Utilizing AmeriCorps National Service as a Transition Option for High School Students with Disabilities A Mini Grant Opp

1. Utilizing AmeriCorps National Service as a Transition Option forHigh School Students with DisabilitiesA Mini Grant Opportunity

2. A Partnership Between • Volunteer Florida & • The Florida Collaborative for Community Inclusion at UF

3. Created in 1993 to fulfill federal legislation that created AmeriCorps A state commission consisting of twenty-five Governor appointed Commissioners AmeriCorps legislation requires programs to recruit and retain members with disabilities 1998 Commissioners dedicated one FTE to direct inclusion efforts Volunteer Florida

4. Establishing Relationships • For the last four years Volunteer Florida has had an established relationship with the University of Florida (UF) as a member of statewide Transition Task Forces administered through The Transition Center at UF

5. Establishing Relationships (Cont.) • Through a grant from the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, UF established a University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, The Florida Collaborative for Community Inclusion (FCCI)

6. Maximizing Resources • Untapped Resource in AmeriCorps • Inclusion Funds from Volunteer Florida • Expertise From: • The Transition Center at the University of Florida • ProjectCONNECT Sites • Florida Collaborative for Community Inclusion

7. Maximizing Resources (Cont.) • The newly formed FCCI applies for and receives funding from the National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP)

8. Collaborative Project • FCCI through a contract with Volunteer Florida will develop and distribute Mini Grant opportunity for transition projects throughout Florida • The focus of the project is to work with AmeriCorps programs to increase the number of transitioning high school students with disabilities in Florida’s AmeriCorps programs

9. Mutually Beneficial Outcomes • Increase viable options for transitioning high school students with disabilities • Increase the number of persons with disabilities in Florida’s AmeriCorps Programs • Increase skills acquisition and employment outcomes for transitioning high school students with disabilities • Fulfill NSIP Grant Requirements

10. Impacting Local AmeriCorps Programs • AmeriCorps Dignity Project • AmeriCorps Florida State Parks, District Two • AmeriCorps Charter Schools Reads! • ALACHUA READS! • Equal Justice Works Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (National Direct)

11. AmeriCorps Dignity Project Member Robert Thomas works with Dignity participants on their school work. • AmeriCorps members repair and give away vehicles and complete home renovations for families coming off of public assistance. AmeriCorps members receive hands-on instruction in auto mechanics or construction while completing their service duties.

12. AmeriCorps ALACHUA READS! Member Karen Derby assists an Alachua County student improve his reading ability • AmeriCorps members provide reading tutoring services to students in grades K-8. Members also participate in community events to promote, encourage, and support family and adult literacy.

13. AmeriCorps Florida State Parks, District II Member Jamie Gray prepares to help manage resources at Paines Prairie • Crews at Gainesville build trails, improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and participate in resource management (exotic plant removal, prescribed burning and planting of native species).

14. Mini Grant Particulars • Grant Amount: $2,000 • Cycle: August 31, 2004 to June 30, 2005 • Administered by the Florida Collaborative for Community Inclusion and Volunteer Florida

15. Mini Grant Requirements • Initiate contact with all AmeriCorps State and National Direct programs in applicants area and develop a partnership agreement that includes a collaborative plan of action with AmeriCorps program to increase the recruitment and enrollment of transitioning high school students with disabilities in AmeriCorps • Visit each local AmeriCorps program, observe members and gain a full understanding of the service provided by the members and mission of the program

16. Mini Grant Requirements (Cont.) • Develop a process for matching transitioning high school students with disabilities based on interest and skills with the appropriate AmeriCorps program • Work with appropriate local ESE and school district administrators to include AmeriCorps national service as a potential outcome on transition IEPs for high school students with disabilities;

17. Mini Grant Requirements (Cont.) • Utilize or develop a process for tracking the number of transitioning high school students with disabilities who become AmeriCorps members • Utilize a process for determining job skills acquisition from participating in AmeriCorps programs

18. Mini Grant Requirements (Cont.) • Develop pre-service exploration opportunities for transitioning high school students with disabilities in conjunction with local AmeriCorps program staff • Develop an orientation process for AmeriCorps for all transitioning high school students with disabilities

19. Paul Martell Volunteer Florida, the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service 401 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: 850-414-0093 paul@volunteerflorida.org W. Drew Andrews Florida Collaborative for Community Inclusion University of Florida G315 Norman Hall PO Box 117050 Gainesville, FL 32611-7050 Phone: 352-392-0701 Ext. 260 drewa@coe.ufl.edu Questions?