Strengthening Collaborations for Better Transition Outcomes “ Building Powerful Partnerships”

1. Strengthening Collaborations for Better Transition Outcomes“Building Powerful Partnerships” September 23, 2014 Presentation by The Center for Excellence & Advocacy

2. Agenda • Why A Partnership? Keys to Collaborative Success • Addressing Self-Interest • Foundation Building Blocks—Mobilizing and Maximizing Community Assets • Organizing to Get the Work Done • Q & A and Next Steps 2

3. PARTNER SHIPS Schools Mental Health Providers Public Social Service Agencies Youth and Families Community Based Service Provides Employers Health Care Agencies 3

4. PARTNERSHIPS 4

5. Keys to Collaborative Success New Thinking Mutual Self-Interests Collaborative Action Foundation Building Blocks 5

6. New Thinking • Reflect on your initial impressions of the transition process. • Consider district priorities and existing efforts that address the domains of transition for the youth you serve. • Are there potential opportunities that may be presented by deepening your partnership efforts? 6

7. Your “Stuff”… • Take a few moments to quickly brainstorm all of the agencies, initiatives, programs, and places that provide any home and/or community-based services for youth with transition needs in one of the following areas: • Employment • Education / training • Independent living • Community participation 7

8. Community Participation… • Advocates in Action • Dare to Dream • RI Cross Disability Coalition • RI DD Council • Best Buddies • Special Olympics • Rotary, Elks, Kiwanis • Clubs of interest • books, stamp, coins, scrapbooking, gardening • City / town event volunteers • parade, Xmas lights, food drive • Church, • choir, social ministry, bible study • Game groups • bingo, cards, larping 8

9. Community Participation… • Community theatre • Community chorus • Sports leagues – • Bowling, swimming, fishing • Community center activities • pottery, knitting, story telling, art, movie night • Volunteer • Fire station, hospital, nursing home, animal shelter, library • Political organizations - • Parities, Individual campaign support, poll worker • Charitable groups – • UWAY, Red Cross, Cancer Society • Learning Exchange • Courses on cooking, cake decorating, Excel 1, Knitting, Job Searching, Learn Italian 9

10. Employment • Youth Centers – • West Bay, Family Resources, CCAP Pawtucket, South County, East Bay • State summer work – • DEM, state beaches, general assembly interns • City / town summer work • Parks and recreation • Seasonal work – • Landscaping, Dairy Queen, bed & breakfasts • Summer Employment Programs (ORS/WIB) • Tri-town, Blackstone Valley CAP, RI Marine Trades, West Bay, Pawtucket CCAP, Seven Hills, Family Resources, SER Jobs, Young Voices, Goodwill, Perspectives, Lifespan • Local employment – • grocery stores, ice cream shop, restaurants, summer camps • Hireateen.com and CEA 10

11. Mutual Self-Interests Think about your own &/or your organization’s self-interest in partnering with other entities to address the employment domain. Be HONEST – WIIFM? High School Spec Ed Director – • Annual assessments • 2 sixty day work experiences for youth with I/DD before exiting school • No new staff or resources to get this done From the list of previously listed employment resources - • What are my options? – • What’s in it for me? - school • What’s in it for my partner? 11

12. Mutual Self-Interests What needs to happen for each partner to remain in that relationship a year from now, two years from now, etc… Spec Ed Director – • Work experiences for students • Assessments / evaluations • Case notes / progress • Job shadowing • Work readiness / work preparation • Paid opportunities for youth • Case management and staff support • Job Coaching 12

13. Mutual Self-Interests What needs to happen for each partner to remain in that relationship a year from now, two years from now, etc… Goodwill Industries Summer Opportunities • ORS eligible students (16+) • Numbers achieved for their summer programs • Younger youth for their WIB Summer Work Preparation program (14 – 15 year olds) • Steady stream of referrals each summer from partnering school. 13

14. Mutual Self-Interests Think about your own &/or your organization’s self-interest in partnering with other entities to address the community participation domain. Be HONEST – WIIFM? From the list of previously listed community resources – • What are my options? • What’s in it for me? - school • What’s in it for my partner? 14

15. Mutual Self-Interests • High School Spec Ed Director – • Activities of interest that integrate the student into their community • Community activities that further develop social and / or daily living skills • Social opportunities to become a part of a group and / or make friends • Entity selected – • Increase membership / fees – Rotary, Elks, etc… • Increased # of volunteers – political, non-profits • Talent and diversity – community theatre, chorus 15

16. Foundation Building Blocks • Identify one domain where you need to build a partnership – start with a gap • Brain dump all the available resources & explore the possibilities • Build a small coalition of selected partners and clearly define the self-interests of each party • Develop process for accessing those partnerships • Establish standard meeting times to assess that mutual needs are getting met – monthly at first then quarterly • Once one domain is up and running, add a second domain. 16

17. Building a System of Partnership / Collaboration • Your vision should drive the work. • Focus on functions vs. titles • Recruit strategic partners—don’t do the work alone. • Manage your connections and be accountable. • Partner and “map” internally whenever possible. • Asset mapping is a continual “living” process. 17

18. Building Capacity System Organizations Individuals Internal Organizational Infrastructure Partnership Structure Support for youth and families 18

19. Taking the Next Step • Looking at your transition priorities identify one or two specific goals to address. • Identify individuals / partners who can help you shape the action steps and processes for each of the goals you have identified. • Address needs and self-interests of each partner. • Assess and address needs every time you meet. 19

20. Need Help? Contact Us The Center for Excellence & Advocacy 662 Hartford Avenue Providence, RI 02909 401.283-1111 Lnorris@fedcap.org 20