Core Transition Teams - Vermont Family Network

Purpose

Core Transition Teams increase capacity at the local level to develop, provide, and manage an effective transition process for students. It has been shown that this coordination of services from multiple agencies provides effective case management and enhancement of post school outcomes for students. Recognizing that communities will have their own individual approach, it is important that all high school special education staff, Agency of Human Services (AHS) staff, and community partners have access to the support of a Local Core Transition Team.

Functions & Activities

For Individual Students

Ensure a mechanism for consent and confidentiality of student information.
Work with school staff to identify students with disabilities who are age 14 or older who may need “transition services” that involve inter-agency partners (VR, DS, etc.)
Identify available resources and supports pertaining to individual students needs and desires for life after high school.

For Systems Improvement

Share resources and information, make connections with providers and provide training to encourage the use of best practices.
Provide input and information to local and regional school and policy boards regarding broader transition issues, especially when there are local obstacles (policy, practice, procedure) that stand in the way of successful transition.
Liaison with the other transition initiatives.

Membership

Team Membership

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Transition Counselors or other agreed upon community partner will convene the Team as the facilitator. Core Transition Teams should include key members from the school, adult agencies and the community who are involved/concerned with the transition of students from school to adult life. Potential members may include, but are not limited to:

School Representation

Special and regular education teacher
Special education coordinator
School counselor
Principal and/or special education director
Work-based learning coordinator
Students
Family members
Vocational training specialist

Adult/Community Representation

Vocational Rehabilitation representative
Youth employment specialist (VABIR)
Business account manager
Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired representative
Department of Mental Health representative
Department of Labor representative
Department of Health representative
Department for Children and Families representative
Local JOBS coordinator
Post-secondary education representative
Adult Learning representative
Vermont Family Network representative

Team Format

Depending on the needs of the school and community, teams typically meet either monthly or quarterly throughout the school year. It is suggested that these Teams meet directly before or after other regularly scheduled meetings if they have similar partners involved. When discussing individual student issues, the focus is student centered and the planning should revolve around that student’s individualized desired outcomes. Teams often work best when the roles of facilitator, timekeeper, minute taker, and observer are shared, and the success of the team is a shared effort among providers.

Characteristics of Effective Teams

Establish a clear Purpose and Mission; “Why are we here?”; revisit this with the team often
Establish co-leadership and membership responsibilities
Identify outcome-related next steps, i.e., Transition Fair
Maintain a group structure/process
Keep meetings simple and be mindful of school calendar
Have an agenda, facilitation, and take minutes
Identify and involve key players, especially education
Assure that all team members are or become skilled in transition issues (provide training)
As members leave, replace them
Establish open communication and use of communication hub when appropriate
Establish that it is inclusive of all community organizations
Utilize Sub-committees/work groups, especially in larger teams
Focused themes
Identify needs (gaps)/what’s going well

Core Team Activities by District

Barre

Bennington

St. Johnsbury

White River Junction

Interagency Core Team Collaboration Event 2019

The Interagency Core Team Collaboration Event took place on October 15, 2019 at the Killington Grand Hotel. The theme was empowering youth and families in transitions to adulthood. This was a professional development day dedicated to improving the transition to life after high school for students with disabilities.Over 250 people attended!