Youth in Transition Workgroup 2003 Annual Report
Background
In 2002, the Rhodes to Independence Steering Committee recommended that a Youth in Transition Workgroup be created. The basis for this decision was the fact that one of the target groups mentioned in the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant identifies young adults transitioning to work as a target population that should be recognized.
Rhode Island has approximately 8,500 to 9,000 youths with disabilities between the ages of 14 and 21 receiving special education services. The primary goal of the Rhodes to Independence Youth in Transition Workgroup is to identify and remove gaps within the system to ensure that youths with disabilities, who are either graduating or leaving the school system, are aware of and receiving the necessary transitioning services to obtain employment, while ensuring health care and supportive services.
During its first year of implementation, the Youth in Transition Workgroup members identified the following areas to be addressed:
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Identify Workgroup members.
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Educate Workgroup members to the RI Transition System including an overview and roles of primary partners.
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Examine the current status of Rhode Island youths with disabilities including the number of students with disabilities entering the workforce.
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Assess the availability, barriers to obtaining and status of utilizing current RI transitioning services.
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Identify barriers and incentives to employment for youths with disabilities.
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Assess the current reality and future needs of health care issues for youths with disabilities.
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Review national and state transition data including programs and services available for youths with disabilities.
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Conduct an analysis of the data collected.
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Identify key findings based on the data.
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Implement strategies or recommendations to address the key findings.
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Write year-end final report to the Steering Committee.
Summary of Meetings
The first Rhodes to Independence Youth in Transition Workgroup was held on January 21, 2003. The Youth in Transition Workgroup held nine meetings during the year 2003. Elaina Goldstein, Executive Director for the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, provided the necessary staffing for each meeting. Enclosed is a brief overview of each of the Youth in Transition Meetings (See Attachment A).
Methodology
The Rhodes to Independence Youth in Transition Workgroup consists of members representing state agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, consumers and parents of youth in transition.
The Youth in Transition Workgroup data collection process involved a variety of methods including gathering national and state transition research data; gathering national and state transition service and program materials, identifying the degree to which students and families use the available services and programs, reviewing relevant legislation, hosting presentations from experts in the field, receiving updates from Workgroup members or staff on information gathered at relevant conferences and meetings, ongoing sharing among Workgroup members of relevant information, materials and experiences at each of the meetings.
The Youth in Transition Workgroup and subcommittee meetings served as the forum for the data analysis process. This data analysis process involved ongoing reviews, discussions and feedback of the data collected or presented throughout the year. Through this process, the Youth in Transition Workgroup identified key findings.
Workgroup Findings
Systems Change
Based on the analysis of data, the Youth in Transition Workgroup identified a key finding as the need to address the lack of coordination throughout the system among Rhode Island Transition Programs and Services. Therefore, the Youth in Transition Workgroup made the decision to focus on the issue of system change during the first year.
The Youth in Transition Workgroup implemented a subcommittee, which developed a Systems Change Indicators Matrix. The Systems Change Indicators Matrix includes support strategies for transitioning students with disabilities, their families, teachers and other professionals. As evident in Table 1, the Systems Change Indicators Matrix continues to be an ongoing project for the Youth in Transition Workgroup. In 2003, the Systems Change Indicators, Objectives and Strategies were identified (See Table 1).
