Promoting Success of Youth Served in Career

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• Promoting Success of Youth Served in Career
  Technology Programs A Community of Practice
  Solution

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• A collaboration of
• the Berks County Transition Coordinating Council
  (BCTCC),
• the Berks County Transition Council (BCTC),
• the Berks Career Technology Center,
• the 18 Berks County School Districts

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Berks County Transition Coordinating Council
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The Current Committee Structure of BCTCC
Business Industry
Tracking
Executive
School to Work
Interagency
Membership/ Public Awareness
By Laws
Agency Expo
Post- Secondary
Fiscal Management
Project based
Operational
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• Agency Expo
• Plan implement the biannual Expo for students
  and families.
• Business Industry
• Plan implement the biannual Employability Expo
  for students.
• By-Laws
• Write update governing rules of the council.
• Executive
• Elected by BCTCC membership to develop training
  resources for BCTCC and to provide leadership and
  support for committees as they work toward our
  mission.

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• Interagency
• Develop products and practices that promote
  collaborative transition planning among schools
  and agencies.
• Membership Public Relations
• Invite representatives of diverse constituencies
  to actively participate in BCTCC activities (e.g.
  employers, students, families, agency personnel,
  educators, etc.) Promote awareness of transition
  issues and the BCTCCs work and mission.
• School to Work
• Plan and implement the summer work experience and
  assessment program and other collaborative
  efforts to prepare students for competitive
  employment.

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Tracking Survey

• Coordinate implementation of annual
  post-graduation follow-up survey, analyze and
  disseminate survey data, facilitate data-based
  transition planning.
• Fiscal Management
• Handles funds which come into the Council
  provides assistance to committees applying for
  grants recruits administrative entities
  necessary to implement grants.
• Post-Secondary
• Enhance transition activities at the high school
  level, which in turn will lead to more success at
  the post-secondary level

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Berks County Transition Council

• Comprised of Transition Coordinators from 18
  school districts,
• Meets bi-monthly as a group,
• Exchanges best practice information and ideas,
• Receives training on relevant topics from
  agencies, community organizations,
  professionals.

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Berks Career Technology Center

• Two campuses serve 16 of 18 Berks County school
  districts,
• Offers 34 programs of study,
• Two special education facilitators are members of
  the BCTCC and BCTC and provide connection among
  the groups.

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Berks County School Districts

• An urban, suburban, rural county located in
  southeastern Pennsylvania
• All participate with the BCTCC
• All utilize one of two Career Tech systems

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How the process works!

• Tracking two students..

Brad
Angelina
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Meet the students!

• Angelina-
• Grade 12
• Learning disabled
• Health Occupations program

• Brad-
• Grade 12
• Autistic
• Horticulture program

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Angelina

• Received SAM assessment in 9th grade
• Applied for and was accepted by BCTC for her 10th
  grade year
• Attends ½ day at the Career Center for math and
  health occupations curriculum and ½ day at home
  school for other academic subjects
• Meets with Transition Coordinator bi-monthly at
  the Career Center
• Receives support from Special Ed facilitator as
  needed

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Angelina cont

• Attended Employability Expo (11th)
• Participates in ACT Now program (12th)
• Self-referred to OVR thru on-line application
• Participates in Transition Fair/Expo (12th)
• Participates in Post-Secondary Prep seminar
• Participates in College Fair at Career Center
• Works with SD junior high school teacher or
  counselor in her shop
• Attended Transition class thru SD (9th)
• Conducted her IEP meetings (10-12)

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Angelina cont

• Volunteers with Career Center Blood Drive
• Completing Senior Project at Career Center
• Doing clinical experience for Certified Nursing
  Assistant
• Applying to RACCs LPN program, with possible
  funding through OVR
• Will receive Transition CD upon graduation
• Will participate in Tracking Survey one year
  after graduation.

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Brad

• Completed SAM assessment (8th)
• Attended Career Exploration (9th)
• Completed Horticulture program (10-12)
• Currently (12) attends ½ day Transition House
  and ½ day Co-op placement
• Meets with Transition Coordinator bi-monthly at
  TH
• Received support from Special Ed facilitator as
  needed

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Brad cont

• Attended Employability Expo (11th)
• Participates in ACT Now program (12)
• Applied to OVR with Transition Coordinator help
• Participates in Transition Fair/Expo (12th)
• Will receive Transition CD upon graduation
• Will participate in Tracking Survey one year
  after graduation
• Attended Transition class thru SD (9th)
• Conducted his IEP meetings (10-12)

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Brad cont

• Will receive vocational assessment at HGA
• Has participated in Teens Taking Flight program
  since age 16
• Volunteered in Career Center program to enhance
  landscaping at community park
• Works with SD teacher or counselor in his shop
• Participated in job shadowing through SD
• Worked 2 summers with SWEAP (one in SD, one in
  community).

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• Connection to Career Center-
• Opportunities abound- goes beyond traditional
  career choices
• Curriculum is challenging reading levels are
  10th grade up
• Student must be self-motivated and able to work
  without constant direct supervision

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What makes this work!

• Collaboration among all 4 entities- BCTCC, BCTC,
  Career Center, School Districts
• Affords opportunities we would not otherwise
  have
• Ongoing connections AND communication.

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Questions?