March 15, 2017 / Mytransition region IV | Meeting Notes

Attending:

Cassie Weightman, MILP; Mathea Moline, MT Achievement Project;Shanell Marshall, MILP; Todd Hoar, Silver Bow Developmental Disabilities Council; Les Clark, MILP; Alexis Marthaller, QIS; Shaun Tollach, Vocational Rehabilitation

Announcements:

  • Rally Day in Helena- March 22nd
  • Meet in the rotunda at the Capital 11:30-1:30pm to rally around cuts for services for people with disabilities.
  • Butte Real Life Fair- Tuesday, April 11th
  • This year the team will do a more hands on approach using the “game of life” as a template.
  • Job Fair -Bozeman Tuesday, April 12th
  • We are building separate list serves for issues and updates that directly affect Butte, Bozeman, and Helena regions.
  • To get updates from Helena: email Shanell,
  • To get updates from Bozeman: email Cindy,
  • To get updates from Butte: email Cassie,

** If you have an upcoming event or photos from a work experience or job shadow, please email and we will get them on the website.

Discussion:

Member Updates:

  • MILP: Has the 511 contract and will be traveling all over our service area to discuss competitive, integrated employment to those working at sub-minimum wage jobs. Helena office is working to link information and not duplicate what has already been done. Butte office is working on the Real Life Fair in Butte
  • Vocational Rehabilitation: In order of selection until further notice.

Transition Timeline:

  • Transition timeline has been sent out the listserve and the other districts.
  • Not much feedback so far from the group.

Adjourned: 4:00pm

Next Region IV Meeting:

Wednesday, May 3rd

3:00-4:00pm

Participate at any MILP office or:

US Toll free: +1-855-797-9485
US Toll: +1-415-655-0002
Access code: 669 468 394

****If there are any agenda items you wish to discuss, please email me prior to the meeting.***

Region IV Goals:

Region IV Goals:

Short Term Goals (6 months-1year):

1)Resource Guides

Creating a usable resource guide/handout for each area that can be given to teachers and can be accessed on montanayouthtransitions.org

  1. Gain feedback from parents regarding what information is usable
  2. Prioritize information so that is not overwhelming
  3. Create a team to begin developing tool/resource guide
  4. Put any current usable resource guides on the website
  5. Start conversations about transition in elementary school with parents

2)Training/Presentation

Regarding community resources and transitions opportunities

  1. Coordinate with teachers to schedule in-school presentation, with materials they can give to parents
  2. Schedule community resource/information/transition fairs and open houses and have community programs attend to provide information about their services.

3)Pre-Employment Transition Services

Communication and collaboration on the best way to execute the service

  1. Refer all eligible students to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
  2. Establish methods that help parents follow through with VR applications
  3. Connect partners (schools/agencies) with the Pre-ETS Technical Assistance Center
  4. Help schools that do not currently have a contract with VR for Pre-ETS to obtain the service contract
  5. Establish a list of local businesses that are willing to offer work experiences to qualified students

4)Job Shadow Opportunities

  1. Have students fill out job shadow applications
  2. Create a list of potential job shadow sites
  3. Set a region goal of matching at least 2 students per month with a job shadow.

5)Separate Community Meetings to discuss local transition issues

  1. There will be coordinated meetings every other month (opposite of the MYTransitions call) at the MILP offices in Helena, Bozeman, and Butte to discuss local transition plans, concerns, and to develop usable information.

Long Term Goals (1-3 years):

1)Increase PR Locally and in Rural Areas

  1. Schools
  2. Students
  3. Parents
  4. Community partners

2)Recruitment of Rural Partners

Getting rural communities and schools involved so they have access to the same opportunities larger communities have.

  1. School Staff
  2. Students
  3. Community Partners

3)Resource Guides

  1. Create flow-chart style guide for several disability categories regarding transition points
  2. Create usable, streamlined resource guides for several disability categories
  3. Get publications on the mytransitions website
  4. Get publications in the hands of teachers and parents in the most effective way possible beginning in elementary school
  5. Update forms regularly

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