CaliforniaBridges to Youth

Self-Sufficiency ProjectOverview

Award

SSA awarded YTPD grant 9/30/03

CDOR grantee

5 year research and demonstration project

CA. Bridges Project5 Demonstration Sites (7 School Districts)

A state evaluation

Planned participation in a national evaluation (Mid 2006)

Planned participation in waivers

Mission Statement

Educating youth and their families to use services and supports as a bridge

to greater self-sufficiency

Bridges Project Objectives1. Increase the self-sufficiency of transition

aged youth with disabilities by decreasing their dependence on public benefits; and

2. Conduct a state-level research and evaluation study on this population to inform policy decisions.

Bridges Project Outcomes1. Employment Outcomes

(e.g., work history, part or full time employment)

2. Educational Outcomes (e.g., high school and post secondary completion)

3. Level of Independence (e.g., reduced benefits due to earnings)

4. Service Participation (e.g., participation in all services to determine effectiveness)

5. Quality of Life Indicators (e.g., individual and family satisfaction)

Project Sites1. Capistrano/Saddleback Valley

Unified School District Consortium

2. Irvine/Newport-Mesa Unified School District Consortium

3. Riverside County Office of Education

4. Vallejo City Unified School District

5. Whittier Union High School District

Local and State Advisory Bodies

Purpose:

Provide guidance and technical support

Information sharing

Collaboration and linkages

Facilitate systems change

WorkAbility ICDE Program since 1981

Serves special education students in middle and secondary school up to age 22

Comprehensive pre-employment preparation, paid and unpaid employment, placement, and follow up

WorkAbility I Outcomes (2003)301 Programs statewide

12,000 Middle school students served

89,000 High school students served

30,000 annual placements

Transition Partnership Program (TPP)

CDOR program since 1987

Serves secondary through post secondary youth

Community based instruction, vocational and basic skills assessment, tutoring, vocational and work-site training, specific job skills training, pre-employment preparation, work-site evaluation, work experience, career/job development, job placement, job coaching, job retention and follow up services

TPP Outcomes (2003)

86 Programs

14,396 Clients served

2,529 Annual placements(90 days unsubsidized, post high school)

Bridges Outreach and RecruitmentYouth aged 14-25 in project site areas

SSI, SSDI, CDB or “at risk” of becoming eligible for benefits

Foster youth, youth in juvenile justice system, teen mothers, special education, Section 504, culturally diverse

Each project’s goal will be to serve a minimum of 50 participants at any one time, consisting of a range of participant ages

Bridges ServicesBenefits Planning: Individual benefits counseling and assistance for youth and their families.

Service Coordination: Assess and coordinates individual participant service needs including employment supports

Education: Educating families, partner agencies, and education staff about public benefits, work incentives, and resources

State EvaluationComparison group model

Augmented with CDE and CDOR funds

Measures the impacts of agency interventions

Special Education – Baseline WA I – CDE TPP – CDOR Bridges - SSA

Demographic Summary Overview

9485%

61%

41%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Number ofParticipants in

database

Percentage of Total Paticipants In School

Percentage of TotalParticipants

Currently Using SSABenefits

Percentage of TotalParticipants Who Are

Female

Demographic Summary by Age

18%

47%

24%11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

14-16 17-19 20-21 22+

Demographic Summary by DiagnosisPrimary Diagnostic Category (Not SSA)

19%

26%

9% 10%

19%

3%5%

9%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Autistic MentallyRetarded

Health Impaired PhysicalDisability

SpecificLearningDisability

SeriouslyEmotionallyDisturbed

Multi-Disabled SensoryImpaired

Demographic Summary by ResidenceLiving Independently

3%

Licensed Group Home2%

Foster Home2%

Parent or Legal Guardian93%

Demographic Summary by Ethnicity

22%

55%

5%1% 2%

9%4%

1% 1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Number of Participants in Bridges Database

3 811 141314121718181521

17

22

30

49

94

122

06693

8

March, 04 May, 04 J une, 04

Riverside Vallejo Newport-Mesa Irvine Saddleback Capistrano Whittier Total

Total Participants by Projects

0 3 811 141722

3015

25

31

11

33

39

49

94

122

6

March, 04 May, 04 J une, 04

Riverside Vallejo Whittier Irvine-Newport/Mesa Saddleback-Capistrano Total

Bridges Program ManagersCapistrano USD – Gerry Strickland

Irvine USD – Linda O’Neal

Newport Mesa USD – Gail Hunt

Riverside COE – Lynn Smith

Saddleback Valley USD – Bobby Menn

Vallejo City USD – Joyce Montgomery

Whittier UHSD – Richard Rosenberg

Transition ChallengesChallenges to self-sufficiency

Systems barriers Community barriers Family issues Youth issues

Bridges potential to impact these challenges

How can SSA assist in ensuring self-sufficiency outcomes for transition age youth

Systems Barriers Current Challenges

Lack of SSA interagency collaborationLimited SSA involvement in transitionLimited understanding of SSA by education systemNo direct link with SSA and education

Bridges Potential ImpactDirect link to SSABenefits coordinator trained by SSA expertsUnderstanding and communication with local SSA officesLocal advisory committee linking SSA, CDOR, EDD, HUD, Medi-Cal, and Regional CentersBreaks down the SSA myths

Community Barriers Current Challenges

Lack of access to services and resources Business linkages Lack of affordable, accessible transportation and housingLack of affordable and accessible mental health, dental and medical support Links with post secondary education/training support

Bridges Potential ImpactRole of Service Coordinator and community linkagesCoordinators understanding SSA – sharing and disseminating informationAssist with navigating the various systems available to participantsIdentify and link youth and their families to medical, housing, transportation, and available resources

Family Issues Current Challenges

Expectations are limitedCultural influencesFear of losing benefitsDifficulty navigating the SSA systemLack of knowledge of the SSA system

Bridges Potential ImpactParent training and workshops for community – school, DOR, Regional CenterMaterial dissemination in various languagesBenefit planningRole models and peer supportTrouble shooting

Youth Issues Current Challenges

Lack of knowledge of the SSA system and work incentivesYouth prepared and capable of working – not working or underemployedLack of self esteem and self advocacy skills – ADALack of career ladder planning

Bridges Potential ImpactLinkages with job placementCareer curriculum trainingWork Experience and work trainingBenefits knowledgeSelf advocacy trainingLinkage to adult agenciesCareer planning

Ensuring Self-Sufficiency for YouthInstitutionalize the local SSA linkage with the Education system

SSA provide training in an understandable, culturally sensitive, manner to families and students on benefits and incentives

Examine impact of services and outcomes and replicability of Bridges, to lead to self-sufficiency

Bridges PanelParent/Guardians

Cindy JohnsonJoanna ForthLulu WrightDenise MoonJim Henshall

ParticipantsLaneisha MayoPatricia MoutezPatricia HolmesJona HenshallJestin SamsonTarek Sinnukrot

CaliforniaBridges to Youth

Self-Sufficiency Project

Thank you for your time and excellent questions.

Communication and Collaboration is the key.

Thank you!