Partnerships in Employment National Transition Systems Change Project: Building a Transition-to-Employment Agenda

Authors

Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston

Document Type

Research Report

Publication Date

7-2015

Abstract

The national Partnerships in Employment (PIE) National Transition Systems Change Project was established in 2011 by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. This five-year project focuses on improving, developing, and implementing policies and practices that raise community expectations and overall employment outcomes for youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). Now in the last phase of the funding cycle, the eight state projects involved in the PIE initiative (Alaska, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Tennessee, and Wisconsin) are uniquely positioned to provide youth employment recommendations to federal, state, and local agencies. In this document, we share several of the findings and recommendations.

Partnerships projects are working within and across state agencies (education, vocational rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, Medicaid, and workforce development) to effect change and develop systems solutions. In addition, these projects are reaching out to youth, families, employers, and service providers to build awareness of promising practices, encourage advocacy, and promote community partnerships to create widespread change and improved employment outcomes.

Early findings from PIE projects test best practices and policy changes and confirm recent research in the area of transition and youth employment. Project findings also highlight barriers to employment and inform specific recommendations across state and federal agencies and policy that can significantly improve youth outcomes.

Recommended Citation

Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston, "Partnerships in Employment National Transition Systems Change Project: Building a Transition-to-Employment Agenda" (2015). All Institute for Community Inclusion Publications. 57.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/ici_pubs/57