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Administration on Developmental Disabilitiesskip to primary page content

Priority III Grant Abstracts

CA | DC | DE | IA | MD | MN | NC | NM | OK | OR | WA

Youth Information, Training, and Resource Center
A Project of National Significance from ADD

Youth Information, Training and Resources Centers Fact Sheet

 

Title:
"Center for Emerging Leadership: Peer to Peer Mentorship By and For People with Developmental Disabilities"

Abstract:
The CEL program partners with self advocates, families, and professionals from the rehabilitation, education, and housing areas to develop a center that will enhance the self advocacy and leadership skills of individuals with developmental disabilities. The program uses a peer model “for and by” people with disabilities who are employed at the center. Peer mentors assist youth with advocacy and speak at group meetings, classes, and conferences on a range of topics such as advocacy, employment, and living in the community.

Institute:
San Diego State University Foundation
5250 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-1900

Contact:
Dr. Marjorie Olney
(619) 594-6883
(619) 594-0991 FAX
E-mail Address: molney@mail.sdsu.edu

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$99,997 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0201


Title:
"The South Los Angeles Youth and Young Adult Determination Center" (SLAYD)

Abstract:
SLAYD strives to create innovative opportunities for youth and emerging leaders with developmental disabilities to reach their goals and achieve their dreams. The center focuses on three key areas: education, employment, and healthcare. They assist youth in gaining access to community self advocacy, leadership, and mentoring programs. They work with local agencies, conduct training, disseminate materials, and provide information and referrals. Information is available in alternative formats and languages other than English (upon request).

Institute:
Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
Department of Pediatrics
University Affiliated Program
4650 Sunset Blvd, Mail Stop #53
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Contact:
Cecily Betz Ph.D. RN.
(323) 669-2300 ext 7758
(323) 671-3835 FAX
E-mail Address: cbetz@chla.usc.edu

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$100,000 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0194

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Title:
"The District of Columbia Self-Advocacy Empowerment Center"

Abstract:
The District of Columbia Self-Advocacy Empowerment Center is designed by and for youth with developmental disabilities from underserved communities. DC youth and emerging leaders learn about policies; services and supports that impact their lives assisting them in school, obtaining employment and opportunities for further development as leaders and self advocates. The empowerment groups provide youth and their families with direct tutoring, counseling, leadership training, and self advocacy and provide a supportive community and opportunities for leadership development. The empowerment groups receive technical assistance and have access to youth-friendly, culturally appropriate web based information, referral, and planning resources specific to the Washington, D.C. area and pertinent to employment and higher education. Materials are available in English and Spanish.

Institute:
Inclusion Research Institute
1010 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 340
Washington, DC 20007

Contact:
Carl Thomas Cameron, Ph.D.
(202) 338-7158 ext. 201
(202) 338-7216 FAX
E-mail Address: ctcameron@inclusioninc.com

Period:
09/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$100,000 per funding year

Project Officers:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0165

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Title:
"National Consortium on Leadership and Disability – Youth (NCLD-Y)"

Abstract:
The NCLD-Youth is developing a National Youth Center and working on developing disability-specific curricula. The curricula is currently being disseminated and tested in various pre-selected states and is building a network of National, State and local level partnerships of peer mentors, adult advisors, and councils containing youth with disabilities and emerging leaders. The NCLD-Youth wants to assist emerging leaders, arming them with training and information to influence state and local youth development and take more prominent roles in affecting public policy and local government.

Institute:
Institute for Educational Leadership
1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20036

Contact:
Curtis Richards
(202) 822-8405 ext 163
(202) 872-4050 FAX
E-mail Address: richardsc@iel.org

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$98,277 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0206

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Title:
"Leadership, Employment, Advocacy, Development" (LEAD)

Abstract:
LEAD promotes the benefits of education, employment, recreation, and health for enhancing the lives and well being of youth and emerging leaders, and increasing their community participation.. Three Youth Centers across the state develop, maintain, and offer access to database and web-based information and resources. Youth participate on a project advisory committee, through volunteer and service work, employment, higher education programs, social networking, and centralized information and services through the Youth Centers. LEAD also conducts a Junior Partners in Policymaking program for youth and emerging leaders to develop skills in leadership, policy, and self advocacy.

Institute:
University of Delaware
College of Human Resources, Education, and Public Policy
Center for Disability Studies
166 Graham Hall
Newark, DE 19716

Contact:
Cory Nourie
(302) 831-1705
(302) 831-2828 FAX
E-mail Address: nourie@udel.edu

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$99,883 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0202

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Title:
"Iowa Self-Advocacy and Leadership for Youth with Disabilities (SALYD)"

Abstract:
SALYD is establishing a statewide advocacy organization for youth with developmental disabilities and is empowering youth and emerging leaders with developmental disabilities as key leaders in the design of the information and resource center. The center assists youth in polishing their self-advocacy skills so they can participate in the Center design, and contribute on a broader scale to the statewide system design effort.

Institute:
Iowa Department of Human Services
1305 East Walnut
Hoover State Office, Fifth Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319-0114

Contact:
Ms. Becky Flores
(515) 281-4593
(515) 242-6036 FAX
E-mail Address: bflores1@dhs.state.ia.us

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2005

Funding:
$81,189 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0209

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Title:
"Youth Center for Youth, Information, Education and Leadership for Developmental Disabilities" (YIELDD)

Abstract:
The Youth Center promotes the independent living and transition skills of individuals with developmental disabilities. Through the program, youth gain the skills and knowledge required to attain and retain quality education, stable employment and housing, and the potential to live the independent lives they choose. The leadership program addresses core independent living issues such as disability history, culture, self-esteem, rights training, policy issues, and advocacy skills. Participants of the program are connected with important resources and tools to help them move toward independent living.

Institute:
Access Living of Metropolitan of Chicago
614 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL. 60607

Contact:
Karen Tamley
(312) 253-7000
(312) 253-7001 FAX
E-mail Address: ktamley@accessliving.org

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$50,000 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0211

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Title:
"Youth Empowerment Alliance"

Abstract:
The Center provides information on promising practices and resources for youth with developmental disabilities, their families, professionals, and others. The Center reviews, develops, implements, evaluates, and widely distributes leadership training curricula on increasing student participation in their Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s). Key areas include how students can take the lead in their IEP’s and increase their self-advocacy/self determination skills. Youth and emerging leaders engage in activities that enable them to define a vision for themselves and their communities, and connect them with mentors and community resources. The Youth Empowerment Alliance believes that increasing youth skills can result in increased graduation rates, successful transition planning, obtaining employment, and a higher quality of life. The center will also help strengthen organizations to become more welcoming, inclusive, and supporting to youth leaders with developmental disabilities.

Institute:
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
Maryland Department of Disabilities
300 W Lexington Street, Box 10
Baltimore, MD 21201

Contact:
Brian Cox
(410) 767-3670
(410) 333-3686 FAX
E-mail Address: brianc@md-council.org

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$100,000 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0193

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Title:
"Pathways: The Road to Leadership"

Abstract:
The Pathways program seeks to increase the odds of youth minorities with developmental disabilities and emerging leaders to seek and maintain employment. The Pathways training program is one that can be replicated throughout Minnesota and the rest of the United States. The Center conducts expanded outreach for its pre-partner leadership course for emerging leaders and includes a virtual and computerized learning center, resources and referral services, leadership training, and opportunities to obtain mentoring.

Institute:
IPSII, Inc.
6611 Lynwood Blvd.
Richfield, MN 55423

Contact:
Julie Ann Kenney, MPA
(612) 861-3215
(612) 866-7546 FAX
E-mail Address: Julie_kenney@ksg02.harvard.edu

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$100,000 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0210

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Title:
"The Next Generation: Acting for Advocacy" (A4A)

Abstract:
The Next Generation: Acting for Advocacy is designed to empower youth and emerging leaders with developmental disabilities in school districts within underserved areas of North Carolina. A4A wants to improve the odds for youth with developmental disabilities to graduate with a high school diploma and find and maintain employment. Their model “a rehearsal for life” approach has students practice applying tools through activities and enacting realistic situations with the support of emerging leaders and mentors. Students, through the program, increase self advocacy skills, strengthen their sense of competency and competence levels, and develop a more positive expectation for their futures. The program also involves parents, guardians and school personnel.

This model utilize "a rehearsal for life" approach, in which students practice applying tools through activities and by enacting realistic situations with the support of emerging leaders as mentors. As students participate in project activities, they will improve their self-advocacy skills, strengthen their sense of competency and competence, and develop a positive expectation for their future. The project will also inform and involve parents, guardians, and school personnel.

Institute:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Center for Development and Learning
School of Medicine
104 Airport Drive, Suite 2200
Campus Box # 1350
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1350

Contact:
J. Gregory Olley, Ph.D.
(919) 966-4613
(919) 966-2230 FAX
E-mail Address: greg.olley@cdl.unc.edu

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$100,000 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0195


Title:
"El Poder de los Jovenes," (Empowerment of Youth)

Abstract:
El Poder del Los Jovenes offers information, training, and resources to young people with developmental disabilities in the southern Dona Ana County of New Mexico. The project is formulating a detailed plan to increase self advocacy and self determination skills to help young people achieve their goals and improve educational and employment outcomes. The program also helps to increase the capacity of community organizations to promote inclusion and participation of youth with disabilities and emerging leaders through person-centered planning, mentoring, self-advocacy training, community leadership, and policy-making activities.

Institute:
The Arc of New Mexico
3655 Carlisle NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110

Contact:
Randy Costales
(505) 883-4630
(505) 883-5564 FAX
E-mail Address: rcostales@arcnm.org

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$100,000 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0190


Title:
"Kids as Self Advocates" (KASA)

Abstract:
Family Voices (FV), www.familyvoices.org, is a national grassroots network of families, friends, and advocates for health care services that are family-centered, based in the community and culturally competent for all children and youth with special health care needs. FV promotes the inclusion of all families and supports partnerships between families and professionals. The Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) project of Family Voices, www.fvkasa.org, is a national, grassroots network of youth with disabilities (and our friends), speaking out. We are leaders in our communities, and we help spread helpful, positive information among our peers to increase knowledge around various issues. We also help health care professionals, policymakers and other adults in our communities understand what it is like to live our lives and we participate in discussions about how to help each other succeed. Information and resources are available to youth with disabilities across the U.S., in youth-friendly and accessible language, and is often written and researched by youth for youth.

Institute:
Family Voices
2340 Alamo SE, Suite 102
Albuquerque, NM 87106

Contact:
Jennifer Cernoch
(505) 872-4774
(505) 872-4780 FAX
E-mail Address: jcernoch@familyvoices.org

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$100,000 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0192

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Title:
"Oklahoma Alliance for Youth" (OKAY)

Abstract:
OKAY works with unserved and underserved youth and emerging leaders, including those in foster care and/or living in rural areas of the Oklahoma City area. OKAY strives to improve leadership skills through comprehensive training to assist youth and emerging leaders in practicing skills and building confidence through active involvement in youth-led service projects. OKAY also matches mentors to youth with disabilities and provides information to enhance youths’ ability to make successful informed choices, and increase career opportunities and employment outcomes.

Institute:
The University of Oklahoma
National Center for Disability, Education, and Training (NCDET)
106 Constitution, Building 158
Norman, OK 73072-7820

Contact:
Rebecca Cook
(405) 325-0158
(405) 325-1632 FAX
E-mail Address: rfcook@ou.edu

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$100,000 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0174

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Title:
"National Youth Information Center" (NYIC)

Abstract:
The NYIC will be led by youth. The Center incorporates evidence-based approaches for youth-directed leadership development to increase the education, employment, independent living, health and disability awareness, and pride of the next generation of youth and emerging leaders with developmental disabilities and youth with cognitive disabilities. NYIC serves as a national hub of information sharing and exchange, mentorship, and empowerment that energizes youth and emerging leaders to become fully participating members and leaders in society. The National Youth Information Center is a program component of the National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN).

Institute:
Portland State University
Regional Research Institute for Human Services
PO Box 751 RRI
Portland, OR 97207

Contact:
Laurie E. Powers
(503) 725-4040
(503) 725-4180 FAX
E-mail Address: powersl@pdx.edu

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$100,000 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0189

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Title:
"Self-Advocacy Mentoring Project"

Abstract:
In partnership with People First of Washington and two pilot school districts, the Washington Protection and Advocacy (P & A) System provides mentoring and training to students with developmental disabilities in transition. The project establishes relationships among high school and middle school students with disabilities and community leaders with disabilities to foster advocacy skills and increase the awareness of rights and responsibilities by transition-aged youth. The Washington P&A System will also pilot information and referral centers program in other school districts.

Institute:
Washington Protection and Advocacy System
315 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 850
Seattle, WA 98104

Contact:
Betty Schwieterman (206) 324-1521 ext 209
(206) 957-0729 Fax
E-mail Address: bettys@wpas-rights.org

Period:
9/30/2004 – 9/29/2007

Funding:
$100,000 per funding year

Project Officer:
Ophelia McLain
(202) 690-7025
E-mail Address: omclain@acf.hhs.gov

Project #:
90DN0208

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Youth Information, Training and Resource Centers:

In 2004, ADD awarded funding to 15 youth grantees to design and implement Youth Information, Training and Resource Centers. A year later, Enterprise Services and Technologies, Inc. (EST) was awarded the contract to provide technical assistance to the youth grantees. EST staff coordinates the annual Technical Assistance Institute, facilitates grantee conference calls, maintains a database of experts and addresses technical assistance needs. Through this contract, a technical assistance web site has also been developed and may be viewed at: www.addyic.org.