The Transition Career Exploration Workshop A new tool to promote improved outcomes for transition-age clients

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The Transition Career Exploration Workshop A
new tool to promote improved outcomes for
transition-age clients
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This workshop will

• Identify the factors and data that drove creation
  of the TCEW
• Describe the process used to develop and roll-out
  the TCEW
• Explore early data results
• Present the importance of partnership with the
  state educational agency
• Provide attendees with an electronic link to the
  TCEW curriculum

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Maine DVR - Overview

• Located within the Maine Department of Labor
• Received 3900 applications in 2013
• Approximately 1/3 of DVRs clients are transition
  age youth
• DVR encourages applications from high school
  students within two years of graduation

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Factors that led to the creation of the CEW

• Under an Order of Selection since 2001
• Serving only Most Significantly Disabled with an
  average wait time of 25 weeks
• No Queue for You (NoQ4U) - project launched in
  Fall 2008 to eliminate waiting list and move out
  of Order of Selection
• Examined DVR services from entrance to exit

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Factors that led to the creation of the CEW

• Plan Development was a core component of the
  wait list project
• Found that more comprehensive vocational
  counseling was needed in employment planning
• CEW was developed and implemented statewide as a
  result

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Development of the TCEW

• Workgroup of NoQ4U focused on services to youth
  in transition
• After piloting, team recognized that the general
  CEW curriculum needed adaptation to best assist
  high school students and young adults
• TCEW development team included Transition VRCs
  a special educator youth and young adults in
  transition DVR management and staff who created
  the general CEW curriculum

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TCEW Roll-Out

• Training provided over three days for all
  Transition VR Counselors, interested school
  personnel, and a targeted school-based
  AmeriCorps project
• Transition VRCs were encouraged to present the
  curriculum to school staff and partners
• Curriculum made available electronically via
  website

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TCEW in Action

• Co-taught (VRC high school teacher) course in
  public and special purpose private schools
• Offered as an after-school activity
• Offered in collaboration with adult education
• Taught as a mini-course over school breaks
• Co-facilitated by trained student leader
• TCEW module offered as a workshop session at
  post-secondary resource fair

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Transition Career Exploration Workshop

• A new curriculum designed to help students
  discover employment possibilities in an
  interactive team environment
• TCEW is offered in modules that make it flexible
  for delivery in schools, adult ed, community
  organizations or other settings
• TCEW includes numerous assessments that can
  support transition planning
• TCEW is available for use independently or in
  conjunction with VR

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A Closer Look at the TCEW

• The TCEW is available online in easy to use
  modules
• Topics include
• Career Decision Making
• Learning Styles
• Strengths Aptitudes
• Disability Disclosure
• Employer Expectations
• Developing an Employment Plan

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A Closer Look at the TCEW

• Assessments
• Employment Readiness Scale
• World of Work Inventory
• Also
• Barsch Learning Style Inventory
• Self-Management Checklist
• Transferrable Skills Checklist
• Games and activities that promote soft skills and
  serve as informal assessments

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A Closer Look at the TCEW

• http//www.maine.gov/rehab/73422/maine_cew/cew_tra
  nsition/index.html
• 18 modules (35 sessions total)
• Sessions are estimated at 45 minutes which can
  vary depending on group size, skill level and
  needs of participants.

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The Early Data

• What we are learning

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Partnership with the Maine Department of
Education

• Memorandum of Understanding
• Promotes better coordination of the process of
  student transition
• Focuses on outreach and communication, personnel
  development, information and referral, service
  provision
• State Personnel Development Grant
• Transition one of five targeted goals
• Focus on collaborative training
• TCEW included as a strategy to improve compliance

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Collaboration Challenges

• Increased collaboration with Maine Dept. of Ed
• Increased partnership and engagement with schools
• New tool to engage youth
• But
• Challenges with systemic roll-out
• Challenges with comprehensive data collection

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Next Steps Collaboration Challenges

• Strengthen evaluation and data collection
• Continue to increase use of TCEW to inform
  transition planning
• Management of TCEW use by partner agencies

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BRIDGE CEW Pathway to Employment

• A hot off the press Career Exploration Workshop
  version
• Designed to assist individuals with intellectual
  disabilities, low literacy, ESL
• Uses pictorial assessments
• Designed to be used in pre-vocational settings

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Want to Learn More About the Career Exploration
Workshop Series?

• Visit the link below for full access to the
  entire Career Exploration Workshop series
  curricula
• Career Exploration Workshop
• Transition Career Exploration Workshop
• Bridge Pathways to Employment
• http//www.maine.gov/rehab/73422/maine_cew/

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Presenter Contact Information

• Karen D. Fraser, Director
  Systems
  Improvement and Quality Assurance
• Maine Dept. of Labor
• Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
• 150 State House Station
• Augusta, ME 04333-0150
• Tel. [phone]
• E-mail Karen.D.Fraser_at_maine.gov
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• Betsy Hopkins, Director
• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
• 150 State House Station
• Augusta, Maine  04333-0150
• E-mail  Elizabeth.Hopkins_at_Maine.gov
• Tel  [phone]
• Fax  [phone]
• Libby Stone-Sterling, Assistant Director
• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
• 150 State House Station
• Augusta, ME 04333-0150
• [phone] (v)
• 1-888-755-0023 (TTY)
• Libby.stone-sterling_at_maine.gov
• Maine Department of Labor provides Equal
  Opportunity in employment and programs. Auxiliary
  aids and services are available to individuals
  with disabilities upon request