Statewide Transition Coordinating Council Meeting Minutes
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STATEWIDE TRANSITION COORDINATING COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, Nov. 7, 2005 10:00-2:00
CREC 5 Office, 5321-A Menaul, NE, Albuq.
PRESENT: James Alarid, Ginger Blalock, Sandy Bowman, Karen Chism, Vickie Chapman, Gary Cozzens, Sue Gronewold, Doris Husted, Cecilia Lopez, Denise McGhee, Michael O'Brien
MEETING MINUTES
- Welcomes and Introductions
News:
- Doris is chairing the IDEA Panel
- Vickie reported cuts in Rehabilitation Services due to hurricanes; will be submitting proposals
- Cecilia started 2 weeks ago at NMPED as Corrections Reentry Coordinator for Education she'll be helping a great deal with behavioral health services efforts for PED, working closely with CYFD JJS
- Denise started in July 80 students in Occupational Training Program; 30 degree-seeking students receiving accommodations
- Karen reported successful completion of the national DCDT conference, management of sliver grant for REC IX districts, training for Student Leadership/Self-Advocacy Project in southern NM
- Michael started in August at NM Highlands, coordinating the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Program; was state VR director in Washington and was a field-based VR counselor for many years; just finished writing document on consumer groups and their contributions to the public VR program; looking to grow NMHU program and seek fellowships as well as support state VR program's growth. Now have 16 full-time students in the program seeking 30 students (15 new/year) and new fellowships. Special Education MA Program at NMHU counts Rehab as a minor option.
- Sandy shared concerns that school staff can earn Rehabilitation Counseling licensure (for the schools) with a variety
- Approval of Minutes from Last Meeting (March 8, 2005 in Las Vegas) motion by Gary , second by Doris, approved by all
- Approval of Agenda unanimously approved
- National Leadership Summit (June 05) Action Plan Update for State Transition Priorities
• One priority is to report required data to OSEP for those 16 years and older = measurable postschool goals and postschool exit data
• Resource mapping = training with both STCC and Cadre Richard McCorkle likely consultant
• NASET Standards = GB get copies for all ( Marie ordered; coming free)
• Followup regional TAP workshops how to support them in creating further meetings/collaborations? Some groups (eg., districts in the SW like Gadsden) are developing interagency agreements. The MOUs with action plans may be the systematic structure the local communities need, with guidance/support as needed. Will need regular followup and support. Rehabilitation counselors in the schools may be a key person to assist with that, but few districts have that licensed person about 20 districts have folks with this license.
Gary lessons learned: has to be a partnership at the local level, not top down 66 of 89 districts created MOUs. Finding some way to get local facilitators (whether school- or other-based) out in the communities is key. State agencies are working hard to be more accessible and partnering, to help schools gain information needed to use them appropriately. Even more critical now to partner, given impending budget cuts.
Mike why should folks collaborate? VR: Easier management of clients, more successful closures, spread dollars among more players. LEAs:
DD agencies: similar benefits
Karen Chism describe the role of the Rehab Counselor in the school, connecting with other agency, working with students on connecting with other agencies, training teachers. Jim stated that the role of the Rehab counselor has not been defined. Principals and SE directors define the role of the counselor and therefore create different job duties.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Michael take lead on defining scope of VR counselor role need to make it available to families. Connection with other agencies also!
STCC take lead in followup support of regional transition partners moving forward on collaborating. Issue is identifying key facilitator at local level. Turnover of staff is the biggest barrier. Directors of the agencies should be supportive of staff who are charged with transition.
Many students are opting out of school prior to 21 and transitioning to nothing. Vicky stated if more districts had ACCESS programs more students would stay in school.
Senate Bill 9 mandates VR counselor at every IEP meeting; someone from state level WIA needs to be at the table. Lenton Malry proposed for STCC membership. Also suggested Herb Greenwall from DOL.
GB needs to send letter to non-attendees re intent !
CYFD has many departments such as Children's Protective Services need their membership here (focused on foster care youth). Denise Koscielniak will sign letters offering membership.
Need to inquire re AHEAD issues on each agenda.
- Children's Cabinet Meeting Update
Saturday's Town Hall >> Big message schools not making families feel welcome. Focused monitoring process has restricted family participation as well. Sandy echoed the rush of typical IEP meetings, causing her to need to educate youth and families about their options. She's been doing IEPs for 4 years and has seen TWO youth run their own IEP meetings. Much of the Town Hall conversation focused on early childhood issues.
Claire Dudley of the Lieutenant Governor's Office just responded that she will speak to Lt. Gov. Denish about STCC presenting to the Children's Cabinet, probably at their January meeting .
- Updates from Member Agencies re Transition-Related Accomplishments
Denise: Senior Day coming up March 3, for youth/families interested in the Occupational Programs will include transition overview, services available, tours of campus, etc. Their program requires a vocational evaluation (which few LEAs are equipped to do).
Michael offered to help those who wish to, to become certified nationally in vocational evaluation.
Vickie is writing for additional funds to expand/improve vocational assessments.
Doris reported being in year 2 of grant on transition to adult life, running program in Anthony with Spanish-speaking advocate/self-advocate there. One outcome will be identification/generation of Spanish language resources to assist youth/families, for a traveling resource center. They will make a presentation to the group at a later date.
Ginny reported work to identify youth in state custody who may be eligible for waiver services; their social workers change so frequently that kids easily get lost can't find them. Trying to identify kids by mid school so they can track them through the system. LTSD has also been doing transition fairs, using their family-friendly resources also in concert with PRO. Prepared a publication to guide families through funding application process. Meeting with tribal groups to inform re waiver & steps. Invited to many parent meetings, usually sponsored by schools, which has led to creation of a standard PPT slide show to use statewide. DOH LTSD will begin doing level of care determination with the rewrite of the new waiver, which will involve lots of training statewide. Moving to DOH state level reviewers as 3 rd party assessors (rather than case managers) to avoid conflicts of interest (debatable, since state is still the funder). DOH also redistricting to make more feasible staffing patterns.
Sandy reported on Manzano's regular parent information meetings that inform families re transition options and resources. APS also holds an annual Adult Transition Fair that offers training for school staff, students, and families as well as adult agencies, higher education, and employment connection.
Sue described 3 major projects in the Special Education Bureau. (1) Residential treatment centers identifying which districts have MOUs with their area RTCs for service provision; state border issues complicate the situation (need an MOU between states). (2) Corrections Reentry and CYFD JJS transition issues either back to schools or into community many barriers still exist. This year the state-supported schools will undergo focused monitoring. (3) Pathways rule changes became effective this year. Now 46% of our students with IEPs graduate on Standard Pathway needs to be 80%+ on Standard, 10-15% on Career Readiness. We've reported our stats mistakenly in the past, so the drop seems significant. LRE placements affect these stats significantly.
Ginger reported that the Cadre email connections are working, their first meeting was the DCDT national conference, and their first regular meeting will be Dec. 8-9 in Farmington, with Dr. James Martin teaching re age-appropriate transition assessment, student-led assessments, and assessment of self-determination skills. DDPC was thanked for funding youth and family scholarships for the DCDT conference!
Jim and Ginny reported on the Las Vegas Transition Fair (which included several districts' students and teachers) Oct. 19, which the local school and agency staff continue to grow and improve.
- Outcomes Data (and Data Collection) of Special Education Exiters
UNM Institute for Public Policy is currently working on followup of a random sample of 2003 and 2004. Simultaneously, REC 4 has completed a followup survey of 2003 exiters in concert with surveys with general education students. Sue shared some of the data highlights (eg., very different rates of postsecondary ed participation between general and special ed students, but same rate of employment, differing levels of work experience during high school). REC 4 created a database and is analyzing costs statewide to see how RECs could support the followup surveys. The instrument was shared, with some suggestions for eliminating a few items. The State Performance Plan (SPP) and the APR (annual performance report) required by OSEP annually really put more pressure for quality transition services, in contrast to just doing the minimum. We now must monitor the #/percentage of IEPs with measurable postschool goals.
Concern about just monitoring the presence of these goals in IEPs doesn't tell anything about actual experiences or outcomes. Followup surveys give some info, but in-school or exit surveys would give better data about their educational experiences than one year out (if we could get resources to do these additional surveys).
We must survey ALL exiters with IEPs, including dropouts (based on 40 th day count).
- New Secondary/Transition Technical Assistance Center
See handout this is the new national TA center, taking the place of NCSET. New Mexico's model serves as a catalyst for systems change in other states. Colorado, Arkansas, and Oklahoma are participating this year. [Interested in helping other states: Karen]
- Update on Student Leadership/Self-Advocacy Project
Project (4 th year of DDPC's funding of this initiative) is in heavy progress at this time, with a targeted end date of December (with a possible extension).
- Rehab Counseling Licensure in the Schools
Clarified issues that distinguish IDEA-funded rehabilitation counselor services versus those provided by DVR.
- Set Agenda for Dec. 5 Meeting in Santa Fe
- Legislative items STCC back in statute who can present?
Pete Campos, Hector Valdez?
- Mock summary of performance form
- Update on progress on recommended actions
STATEWIDE TRANSITION COORDINATING COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, Dec. 5, 2005 10:00-2:00
Santa Fe Community College Main Bldg., Jemez Rms
Present : Pat Abeyta, James Alarid, Ginger Blalock, Kris Carrillo, Vickie Chapman, Karen Chism, Lynn Christiansen, Marilyn D'Ottavio, Sue Gronewold, Debbie Hambel, Shelly Haynes, Sally Hollow Horn, Ginny Johnson, Sheryl Libby, Cecilia Lopez, Molly McLaughlin, Michael O'Brien
Excused : Carole Brito, Doris Husted, Denise McGhee
MEETING MINUTES
Welcomes and Introductions
Approval of Minutes from November Meeting
Amended by Ginny to clarify statement sources (Doris??) -
motion to approve as amended by Ginny, seconded by Shelly; approved unanimously.
Approval of Agenda motion to approve by Ginny; Sue seconded; approved unanimously.
Update on Recommended Actions (Nov. meeting)
• NASET standards received for all
• Followup to 6 regional Transition Action Planning Workshops Ginger identified attendees, highlighting active Cadre members; next step will be asking Cadre members in each region to identify key leaders, promising strategies, and planning steps (specific activities). Would be good to have Cadre members report their progress on the action plans generated last year .
• Comments: schools make most sense as leaders of these initiatives; having specific foci (activities) for each group helps galvanize local groups (eg., resource directories, followup studies, transition fairs) rather than spinning their wheels. If we can feed information to these local groups, it can help them feel more empowered and connected eg., electronic newsletters, update on legislation related to transition with congressional contacts for comment (eg., Rehab Act now requires transition services by age 16 with no funding attached).
• Role of Rehab Counselors in schools impact on legislative comment, ways in which they are used. Michael is pursuing definition of rehab counselor in schools.
• We have NMDCDT state rehabilitation organization starting up again National Rehab Counselors' Conference in Albuquerque this fall
should we be putting efforts into making these chapters viable again?
• Letters to new member invitees Sue is revising for forwarding on to Denise Koscielniak.
Children's Cabinet meeting update Town Hall in Santa Fe Tues., Dec. 6 in evening send out announcement again; Feb. 1 meeting O'Brien, Alarid, Gronewold, Johnson will help present to Children's Cabinet.
Legislative items STCC back in statute who can present? Passed out the Senate Bill 287 from 2004 as well as the Joint Memorial through PED that did not get included.
Discussion re the varied transition groups STAR, Healthy Transitions N.M., CYFD Youth Transition Task Force with STCC needing to serve as the umbrella organization. Need to ensure their representation on STCC since they represent youth with health care needs, foster care youth, adjudicated youth, youth in transition from JJS to home schools/communities, etc.
Relates back to the local/regional transition teams they need to ensure they are serving ALL youth with special needs.
Jim offered to contact Pete Campos, Hector Balderas, Senators Jennings and Carraro for support from both houses.
Sheryl reported on her and her roommates' situations with residential support and school, indicating continuing gaps in satisfactory supports.
NMPED Report to OSEP APR/SPP Transition Indicators 13 and 14
SEE HANDOUTS - Indicator 13 coordinated, measurable IEP goals tied to postschool outcomes (checked via reviews) randomly selected districts (1/3 annually) will participate to see those who meet this requirement. Will need to look at stratified random selection, or random by region Michael offered to help with that selection Sue will email him the basic info (maps and lists).
Indicator 14 Followup studies of postschool outcomes working with REC 4 to rollout surveys with 1/3 of districts annually. REC 4 will provide training to all other RECs and large districts. Tier 2 = followup study of one-year-out exiters; Tier 1 = exit survey with those exiting May 2006.
Indicator 1 graduation only 49% of our students with IEPs are graduating with standard pathways! Our strategies need to include training on the Pathways, the 80% criterion for those on standard pathway, training on improving achievement/learning/study skills of youth (especially in math or alternatives).
Indicator 2 dropout rate part of AYP, so motivating to LEAs to work on this with all students. Reporting gaps need serious attention!
Upcoming conferences to address these issues National Postschool Outcomes Center March 8-9, 2006 in Portland; dropout prevention conference in February 2006.
Summary of Performance Forms (new IDEA requirement)
Showed sample student-led SOP lots of discussion Sue and group (Marilyn, Karen, Denise?) will work on state-recommended form and procedures. Points to need for (a) self-determination instruction for students starting earlier, (b) use of exit IEP meetings plus supplement, and (c) training parents for greater involvement.
Updates from Member Agencies re Transition-Related Accomplishments
- APS partnering with Alliance for Full Participation need to do much earlier and more preparation of students in self-determination and self-advocacy. Panel from the Alliance will present to students and adults at the annual Adult Transition Fair March 13, 2006. Pushing mentorships between students and adult advocates.
- BIA working on Summary of Performance form that will work for their 59 high schools.
- Protection and Advocacy represented 2 clients with DVR, continued participation with Estancia Valley Community Transition Team, wrote article on A.T. and transition.
- REC 9 just trained member district representatives on the Transition Planning Inventory (TPI, published by Pro-Ed), and are also working to figure out the SOPs.
- Student Leadership & Self-Advocacy Project see handout for updated data report; still recruiting more districts in order to reach projected number of 1000 youth participants.
- DOH CMS has developed their own transition plan used by social workers with adolescents and is creating a video on transition for youth with special health care needs. In addition, a grant-funded pilot mentorship program is in place at Robertson H.S. involving social work students mentoring the high school students. CMS also applied for new funding for expanded transition efforts. Champions Grant-funded retreat planned for families and transition staff, in March at the Madonna Center in Albuq.
- DVR now has 3 counselors, whose entire caseloads are transition students. Debbie working on MOUs with charter schools and a state transition plan for DVR. DVR and NM School for the Deaf are co-offering a transition fair for that group of students.
- Commission for the Blind is planning transition seminar for juniors/seniors with blindness/VI, emphasizing families working together with agencies on the transition process. Looking at central N.M., including Grants and east mountain area. Also planning another effort in Las Vegas.
Other?
Professional Development workgroup will meet to start planning the theme and keynote speaker(s) for the Summer Transition Institute.
Set Agenda for and Next Meeting Date/Location
- February 10 in Santa Fe @ SFCC
- April 7 in Albuq. @ CREC 5
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