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What is a Community of Practice?

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What is a Community of Practice?

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  1. Virginia’s Transition Community of Practice:Virginia Intercommunity Transition Council(VITC)Marianne Moore, Virginia Department of Education Kris Allen, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitation ServicesWanda Bass, Virginia Department of Education Training and Technical Assistance Center at VCU

  2. What is a Community of Practice? A Community of Practice (CoP) isa group of people who: • share a craft or profession, and • come together to share that common interest.

  3. How do CoP members Communicate? Come together through: • Online: web meetings, discussion boards, newsgroups • Face to Face: lunch room, agency office, local Parent Resource Center meeting room, etc.

  4. Why do they communicate • To share information and experiences • Gain knowledge • Develop personally and professionally

  5. Why are CoPs Important? • Encourages sharing of ideas • Newcomers • Observe or perform tasks as they learn how the group works • Ex. Apprenticeship, Student Teacher, Internships

  6. Creates a social context for learning • Create common ground • Guides learning • Gives meaning to action • Fosters interaction

  7. Decrease the learning curve • Respond rapidly to needs • Reduce reworking the same ideas

  8. Spark new ideas, solutions, products and services Management of knowledge

  9. VITC: What • Group of people from Virginia • State agencies • State organizations • Advocacy groups • Advocates • Youth • Parents

  10. VITC members come together to improve the transition from school to the postsecondary world: • Education • Training • Employment • Interdependent Living • Community Membership

  11. VITC’s MISSION Promote successful transition outcomes for youth by providing leadership and innovation in: Employment

  12. Education and Training

  13. Living Independently

  14. Community Participation

  15. Community support systems that can influence the success for all youth in transition

  16. Virginia Intercommunity Transition CouncilCore Belief Take the Steps Towards Person Centered Thinking Commit Respect Listen Ask

  17. Communities Communicate!

  18. Local Transition Councils

  19. Why • To improve the support and advocacy services available to youth with disabilities to help them achieve long term goals and enhance the quality of their lives

  20. Purpose • Areas of need are identified and strategies are created to improve services • Transition councils improve our capacity for delivering effective transition programs and services • Information is exchanged about local, regional, and statewide agencies • Clarification of agency roles and responsibilities

  21. Groundwork • Identify potential localities • Determine who is interested • Attend transition council meetings in other localities to determine: • What they do • How they operate

  22. Getting Started • Organize a stakeholders meeting • Special Education Director • Transition Coordinator • DARS • Agencies that provide services to youth ( i.e. CIL, CSB, ESO, WIA) • Disability Support Personnel • PERT/WWRC • TTAC

  23. Developing the Transition Council • Determine interest of stakeholders: • How to utilize Indicator 13 and 14 information to improve transitional services • Networking opportunities with other practitioners • Community agency resources • Independent living resources • Employment options within the community • Access to Career Technical Education classes • Resource information (i.e. DMV, Benefit Planning, SSI/SSDI)

  24. Develop Operational Procedures • Determine meeting dates, location, and time • Identify roles of facilitator and note taker • Develop an agenda: • Celebrations • Announcements • Review Past Meeting Notes • Guest Speaker • Items/issues to be discussed • Planning for future events and guest speakers • Upcoming events

  25. Develop a Vision /Mission Statement • This is an important component of the council in order to maintain purpose, function, and focus • Brainstorm ideas for a vision and mission statement with council members

  26. What Can A Local Council Do? • Grant Opportunities • Guest Speakers • Identify what is working • Develop a college night/career night • Communicate with local and state leaders • Develop a Resource Directory • Future Planning • Discussions-Group Think • Identify challenges and barriers

  27. Next steps and resources • See handout for more planning ideas • Contact your area TTAC or DRS representative

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