“Yes Virginia, there really is a Seamless Transition !” Community Partnerships that Create Successful Transitions

1. “Yes Virginia, there really is a Seamless Transition!” Community Partnerships that Create Successful Transitions

2. NIH-CC Partnership

3. Issues we faced… • Entitlement to eligibility was more of a transfer than transition • School ends mid-June; adult service funding begins July 1 at earliest • Adult service providers only know student through paperwork and interviews • First year with adult service provider spent retraining • Limited funding often only 20 hours/week or less • Identifying creative funding streams prior to student’s exit

4. Brainstorming • Contacted professionals in the field to discuss options for creating a true seamless transition. • Dr. Sherill Moon, U. of MD • Catrina Johnson, DDA in MD • Berenda Riedell, DORS in MD • Karen Lee, with SEEC, local adult service provider • Learned about Project SEARCH model • Visited Cincinnati to meet with PS founders • Attended PS annual conference in Atlanta

5. Partnership Development • Identified partners for planning committee • Voc. Rehab for MD & DC • Long-term funding agencies from MD & DC • Adult service provider • Project SEARCH consultant • Ivymount parents • Ivymount Board member • Ivymount staff • First committee meeting January 2010

6. Nuts & Bolts of establishing our partnerships • Brainstormed list of potential business partners and identified specific person to initiate call • Set tight one-week deadline for all calls • Developed specific talking points for calls • Developed a task list and identified who was responsible for each task with a specified due date. Task list was updated at each Planning Meeting Goal of above to gain business commitment

7. Making it Official • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) • a roadmap delineating specific organizational roles • Prepared by representatives from each partner, allowing each organization a chance to review & revise • MOU documents and assures the commitment of all partners involved

8. Timeline: from 1st Mtg. to Program Jan. 2010 Jan.- June 2010 March-May 2010 April 30th 2010 May 26th 2010 July-Aug. 2010 Sept. 1st 2010 1st mtg. with potential stakeholders Planning committee meets bi-weekly Presentation to NIH MOU signed by partners MOU signed by partners Interns start with 3-day Orientation at NIH-CC Mtgs. with potential Business Partners Partners meet weekly; job devel. & travel training for interns We did it!

9. Program Description Business led partnership One school year program 12 young adults with intellectual disabilities Rotation through unpaid internships with continual feedback Outcome of employment and change in the business culture

10. Key Concepts Collaboration with business, education, rehabilitation (VR) and DD Braided funding (combine existing funding to support program) Immersion: training in real work settings Low risk, low cost for business Hiring interns who are a “good fit” • Goal of employment

11. Partner Responsibilities School: • 8 students • Instructor (serves as on-site team leader) • Overall Program Coordination Adult Provider (Community Rehab. Partner) • 4 Transitioning Youth clients • Job Coaches (2) • Job development • Overall program coordination

12. Responsibility of Business Partner Business liaison: min 10% of time planning and implementing program Involved in crucial decisions: Student selection; internal job placement Providing internship sites Marketing: internally throughout the business

13. Internships Cornerstone of PS Marketable Skills 4 – 5 hours each day Work & Social Skills 10 - 12 weeks Flexible Feedback & Assessment

14. Bar Coding Assist patients and visitors with traveling throughout the Clinical Center Hospitality Services

15. Pharmacy • Stock meds • File med order sheets • “Tubing” • Deliver meds • Check expiration dates and dispose of outdated medicine

16. Medical Records andSpecimen Transport Excel Spreadsheet Data Entry Inter-Office Mail Delivery on NIH Campus Daily Clerical Tasks Hospital Service Orders Specimen Rounds

17. Materials Management • Check expiration dates of medical supplies • Pull inventory from warehouse based on • order tickets

18. Managing Pyxis • Automated supplies dispensing system © CCHMC 1/3/06

19. Dept. of Perioperative Medicine • Decontaminate surgical tools used in the operating room • Inspect all utensils for bio-hazardous waste

20. Establishing a Successful Relationship • Define roles & responsibilities for partner organizations & individuals • Establish commitment for braided funding • Always stress partnership and collaboration • Believe in and support a common goal (employment for all) • Establish open communication processes with all partners (meetings at least every 2 weeks during development) • Work to be one team…no yours, mine all ours

21. Outcomes of First Year • 8 Interns hired at NIH-CC (20 hours to 40 hours/week • Interns received NIH Director’s Award “for their outstanding work effort and genuine spirit, which has positively impacted workplace culture and the receptivity of NIH to employ people with disabilities.” • Expansion of internship opportunities to other institutes on NIH campus for 2011-2012 program • Replication of the program to others businesses and formats

22. Our Partners Developmental Disabilities Administration Department on Disability Services

23. For further information… • Lu Merrick lmerrick@ivymount.org • Amy Alvord aalvord@ivymount.org Ivymount School 11614 Seven Locks Road Rockville, MD 20854 301-469-0223

24. For Further Information • Karen Lee • klee@seeconline.org • Steve Blanks • sblanks@seeconline.org • 301.576.9000