Narrative: d. 2. A.

The DESE Cooperative Agreement is a written agreement within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) between MVR and the Offices of Special Education and College and Career Readiness as well as Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB). The purpose of this agreement is to facilitate the coordination of transition services from school to post–secondary training and/or employment for individuals with disabilities who are enrolled in secondary education and are/or may be eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation services. This agreement addresses the following:

(A) consultation and technical assistance;

(B) transition planning to include pre–employment transition services, focusing on competitive integrated employment outcomes;

(C) roles and responsibilities and financial obligations;

(D) outreach and identification; and

(E) work–based learning experiences to include programs like Project Search.

Special Education Advisory Panel

DESE appointed an advisory panel for the purpose of providing policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for youth and students with disabilities in the state. The advisory panel is appointed by the commissioner of DESE and includes MVR’s assistant director of Transition Services. Other members include:

• parents of children with disabilities (ages birth through 26)

• individuals with disabilities

• representatives of other state agencies involved in the purchase or delivery of related services

• administrators of programs for children with disabilities • state agencies’ representatives who provide services to children with disabilities including welfare and juvenile corrections

• representatives of private schools and public charter schools • vocational, community or business organizations

Missouri Connections

Missouri Connections is a web–based career exploration tool to assist Missourians in determining their career interests, explore employment opportunities, set up career plans and establish job search strategies and resources. Sponsored by DESE and the Department of Economic Development (DED), Missouri Connections is free of charge to students, parents, guidance counselors, educators and job seekers. Through Missouri Connections, DWD, Department of Higher Education, MVR and local school districts can utilize the same career planning tool with their clients/students. In addition to general career exploration/resource sharing, students/job seekers may also develop a career portfolio by creating a unique username/password that will allow them to login and save information regarding their specific career interests, job search, resume, etc. Students/job seekers who are receiving services through one or more of the above entities may also choose to share their login information thus eliminating the duplication of clients’ records and allowing for more efficient and effective services for mutual clients.

MVR Transition Ad–hoc Team

MVR’s assistant commissioner appointed an ad–hoc Transition Team, composed of MVR management and counselor staff as well as special education transition specialists and a representative from the CILs, to provide recommendations about transition–related activities and services for students and youth with disabilities. The team is involved with: coordinating joint statewide training activities for special educators, rehabilitation counselors, providers, and MPACT; developing strategies to better measure and increase overall success rates of students with disabilities receiving transition services; increasing the overall participation and employment outcome of students with disabilities in work experience programs; developing strategies for increasing student engagement and decreasing the dropout rate for students with disabilities from Missouri high schools; and developing strategies for outreach/improving transition outcomes for students from underserved populations.

Missouri Interagency Transition Team (MITT)

The MITT was formed through the Office of Special Education and includes members representing state–level agencies, including MVR, across Missouri who have an interest in improving post–secondary outcomes for youth with disabilities. The MITT meets to collaborate, break down service barriers, share resources, improve overall systems of service and improve data sharing among agencies.

The director of Transition Services works closely with other MVR management staff to disseminate information and provide technical assistance to improve transition services and outcomes in Missouri.

Missouri Parent Training and Information Center (MPACT)

MPACT is a statewide parent training and information center serving all disabilities. A representative of MVR’s supervisory staff is an active member of the MPACT Board. In addition, a representative of MPACT is a member of the State Rehabilitation Council. MVR and MPACT collaborate on projects to assist students and children with disabilities to reach their full potential.

Community Transition Teams (CTTs)

CTTs are developed and supported in Missouri to elevate community awareness of and commitment to the improvement of post–secondary outcomes of youth with disabilities. CTTs are trained on transition planning, services and effective practices as well as implementing a strategic plan for transition in their respective communities. There are 42 CTTs, and an MVR counselor is a required partner on each local CTT.

Project Search and Other Employer–Based Transition Training Programs

Project Search is a one–year, employer–led internship opportunity for VR eligible youth with cognitive/intellectual disabilities. It provides employability skills training and workplace internships for individuals with the most significant disabilities particularly students transitioning from high school to adult life. MVR is one of five required partners in the Project Search model. The other required partners are education, a Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP), a long–term provider (follow–along) and business. The first pilot Project Search site was in the St. Charles County School District. The Office of Special Education awarded funding for training and technical assistance to replicate the Project Search High School Transition Program in the following schools: St. Louis City Public Schools, KC North School District, Sedalia Smith Cotton High School, the Independence School District, and Jefferson City High School. In addition to the Project Search programs, MVR is partnering with the Special School District of St. Louis County, the Franklin County Cooperative, Windsor C–1 School District in Jefferson County, St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis and Mercy Hospitals in each of those counties to provide similar employer–based transition training programs prior to high school graduation for eligible students with most significant disabilities. MVR district offices and counselors that serve each of these schools serve on an executive management team. MVR has made a commitment to assist with referrals and partial funding for training for MVR eligible youth to participate in these programs. In addition, through the supported employment program model, MVR is also working in partnership with CRPs and two other school districts, in Rolla and Columbia, to provide services for youth with disabilities through their employer–led work experience programs.

Show Me Careers Grant – Missouri’s Transition to Employment Collaborative

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, awarded the Institute of Human Development, University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC), a “Partnerships in Employment Systems Change” grant to fund the Show Me Careers project. These funds are used to increase competitive employment outcomes for youth and young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and promote change efforts leading to the development of policies and practices that support competitive employment in integrated settings for youth and adults with developmental disabilities. The MVR director of Transition Services served as a lead consultant in the development of this grant. The MVR director of Transition Services, MVR director of Mental Health Services and the MVR director of Workforce Development, continue to actively serve on the Missouri Show Me Careers Leadership Consortium that will support a statewide structure through which to demonstrate evidence–based practices, revise and develop needed policies and practices, and enhance statewide collaborations.

In order to scale–up or enhance evidence–based practices that support seamless transition, eight Missouri Pilot Communities were chosen through a competitive application process to test ideas on how to bring real and lasting change in the area of transition. Pilot communities developed plans tailored to their local needs and available resources. Initially there were eight Pilot Communities selected to receive funding, coaching, leadership training and technical supports. The remaining seven are: Access II (Gallatin), L.I.F.E. (Farmington), Northeast Missouri (LOQW), Platte County, Show–Me–Columbia, St. Charles County and United Cerebral Palsy (St. Joseph).

Add Us In–Kansas City Grant The Office of Disability Employment Policy awarded the Institute of Human Development, UMKC, a grant to improve employment opportunities for minority youth and enhance employer engagement. The MVR director of Transition Services served as a lead consultant in the development of this grant, and the Transition Services Kansas City MVR district supervisor continues to play an active role in the continuation and completion of grant activities. The overall goal of Add Us In–KC is “to provide a continuum of career opportunities for minority youth with disabilities within the greater Kansas City area through a business–led network that creates jobs and markets workforce training and services to prospective employers.”