14.4.2 Questions to ask Your Local School-to-Work Partnership (StW)
Louisiana Statewide Transition Project and Louisiana: Healthy and Ready to Work Fact Sheet Series
	7/1/99

I. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

The School-to-Work Opportunities Act (SWOA) of 1994 guarantees equal access and participation of ALL young adults in School-to-Work (StW) initiatives. The SWOA states that all young adults, regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, or other characteristics, must have the same opportunities to participate in all StW initiatives. This includes equal opportunities for all young adults to explore and experience various careers first-hand while still in school. The world of work is changing rapidly, and StW can help prepare young adults for jobs in the changing workforce.

II. KEY POINTS

The School-to-Work (StW) initiative in Louisiana is divided into nine regional Partnerships. Each Partnership is charged with meeting the unique needs of the region. Consequently, each School-to-Work Partnership enjoys a great deal of autonomy, and individual Partnership activities can look very different from region to region. With this in mind, the best source of information about specific Partnership activities is the regional School-to-Work Partnership itself. All regional Partnerships have a regional facilitator and/or coordinator who can answer questions about activities in the region. Contact information for the Partnerships are listed in the "Resources/Contacts" section of this fact sheet.

When planning for the transition from school to employment, it is important for teachers, related service providers, families, and young adults to know about the various programs and agencies that can help. School-to-Work activities should not be overlooked during this planning and preparation process, and can be included in the Transition Services Page of the Individualized Education Program (IEP). It is up to young adults and those individuals supporting them to be knowledgeable about School-to-Work opportunities.

To find out what activities are available, and in order to determine if the regional Partnership's activities should be included in the IEP, consider asking StW personnel the following questions:

· What are the region's major activities?

· How can I get on the mailing list for training, meetings, newsletters, etc.?

· Who is involved in the program? Which teachers, schools, young adults, and businesses are involved?

· Whom can I contact at my school for more information?

· How can we begin similar initiatives at my school?

· What kinds of jobs are being targeted?

· What skills, training, and experiences can students gain?

· How can teachers, young adults, and family members find out about career planning?

· How do young adults sign-up for various programs? How can teachers and family members assist them in this process?

· How can we work together to include all young adults with disabilities?

· How can we merge current activities with School-to-Work initiatives?

· How can we draw on the expertise of Special Educators to make School-to-Work more successful?

· How can young adults and families help?

III. ROLES/NEXT STEPS

Students/Young Adults:

Young adults should be aware of the programs and activities offered both the local and Partnership level. They should identify which of these may help them reach their employment goal. These activities can be included when developing the Transition Service Page of IEP.

Young adults should know about their disability, as well as what kinds of supports and/or accommodations that may be needed in order to be successful in work environments. They should practice requesting services and/or supports when appropriate. Young adults should also learn about their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This information will better enable them to advocate for services/supports such as accommodations.

Families:

Ensuring the success of any initiative requires family support. Families are the most important influence in the lives of their sons/daughters. Families can take an active role in the planning and implementation of School-to-Work activities. Family members can also ask their own employers to become involved in Partnerships activities.

Families should also assist young adults in the decision making process, helping them evaluate all options and make informed choices. By helping young adults articulate their wishes to those supporting them in their transition from school to employment, families can greatly increase the chance that goals will be attained.

Agencies:

All educational personnel are encouraged to connect with local School-to-Work partnerships. They can challenge young adults to use their skills in real world situations. Educators can also use hands-on approaches to learning and seek workplace opportunities for students.

IV. RESOURCES/CONTACTS

Louisiana's School-to-Work Partnerships:

Region I - MetroVision

Parishes served: Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist

PHONE 504/527-6937 FAX 504/527-6970

Website: www.learningtolife.org

Region II - Pinelands

Parishes served: East Feliciana, Tangipahoa, Washington, St. Helena, St. Tammany

PHONE 504/732-6640 FAX 504/732-6603

Website: http://pinelands.sullivan.tec.la.us

Region III - Bayou

Parishes served: Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary, Terrebonne

PHONE 504/857-3660 FAX 504/857-3677

Website: www.stmary.k12.la.us/shooltowork

Region IV - Cajun Heartland

Parishes served: Lafayette, Acadia, Evangeline, St. Landry, St.

Martin, Vermilion, Iberia

PHONE 318/236-6890 FAX 318/236-6837

Website: www.lrce.org/cajun

Region V - Imperial Calcasieu

Parishes served: Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Beauregard, Allen

PHONE 318/437-6103 FAX 318/437-6120

Website: http://hal.calc.k12.la.us/~stw

Region VI - Central Workforce Alliance

Parishes served: Vernon, Rapides, Winn, LaSalle, Avoyelles, Grant, Catahoula, Concordia

PHONE 318/448-1591 FAX 318/442-7834

Region VII - Red River Partnerships at Work

Parishes served: Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Lincoln, Red River, Webster, Bienville, Sabine, Natchitoches

PHONE 318/795-4226, 318/795-4227 FAX 318/795-4225

Website: www.rrp.org

Region VIII - Northeast Louisiana

Parishes served: East Carroll, West Carroll, Madison, Tensas, Richland, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Union, Jackson, Caldwell

PHONE 318/435-7540, 318/435-9606 FAX 318/435-9911

Website: www.northernlights.org

Region IX - Gateway

Parishes served: East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, Ascension

PHONE 225/334-1820 FAX 225/334-2419

Website: http://schooltowork.ebrps.subr.edu

The All Means All School-to-Work Project

612-625-3863

http://www.ici.coled.umn.edu/all/

The National School-to-Work Learning and Information Center

1-800-251-7236

http://www.stw.ed.gov

V. REFERENCES

Louisiana Works. (1997). About School-to-Work Baton Rouge, LA: Channing L. Beete Co., Inc.

Thuli, K.J., Hong, E. (1998). Employer Toolkit. Washington, DC: National Transition Alliance for Youth with Disabilities, Academy for Educational Development.