

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 27 Functions of Intermediaries- Intermediaries can help employers: Identify qualified pools of young people Recruit and screen potential applicants based on employer specifications Design work-based learning experiences that meet the needs of youth and employers Provide effective workplace accommodations and support services

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 28 Functions of Intermediaries- Intermediaries can help educators: Connect classroom learning with the workplace Create and coordinate work-based learning placemats Create and deliver job-readiness activities Connect to WIA Youth Councils Provide mentoring and career-readiness training for youth Provide an ongoing venue for stakeholders to dialogue and make decisions about youth education and services

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 29 Functions of Intermediaries- Intermediaries can help youth with disabilities: Develop realistic and positive career plans Connect work-based learning experiences to classroom learning Arrange for course or academic credit when possible Receive effective workplace accommodations and supports Connect with postsecondary options, adult mentors, and community-based supports Find entry-level positions after high school

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 30 Functions of Intermediaries- Intermediaries can help communities: Prepare all youth for the workplace Streamline youth service options and requirements Measure the impact of local policies and practices on student learning and the workforce Promote quality work-based learning activities to enhance employer buy-in Conduct outreach to other community institutions and partners Sustain dialogue between major players

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 31 What are One-Stop Career Centers? Centers merge traditional employment and training services in order to provide consolidated programs Fundamental changes in the service delivery system One-Stop system mandated by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 calls for an interactive, mutually beneficial relationship between 17 partners (including VR) and the One- Stop system

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 32 Benefits of One-Stop Use Well-developed, collaborative WIA partnerships allow all partners to benefit from each others resources and expertise while fulfilling their own vital roles Educators, service providers, and employers can expand their effectiveness by using the resources of the One-Stop Centers and WIA youth programs to augment current efforts to assist youth career development

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 33 Using One-Stop Career Centers to Connect and Collaborate One-Stop systems can assist with the transition process by: Providing quality, universally accessible services for all youth Considering the needs of youth with disabilities in the design and delivery of such services Providing support and assistance as needed by youth with disabilities as they use One-Stop services

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 34 Linking and Leveraging Activities at the One-Stop Basic skill development Vocational skill training and advanced educational opportunities Apprenticeship and entrepreneurial training Transportation to employment and training sites Vocational rehabilitation services Program navigators Benefit planning

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 35 Activities for Establishing Partnerships within the One-Stop System Developing MOUs and Cooperative Agreements between mandated and non-mandated partners, local and state Workforce Investment Boards Co-locating staff from partner agencies within the One-Stop Centers

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 36 Activities for Establishing Partnerships within the One-Stop System (Continued) Creating relationships with nontraditional agencies such as the local public housing authority, mental health, and developmental disability agencies that are identified through resource mapping or other planning processes Establishing an Employer Service Network Creating disability work groups at the state and local Workforce Investment Board levels

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 37 What is Resource Mapping? A methodology used to link community resources with an agreed upon vision, organizational goals, strategies, or expected outcomes (Crane & Skinner, 2003) Resource mapping can facilitate the identification, alignment, and leveraging of community resources to improve the educational, employment, and developmental needs of ALL youth

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 38 Why Use the Resource Mapping Process? To understand how community builders and education leaders can work together more effectively and serve youth with disabilities more efficiently (MORE THAN THESE 2 GRPS OF STATE GOVT FEVERAL EMPLOOYERS SERVICE PROVIDES, ETC. To use as a catalyst for joint planning and professional development, resource and cost sharing, and performance-based management of programs and services

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 39 Why Use the Resource Mapping Process? (Continued) To focus on what communities have to offer by identifying assets and resources that can be used for building a system To focus holistically on the individual

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 40 Three Principles of Resource Mapping 1. Mapping strategies focus on what is already present in the community. They build on the strengths within the community 2. Mapping is relationship-driven. Key to mapping efforts is the development of partnerships 3. Mapping embraces the notion that to realize a vision and meet goals, a community may have to work across programmatic and geographic boundaries

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 41 Potential Results of Resource Mapping Helps to identify new resources to develop, enhance, and sustain goals Determines whether existing resources are being used effectively to achieve expected outcomes Improves alignment and coordination of resources Enhances coordination and collaboration among stakeholders with relevant resources

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 42 Potential Results of Resource Mapping (Continued) Supports the development of new policies and legislation to better meet goals and objectives Helps staff develop new projects or programs Helps an organization think about its interactions with other community-based organizations Provides new source for volunteers, board members or referrals to programs

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 43 Potential Results of Resource Mapping (Continued) Gives a comprehensive picture of the community when combined with other data Provides insight into an organizations strategic planning process Orients new staff to the organizations structure and programs

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 44 Potential Results of Resource Mapping (Continued) Helps staff realize that their work is part of a greater community of organizations and individuals working together for community building Acknowledges that individuals, organizations and local institutions all have the capacity to create real change in their community

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 45 Contact NCWD/Youth (toll free) (TTY toll free) *****************************

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth -- Making the Connection between Youth with Disabilities & Employment 46 ANY QUESTIONS????