CaliforniaBridges to Youth

Self-Sufficiency ProjectOverview

Award

SSA awarded YTPD grant 9/30/03

CDOR grantee

5 year research and demonstration project

CA. Bridges Project5 Demonstration Sites (7 School Districts)

A state evaluation

Planned participation in a national evaluation (Mid 2006)

Planned participation in waivers

Mission Statement

Educating youth and their families to use services and supports as a bridge

to greater self-sufficiency

Bridges Project Objectives

1. Increase the self-sufficiency of transition aged youth with disabilities by decreasing their dependence on public benefits; and

2. Conduct a state-level research and evaluation study on this population to inform policy decisions.

Bridges Project Outcomes1. Employment Outcomes

(e.g., work history, part or full time employment)

2. Educational Outcomes (e.g., high school and post secondary completion)

3. Level of Independence (e.g., reduced benefits due to earnings)

4. Service Participation (e.g., participation in all services to determine effectiveness)

5. Quality of Life Indicators (e.g., individual and family satisfaction)

Project Sites1. Capistrano/Saddleback Valley

Unified School District Consortium

2. Irvine/Newport-Mesa Unified School District Consortium

3. Riverside County Office of Education

4. Vallejo City Unified School District

5. Whittier Union High School District

Local and State Advisory Bodies

Purpose:

Provide guidance and technical support

Information sharing

Collaboration and linkages

Facilitate systems change

WorkAbility I

CDE Program since 1981

Serves special education students in middle and secondary school up to age 22

Comprehensive pre-employment preparation, paid and unpaid employment, placement, and follow up

WorkAbility I Outcomes (2003)

301 Programs statewide

12,000 Middle school students served

89,000 High school students served

30,000 annual placements

Transition Partnership Program (TPP)

CDOR program since 1987

Serves secondary through post secondary youth

Community based instruction, vocational and basic skills assessment, tutoring, vocational and work-site training, specific job skills training, pre-employment preparation, work-site evaluation, work experience, career/job development, job placement, job coaching, job retention and follow up services

TPP Outcomes (2003)

86 Programs

14,396 Clients served

2,529 Annual placements

(90 days unsubsidized, post high school)

Bridges Outreach and Recruitment

Youth aged 14-25 in project site areas

SSI, SSDI, CDB or “at risk” of becoming eligible for benefits

Foster youth, youth in juvenile justice system, teen mothers, special education, Section 504, culturally diverse

Each project’s goal will be to serve a minimum of 50 participants at any one time, consisting of a range of participant ages

Bridges ServicesBenefits Planning: Individual benefits counseling and assistance for youth and their families.

Service Coordination: Assess and coordinates individual participant service needs including employment supports

Education: Educating families, partner agencies, and education staff about public benefits, work incentives, and resources

State EvaluationComparison group model

Augmented with CDE and CDOR funds

Measures the impacts of agency interventions

Special Education – Baseline WA I – CDE TPP – CDOR Bridges - SSA

Demographic Summary Overview

94

85%

61%

41%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Number ofParticipants in

database

Percentage of Total Paticipants In School

Percentage of TotalParticipants

Currently Using SSABenefits

Percentage of TotalParticipants Who Are

Female

Demographic Summary by Age

18%

47%

24%11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

14-16 17-19 20-21 22+

Demographic Summary by Diagnosis

Primary Diagnostic Category (Not SSA)

19%

26%

9%10%

19%

3%5%

9%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Autistic Mentally

Retarded

Health Impaired Physical

Disability

Specific

Learning

Disability

Seriously

Emotionally

Disturbed

Multi-Disabled Sensory

Impaired

Demographic Summary by Residence

Living Independently

3%

Licensed Group Home

2%

Foster Home

2%

Parent or Legal Guardian

93%

Demographic Summary by Ethnicity

22%

55%

5%1% 2%

9%

4%1% 1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Number of Participants in Bridges Database

3 8111413141217181815

21

17

22

30

49

94

122

06693

8

March, 04 May, 04 J une, 04

Riverside Vallejo Newport-Mesa Irvine Saddleback Capistrano Whittier Total

Total Participants by Projects

0 3 8111417

22

3015

25

31

11

33

39

49

94

122

6

March, 04 May, 04 J une, 04

Riverside Vallejo Whittier Irvine-Newport/Mesa Saddleback-Capistrano Total

Bridges Program ManagersCapistrano USD – Gerry Strickland

Irvine USD – Linda O’Neal

Newport Mesa USD – Gail Hunt

Riverside COE – Lynn Smith

Saddleback Valley USD – Bobby Menn

Vallejo City USD – Joyce Montgomery

Whittier UHSD – Richard Rosenberg

Transition ChallengesChallenges to self-sufficiency

Systems barriers Community barriers Family issues Youth issues

Bridges potential to impact these challenges

How can SSA assist in ensuring self-sufficiency outcomes for transition age youth

Systems Barriers Current Challenges

Lack of SSA interagency collaboration

Limited SSA involvement in transition

Limited understanding of SSA by education system

No direct link with SSA and education

Bridges Potential ImpactDirect link to SSA

Benefits coordinator trained by SSA experts

Understanding and communication with local SSA offices

Local advisory committee linking SSA, CDOR, EDD, HUD, Medi-Cal, and Regional Centers

Breaks down the SSA myths

Community Barriers Current Challenges

Lack of access to services and resources Business linkages Lack of affordable, accessible transportation and housingLack of affordable and accessible mental health, dental and medical support Links with post secondary education/training support

Bridges Potential ImpactRole of Service Coordinator and community linkagesCoordinators understanding SSA – sharing and disseminating informationAssist with navigating the various systems available to participantsIdentify and link youth and their families to medical, housing, transportation, and available resources

Family Issues

Current ChallengesExpectations are limited

Cultural influences

Fear of losing benefits

Difficulty navigating the SSA system

Lack of knowledge of the SSA system

Bridges Potential ImpactParent training and workshops for community – school, DOR, Regional Center

Material dissemination in various languages

Benefit planning

Role models and peer support

Trouble shooting

Youth Issues Current Challenges

Lack of knowledge of the SSA system and work incentivesYouth prepared and capable of working – not working or underemployedLack of self esteem and self advocacy skills – ADALack of career ladder planning

Bridges Potential ImpactLinkages with job placement

Career curriculum training

Work Experience and work training

Benefits knowledge

Self advocacy training

Linkage to adult agencies

Career planning

Ensuring Self-Sufficiency for Youth

Institutionalize the local SSA linkage with the Education system

SSA provide training in an understandable, culturally sensitive, manner to families and students on benefits and incentives

Examine impact of services and outcomes and replicability of Bridges, to lead to self-sufficiency

Bridges PanelParent/Guardians

Cindy Johnson

Joanna Forth

Lulu Wright

Denise Moon

Jim Henshall

ParticipantsLaneisha Mayo

Patricia Moutez

Patricia Holmes

Jona Henshall

Jestin Samson

Tarek Sinnukrot

CaliforniaBridges to Youth

Self-Sufficiency Project

Thank you for your time and excellent questions.

Communication and Collaboration is the key.

Thank you!