Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD) Project Descriptions

CALIFORNIA

Bridges to Youth Self Sufficiency

This project is a school-based project that offers information services, early intervention, intensive service coordination, and benefits planning. The Bridges project, led by the California Health and Human Services Agency, Department of Rehabilitation, operates in five sites in California. The Bridges project enrolled a total of 500 youth ages 14-25.

COLORADO

Youth Work Incentive Network of Support (WINS)

Youth WINS provides benefits counseling, consumer navigation, career counseling, and individualized job development and placement. Services are provided by three person teams housed in local workforce centers. Colorado Youth WINS is led by the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and will enroll 400 participants ages 14-25.

FLORIDA

The Broadened Horizons Brighter Futures Program (BHBF)

BHBF, operated by Abilities Inc. of Florida, works with traditional and non-traditional partners to provide customized employment services to youth with disabilities. The project uses a combination of empowerment training, customized employment, work experiences, and benefits counseling to promote employment for its participants. A partner organization, the Human Services Coalition, offers financial literacy training and connects interested youth to community-based Individual Development Accounts. The project will enroll 400 youth, either in or out of school, who are ages 16 to 22 at the time of enrollment and live in Miami-Dade county.

MARYLAND

The Career Transition Program (CTP)

CTP serves youth with Severe Emotional Disabilities (SED) and offers individualized planning, mentoring, counseling and support based on the specific vocational goals and mental health needs of the student. Services offered include job development, work based experiences, linkages with community agencies, youth empowerment and development of valuable life skills for the student. In addition, the program seeks to form alliances with and provide support and education for parents, counselors, teachers and other referring sources (in support of the student). The individualization of the ongoing services and follow up services are a key aspect to this program. The program targets juniors and seniors in Montgomery County, MD with SED and will enroll 400 participants.

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi Youth Transition Innovation (MYTI)

MYTI emphasizes person-centered planning and includes the use of individual development accounts (IDAs). Customized employment is a key feature of the model. Employers assist in pre-career development for participants. MYTI varies the focus of its services according to the age range of participants (10-13, 14-18, and 18-21). The MYTI project is led by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, operates in three school districts, and enrolled a total of 200 participants.

NEW YORK

CUNY Youth Transition Demonstration Project

This project provides person-centered planning, benefits counseling, vocational skills development, recreational activities, self-determination sessions, and parent-peer mentoring in Saturday group workshops located on two CUNY campuses, along with the opportunity to participate in summer work experiences. The project is led by the City University of New York and targets 17-year-old, Bronx County students and their families. The project will enroll 400 youth.

Transition WORKS

This project emphasizes self-advocacy and person-centered planning for youth and families located in Erie County. Transition Works provides job placement, work experience, intensive case management, transition planning, career exploration, and benefits counseling. Led by the Erie 1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services and the New York State Department of Education, this school-based project will enroll 400 youth ages 14-25.

WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia Youth Works

This project offers a person-centered planning approach to deliver customized services and supports to SSI recipients ages 16 to 22 in three selected counties. Human Resource Development Foundation, Inc. (HRDF) partners with the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities (WVUCED) to deliver the intervention services. Core elements of the intervention include: Person-centered assessment and planning, a variety of work experiences, job development and job placement support, on-going project services and supports (e.g., family resources and transportation assistance), benefits planning and counseling, and job retention services.