Group of professionals sharing similar goals and interests

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Career Connection
Whatever It Takes a Job an Education a Life
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Everyone Has the Right to LiveWork and Play in
the Community
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COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE (CoP)Group of
professionals sharing similar goals and
interests, and benefiting from each others
expertise who are committed to better practices.
Transition Partners

• Social Services Foster care Parks
  and Recreation
• Social Security Administration
• Businesses
• Employment Developmental Department (EDD)
• One Stop
• Job Corp
• Workforce Investment Act, WIA
• Cal Works
• California Conservation Corps
• Regional Center
• DDS
• Military
• Adult School
• ROP
• Apprenticeship
• Court and Community Schools, CYA, Probation

• Education
• Church/Faith Based
• Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
• Youth Organizations
• Mental Health
• YMCA
• Community College Boys/Girls
  Club
• 4-Year College
• Community Chamber of Commerce
• Housing Authority (HUD)
• Service organizations, e.g. Kiwanis, Lions,
• Family Services / city government
• Community Centers

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Career ConnectionWho We Are----Mission
Statement

• Career Connection coordinates the efforts of the
  Whittier Union High School District, El Rancho
  Unified School District, the Whittier Area
  Cooperative Special Education Program, the
  California Dept. of Rehabilitation WorkAbility II
  TPP, the California State Dept. of Education
  WorkAbility I, California Mentoring Initiative
  for Youth with Disabilities and SSA Bridges to
  Youth Self-Sufficiency Project to provide
  employment opportunities for middle school, high
  school, transition students and adults with
  disabilities

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Career Connection Services

• COLLABORATION
• DR
• SSA
• Work Investment Act WIA
• Regional Center
• Adult Community Support

• CAREER / VOCATIONAL
• Vocational Counseling
• Job Development
• Work Skills Training
• Vocational Training
• Job Coaching
• Vocational Assessment
•  
• GRANT SUPPORT
• Job Development
• WorkAbility I
• Middle School WorkAbility
• Transition Partnership Project (TPP)
• WorkAbility II
• SSA Bridges to Self Sufficiency
• Ticket to Work

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Career ConnectionGrant Support

• WorkAbility I
• Middle School WorkAbility
• Transition Partnership Project (TPP)
  WorkAbility II
• Social Security Bridges
• Ticket to Work
• California Mentor Initiative
• Prop 63 Mental Health Serv. Act
• Foster Care Transition TBA

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Career Connection Project Staff

• California High School
• Vocational Counselor / Dennis Milligan
• Job Developer / Kelly Kyle
• Vocational Technician / Rachel Casarez
•  
• El Rancho High School
• Vocational  Counselor / Francis Nguyen
• Job Developer / Armida Magallanes
• Vocational Technician / Dolores Ruiz
•  
• Santa Fe Springs High School
• Vocational Counselor / Wendy Tietjen
• Job Developer / Rose Castro
• Vocational Technician / Kari Hogue
•  

• Pioneer High School
• Vocational Counselor / Wendy Tietjen
• Vocational Counselor (SED / DHH / SH Programs) /
  Dennis Milligan
• Job Developer / Rose Castro
• Job Developer (SED / DHH / SH Programs) / Cindy
  Tapia
• La Serna High School
• Vocational Counselor Job Developer Susan
  Summerhays
• Whittier High School
• Vocational Counselor / Richard Rosenberg
• Job Developer / Judy Holland
• Job Developer / Naomi McCool

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Cont.. Career Connection Staff

• Frontier High School
• Vocational Counselor / Richard Rosenberg
• Job Developer / Renee Magallanes
• Middle School WorkAbility Project
• Linda Lowrey
• Kathy Lyons
• Brenda Wilson
• Work Skills Program
• Aida Gerhart
• Anthony Alonso
• Transition Program WorkAbility Staff
• Program Director / Bonnie Bolton
• Job Developer / Lisa Andersen

• Bridges Program / Ticket to Work Program
• Benefits Coordinator / Teri Chang
• Services Coordinator / Julie Johnson
•  
• California Mentoring Program
• Program Manager  / Ginni Bachtelle
• Vocational Specialist / Monica Lopez
•  
• Department of Rehabilitation
• Sr. Voc. Rehabilitation Counselor / Carmen
  Briones
• Sr. Voc. Rehabilitation Counselor / Cheryl Duran

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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

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MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM
VISION STATEMENT
WACSEP will provide the targeted middle school
students involved in the program a means to
express and explore their career interests. They
will gain additional understanding of a variety
of careers upon entering high school . Upon
completion of this program, students will
demonstrate self awareness, an awareness of their
disability, and the impact it will have on their
lives.
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Services provided by WorkAbility I

• The WorkAbility I program provides comprehensive
  pre-employment training, employment placement and
  follow-up for high school students in special
  education, who are making the transition from
  school to work, independent living and post
  secondary education or training.  The WorkAbility
  I program is funded and administered by the
  California Department of Education, Special
  Education Division.
•  
• .

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Career Connectionprovides

• Through the WorkAbility I Program and in
  conjunction with the California Department of
  Education and Department of Rehabilitation,
  juniors and seniors with an IEP can qualify for
  services.  Career Connection works with high
  school students at the following high schools
  California, El Rancho, Frontier, Sante Fe
  Springs, Pioneer, La Serna, and Whittier. 

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Job Club

• Being a successful employee
• Filling out an I9 Form
• Employee rights on the job
• Treating customers well worksheet
• Personal grooming / appropriate dress
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Attendance on the job
• Accepting orders / criticism
• Cooperation with co-workers
• Harassment / Discrimination
• Barriers to communication Listening skills
• Decision making
• How to quit a job

• Continuing Education Training
• Goals for your future what are your options
  Employment / College / Conservation Job Corp./
  Military what steps do you need to take to reach
  your goal(s)
• Guest speakers, Nancy (ROP), Pat (Trader Joes),
  Sheriff Holloway, Chris (Respiratory Therapist)
• Community college dates and registration
  information
• Financial Aid forms / Cindy Patricio

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CDE/DOR INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT

• California Department of Education (CDE)
• California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)

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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

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Successful Transition

• Requires careful planning and a strong
  commitment from student, family members, school
  personnel, adult service providers, and community
  agencies.

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Transition Curriculum

• The Whittier Union High School District
  Transition Program curriculum focuses on
  independent living skills and is community based
  where instruction occurs in the natural
  environment.

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Curriculum Continued

• Employment
• Training and Education
• Recreation/Leisure
• Independent Living
• Social Relationships
• Residential
• Financial/Economic skills

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Employment

• The Transition Program consists of three
  employment possibilities
• Competitive employment
• Supportive employment
• Volunteer work

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California Mentoring Initiative for Youth with
Disabilities
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MENTORING

• Positive Effects
• Building Student Relationships
• Student Identification
• Dual Effects on Student Mentors

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WHY MENTORING?

• 113,000 transition age youth with disabilities
  ages 16-26 years old in California
• DOR serves 42,000 transition age youth with
  disabilities in California
• HS drop out rate for youth with disabilities is
  twice the rate of non-disabled peers
• 12 of individuals with disabilities graduate
  from college compared with 23 of non-disabled
  adults
• 29 of individuals with disabilities are employed
  compared to 79 of non-disabled

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California Mentoring Initiative for Youth with
Disabilities

• The California Mentoring Initiative for Youth
  with Disabilities (CMI) is a new and exciting
  five-year research project that hopes to empower
  youth and young adults in the community to make
  positive life choices enabling them to maximize
  their potential.
• Working in collaboration with San Diego State
  Universitys Interwork Institute, the California
  Depart. Of Rehabilitation (DOR), the Whittier
  Union High School District Career Connection, the
  Irvine Unified School District Link, TransAcess,
  and the East Side School District, CMI intends to
  help youth and young adults develop and reach
  positive academic career and personal goals.

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Career Connection 9401 South Painter
Avenue Whittier, CA 90605 562-698-81211250 562-69
3-4414 fax Richard.Rosenberg_at_wuhsd.k12.ca.us
Vallejo City Unified School District 1800 Ascot
Parkway Vallejo, CA 94590 707-556-5700 ext
51089 707-649-3961 fax Jmontgomery_at_vallejo.k12.ca.
su
Newport Mesa Unified School District 2985 8-M
Bear Street Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714-424-5058 714-
424-7568 fax Ghunt_at_musd.us
         
         
Saddleback Valley Unified School District 25121
Pradera Drive Mission Viejo, CA
92691 949-830-5302 949-206-1220 fax Menn_at_svusd.org
Irvine Unified School District 5050 Barranca
Parkway Irvine, CA 92604 949-936-5040 949-936-5259
fax Loneal_at_iusd.org
Riverside County office of Education 3939 13th
Street Riverside, CA 92502 951-529-2095 951-826-64
40 fax Lsmith_at_rcoe.k12.ca.us
Capistrano Unified School District 31576 El
Camino Real San Juan Capistrano
92675 949-489-7108 949-493-6457
fax Gstrickland_at_capousd.org
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Bridges to Youth Self-Sufficiency

• YTD
• California

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What is Bridges?

• A Very Special Opportunity for Young People Who
  Want to Become Independent, Earn More Money and
  Contribute to the Community
• Californias Bridges to Youth Self-Sufficiency is
  an exciting program sponsored by the Social
  Security Administration, the California Dept. of
  Rehabilitation, and seven California school
  districts.
• This program is dedicated to informing and
  motivating families and young people with
  disabilities about work and current work
  incentives, assisting them with the transitions
  to work, and helping them maximize their economic
  independence and achieve greater self-sufficiency.

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The Bridges ProgramWho Can Participate

• While everyone is welcome to attend our
  workshops, individuals with the following
  characteristics are likely to benefit most from
  this project
• 14 25 years of age
• U.S. Citizenship or legally eligible to work in
  the US
• Currently receiving SSI/SSDI/CDB or may become
  eligible for benefits at age 18 when deemed
  parental income no longer applies
• Disabled with disability impacting ability to
  obtain gainful employment
•  May be eligible for Department of Rehabilitation
  and/or Regional Center services 

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The Bridges ProgramHow Does it Work?

• Parent agrees to participate in at least three
  workshops.
• Parent/participant agrees to release his/her
  employment and benefits information to the school
  district
• Department of Rehabilitation and other agencies
  as needed for purposes of the SSA/Bridges
  Project.
• Participant agrees to participate in all required
  program activities for the five program years. 

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How Ticket to Work Works

• Each eligible youth will automatically receive a
  Ticket in the mail upon reaching age 18 and
  remaining on SSI or SSDI after their first CDR
  under adult criteria. 
• As long as the beneficiary has an assigned Ticket
  and is actively participating, that beneficiary
  will not have to go through a Medical Continuing
  Disability Review. 
• The Ticket To Work and Self Sufficiency Program
  is the first completely outcome-based employment
  and support services payment system in which the
  schools can participate.   
• The legislation is designed to remove some of the
  barriers that previously influenced peoples
  decisions about going to work because of concerns
  over losing health care coverage
• The Ticket to Work Program can help to ensure the
  successful transition of youth with disabilities
  from school to work and adulthood through the
  provision of employability services, supports,
  and incentives.

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Ticket To Work

• The goal of the Ticket Program is to increase
  opportunities and choices for Social Security
  beneficiaries to obtain employment, vocational
  rehabilitation and other support services from
  public and private providers, employers and other
  organizations. 
• The Ticket to Work Program is an employment
  program for people with disabilities who are
  interested in going to work.
• The Ticket to Work Program serves beneficiaries
  receiving SSI or SSDI who are age 18 or older and
  have not reached age 65. 
• The Ticket to Work Program is completely
  voluntary.

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Ticket to Work
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Career Connection Ticket Process

• Calls
• Interview ticket holder in regards to their
  goals
• Work
• Education
• Training
• Interview ticket holder in regards to their
  work history
• Education
• Transportation
• Disability/Limitations
• Last employed
• Explanation of TTW Program
• Individual Work Plan (IWP)
• Continuing Disability Review (CDR) Exemption
• Payments our EN could receive
• Career Connection EN offers
• Benefit Planning/CWIC Services
• Pre-Employment Services
• Resume assistance
• Interview skills

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• Set an appointment for meeting
• Bring DL and SS card
• Disability benefit paperwork
• Ticket Assignment
• Review what was discussed in original phone
  interview and answer any new/other questions
• Complete IWP, including our requirements
• Must have a work or education goal, We will not
  create one for them
• Follow SSA rules of reporting income and
  additional copy to Career Connection
• Follow SSA rule of reporting changes in living
  status and additional copy to CC
• Participant must job search independently of CC
• Considering having participant sign a release
  allowing us to contact their employer for
  unreported pay
• Sign SSA releases - BPQY
• Discuss all other aspects of IWP and answer any
  questions
• Sign IWP and give a copy to participant
• Make 2nd appt for resume update or assistance
• Post resume on websites
• Ongoing
• Call with job leads
• Call to review where participant has applied,
  posted resume, job leads

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• send a Work Activity Report so they will be
  aware of what information SSA will eventually
  need.
• Try to keep in contact, email if possible, to
  assist with problems
• Payment Requests (Milestone/Outcomes) Milestones
• Complete Maximus Payment Request Form
• Some type of official earnings record must be
  used for milestone payment requests. (pay stubs
  work best)
• An Earnings Evidence Table must be completed
  for milestones (no longer required)
• Fax or mail to Maximus
• Payment Request Form
• Completed Earnings Evidence Table (6 on request)
• Pay stubs
• If everything is correct and legible, a payment
  will be electronically sent to the bank
• If there is a problem a fax will be sent and
  there is an opportunity to appeal/add/correct the
  missing information
• Payment Requests (Milestone/Outcomes) Outcomes
• A customized payment request form could be used
  for quarterly billing and it included
• EN name and EIN number
• Ticket Holder name and SS
• Ticket Holders Employer name and address (can be
  paid without name)
• Months billed for
• To the best of our knowledge, the named ticket
  holders work during each of the past 3 months
  was at a level that would preclude the payment of
  federal cash disability-based payments by SS.
  AND Career Connection agrees to repay any outcome
  payments we receive that were not due our
  organization

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The only number you need to know!
1-800-772-1213

• Call our toll-free number to
• Schedule an appointment
• Get an estimate, and
• Find out what you need when you file.
• Hours 700 am to 500 pm, Monday - Friday

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Career ConnectionThanks to the Team from
Sacramento and all within the school district and
DOR GREAT TEAM