The Illinois Pathways to Partnerships Project (IPPP) aims to improve transition, competitive integrated employment (CIE), and independent living (IL) outcomes for students with disabilities ages 10- 24 across Illinois. To that end, the project will develop a replicable and scalable innovative service delivery model that builds a seamless, cohesive, and effective partnership among State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (SVRA), State Education Agency (SEA), local educational agency (LEA), centers for independent living (CILs) and university partners. Our innovative IPPP model will deliver Pre-Employment Transition Services (pre-ETS) to improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities, particularly students who are members of oppressed populations.
The innovative IPPP model program will employ a comprehensive system of integrated resources, training, technical assistance, and supports utilizing coordinated expertise from all four partners that will focus on the following three major domain areas: (1) pre-ETS to CIE, (2) IL, and (3) professional development. The Project will also work with high-demand employers and other community and state agencies to maximize the implementation of the statewide model and build statewide capacity and partnerships to support CIE and IL for Illinois students with disabilities and their families. Key project performance measures are relative to the percentage of program participants who transition to postsecondary education or competitive integrated employment.
FY 24 Highlights
Project objectives worked on during this reporting period are:
- Develop a replicable and scalable innovative service delivery model that builds a seamless, cohesive, and effective partnership among SVRA, SEA, LEA, and CILs. (100% complete)
- Establish partnerships with at least eight geographically diverse LEAs (88% complete)
- Develop an Advisory Committee with at least 10% of the committee being comprised of children and youth wit disabilities and their support systems (90%)
- Develop modules related to financial literacy and economic independence (95% complete)
- Identify potential wraparound services and technical assistance/trainings for any individual and organization served by IPPP. (50% complete).
The following measurable outcomes are supported by the work completed during this reporting period:
- Key stakeholders across Illinois who are dedicated to transition outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities have created partnerships to ensure the sustainability of the project.
- At least eight LEAs will develop strong transition programs with the support of UIUC and IIT training and technical assistance,
- Increased community integration among IPPP participants through comprehensive transition services.
- A project Advisory Committee has been established.
- Development of evidence-based practices that promote successful transition outcomes including participation in appropriate post-secondary training, CIE, and IL.
During FY24, IPPP cultivated partnerships with 8 centers for independent living and 8 local education agencies (two of the original LEAs elected not to participate in the program, one has been replaced by two districts and the other new district has not yet finalized their involvement). MOUs are currently in development for the newly committed LEAs and the rest have been fully signed. The Centers for Independent Living began developing the curricula that will be used when CIL staff enter schools to teach program participants. It is anticipated that the modules will be fully developed no later than 12/01/2024. The CILs have been given a list of key topics that must be covered in the curricula and the partners are currently working through issues related to implementation mechanics. Technical assistance partners have begun developing trainings/assembling resources for project participants, with IIT focusing primarily on services to children/youth and their support systems and UIUC offering resources to educators such as career assessments and other materials to facilitate transition. CILs have begun developing partnerships with employers in their areas, with some noting that they have been able to garner commitments from employers to have internship/apprenticeship pipelines. Initial intake paperwork has been developed and schools are poised to being recruiting participants Several partners have hired key project staff. UIUC has developed a webpage for IPPP (https://iirer.ahs.illinois.edu/ippp/).
Contributions to Research and Practice.
Research. The Evaluation Framework has been developed (please see attached). Project specific releases of information and consent forms have been developed for IPPP participants.
Practice. Community of Practice meetings are held to share best practices and problem solve in curriculum development and other aspects. These are moving to monthly.
Pathways to Partnership Website
Pathways to Partnership Mailing List
