Project SEARCH Alabama

1. Project SEARCH Alabama Shelby County • Kim Bryant- Job Coach • Cindy Vinson- Job Coach • Lacy Jordan- Instructor Montgomery Scott Johnson- Job Coach Kiwanne Crummey- Job Coach Valerie Johnson- Instructor

2. Partners

3. Project SEARCH Class of 2013Montgomery

4. Project SEARCH Class of 2013Shelby County

5. Project SEARCH is coming to my school district, now what???

6. Getting Started • Finding a Host Site/Securing the Site • Identifying Business Liaison & Points of Contact • On the ground Staff Members are hired(Instructor & Job Coaches) • Identify the Interns (10-12) • Job Develop based on the need for the Interns • Place Interns on Rotations: three rotations, up to 10 weeks each with a week of class time in between

7. Getting the Word Out • E-Mail all High Schools (Principals, Guidance Counselors, SEFs & Special Education Teachers) • SEFs & Special Education Teachers assist Students in completing Applications with Supporting Documentation • Applications were sent home by Students-followed by a phone call from Instructor-returned by students • Flyers posted in the Schools (common areas) • Special Education Facilitator’s Meeting • School Board Meeting • Informational Meeting • Open House • Media

8. Entrance Criteria • 18-21 years of age • Student with a disability • Finished all requirements needed for graduation • 12th grader enrolled in School-(Last year of eligibility) • Can follow directions • Motivated to work • Can work Semi –Independent • Good Attendance and No Behavioral Problems • Can obtain Transportation (Transit, carpool, or family)–Travel Training can be provided • Background Check • Required Vaccines: School & Hospital

9. Informational Meeting • Invite 11th and 12th grade students with their Parents, Principals, Special Education Staff, Counselors, State Team and other Partners • Give an overview of the program with supporting documentation • Answer Questions: Selection Process, Transportation, Lunch,Uniforms,etc • Have applications available for interested Students/Parents

10. Application Process • Interviews: Students & Parents by the Selection Committee • Gather/Document data during Interviews (to share with the Selection Committee) • Upon appointment-Gather data from Schools: Current IEP, Eligibility Report, Attendance, Grades and etc. • Selection Committee used a Rubric to score the Students based on data collected • Students were placed on one of three lists: Acceptance, Rejection, or Waiting List

11. Application Process for Next Year • Paper Application • Teacher Assessment • Parent Interview • Student Interview • Skills or Functional Assessment

12. Selection Process • Students are selected based on their Application, Interview, and Assessments: Teacher, Parent, and Skills • Meeting with all agencies represented • School System, Service Provider, Vocational Rehabilitation, Host Business, Teacher, and Job Coaches • Have all Application Materials on hand

13. Selection Process Continued • Based on the volume of applicants, you may need to have more than one selection meeting • Send Acceptance, Rejection and Waiting List Letters to students • Start preparing

14. Handbook 1st Year Montgomery Shelby County • Template provided by Project SEARCH Consultant • School Code of Conduct • Business Code of Conduct • Classroom Rules • Mission Statements: School & Hospital • Vision Statements: School & Hospital • School Code of Conduct • Business Code of Conduct • Classroom Rules

15. Handbook and Policies • Create a Handbook for Project SEARCH that Parents and Students can sign and keep • Incorporate the School System, Business, and Service Provider’s Codes of Conduct • Create a Discipline Policy • School, Business & Service Provider

16. Challenges in year one Montgomery County Shelby County • Lunch • Some Transportation • Attendance in Rotation #2 • Time: Reporting back after a break • Transportation • Time Management for Students • Appropriate Social Skills/Work Behaviors

17. IEP Process • Hold an IEP meeting as soon as you can after Acceptance/Rejection Letters go out • Invite representatives from the team • Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Project SEARCH Instructor, Project SEARCH Job Coaches, Parents, Students, School Nurse • Parents will have many questions that can be answered during an IEP meeting

18. IEP Process Montgomery Shelby County • Acceptance Letter: Parent & Student Agreement • Amendment of IEP • Answer Questions that Team Members may have • Duration of IEPS: August- May of each year • Hold IEP meeting • Re-wrote all IEPs for Project SEARCH • Duration August to May • Give helpful information to students and parents

19. Developing Internships • Present Project SEARCH at Department Meetings • Meet with staff in potential Internship Sites • Supervisors and Mentors • Observe the Internship Site • Task Analysis • Accommodations • Modifications • After Internships have started, stay visible in the Internship Sites and Business

20. Frequent Contact • Daily debriefing Meetings with Interns • News Letters/Informational Letters to Parents • Daily Staff Meetings • Monthly Partner’s Meeting • Phone Calls Home • Bi-Weekly & Monthly Progress Reports • Meetings with “Team Intern” (Parents, Intern, Job Coaches, Instructor, Supervisors & Mentors

21. Impact on Business • Changes the culture of the Business • Provide candidates to help lower the number of positions with high turnover rates • Reduce stereotypes of individuals with challenges • Adds positive energy to the Business

22. Parent Input Montgomery County Shelby County “I feel very strongly about this program”, says Milia Stevens. “This Program has given our family hope”, says Monica Gudino. “I appreciate the encouragement the program has given to my child” says Deloris Dickerson. “I had a hard time convincing my son about this program. He did not want to go, but thank God he is enjoying it now”, says John Hood. “Project SEARCH registered my son to vote and he voted for the first time”, says Tammy Hall. • Parent Presentation

23. Impact on Students • Interns become more social and independent • Interns are fully immersed in age appropriated settings with their peers • Interns engage appropriately in social situations • Interns gain confidence in themselves and their abilities • Interns learn competitive work skills to gain meaningful employment

24. Thank you for coming! Montgomery Shelby County • Baptist Medical Center South, Morrow Tower, Suite 710 (334) 286-5635 • Business Liaison: Kay Bennett • kbennett@baptistfirst.org • Job Coaches • Kiwanee Crummey & Scott Watson • Instructor: Valerie Johnson • valerie.johnson@mps.k12.al.us • Shelby Baptist Medical Center Human Resource Building • Business Liaison- Cindy Nicholson • Cindy.nicholson@bhsala.com • Job Coach- Kim Bryant • 205-620-8627 • kbryant@thearcofshelby.org • Instructor- Lacy Jordan • 205-620-8264 • l2jordan@shelbyed.k12.al.us

25. Questions and Answers