Narrative: l. 3.

DVR and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) lead a stakeholder group known as the Cross-Agency Collaborative on Transition to explore strategies and opportunities to best meet the needs of out-of-school youth. The collaborative includes staff from the Office of Drop-Out Prevention and Student Re-Engagement at CDE, Workforce Programs, Career & Technical Education, Employment & Training staff focusing on the development of Career Pathways, and the Colorado Workforce Development Council staff. The group released a series of online training modules for local education partners to promote knowledge about agency linkages and services for students with disabilities as they exit out of secondary education. DVR also participates in the State Youth Council–a sub-committee of the Education and Training Steering Committee of the Colorado Workforce Development Council. The State Youth Council advises and champions the creation of multiple pathways to economic and career success for Colorado’s youth. DVR advises and advocates for inclusion in these efforts of youth with disabilities. The State Youth Council includes representatives from various partners serving youth, such as Division of Youth Corrections, Department of Human Services, Foster Care, local Workforce Development Boards, non-profit agencies supporting youth employment, Job Corps, and other community organizations focusing on the needs of youth and youth leaders. Participation in these groups and committees helps to promote post-workforce readiness initiatives such as the Career Development Incentive Program that provides access to, awareness of, and engagement in high-demand and low-supply industry credentials, as well as opportunities for students to prepare for earning these credentials while in high school. 

The framework and workbook of Colorado’s Sequencing of Services was created by state and local stakeholders to improve individual access to services and supports, build local collaboration, and improve student outcomes. The workbook is a tool to help partners navigate services for students with disabilities across an age continuum to achieve the “6 Core Student Outcomes,” including employment, health management, community access, postsecondary opportunities, digital literacy, and building self-determination and leadership skills. The intent and purpose of the workbook is to raise expectations about what is available and ultimately better prepare students with disabilities for adult life. It also allows for strategic planning of services by agencies working toward the same student goals by minimizing duplication and allowing for braiding of services. These efforts initially began with seven pilot sites with the goal to create a self-sustaining project for interagency transition teams to follow independently.