November 2015

F EDERAL P ARTNERS IN T RANSITION

Resource List

Making My Way through College: This guide provides information and resources on 

preparing for and succeeding in college and transitioning from college into the world of 

work that will be relevant to any student pursuing a degree or other type of credential 

(e.g., certification, license) at a two-year or four-year community college, college, or 

university. http://www.ncwd-youth.info/PostsecondaryGuide.

Engaging Youth in Work Experiences: An Innovative Strategies Practice Brief: 

This Innovative Strategies Practice Brief provides practical examples and resources 

used by promising and exemplary youth programs to engage youth in work 

experiences. http://www.ncwd-youth.info/innovative-strategies/practice-briefs/engagingyouth-in-work-experiences

Kickstart your Individualized Learning Plan (ILP): An individualized learning plan 

(ILP) is both a document and a process that students use – with support from school 

counselors, teachers, and parents – to define their career goals and postsecondary 

plans. ILPs can help students connect classwork in high school and other activities with 

college, job and career goals. http://www.dol.gov/odep/ilp/kickstart.htm

Designing Statewide Career Development Strategies & Programs: Statewide 

implementation of quality comprehensive career development programs and activities is 

a promising strategy that states can use to achieve the dual goals of college and career 

readiness for all high school students. This guide is designed to support states in their 

efforts to increase college and career readiness among all youth, including youth with 

disabilities, by providing functional and pragmatic guidance. http://www.ncwdyouth.info/StateCareerDevelopment
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Home Page: This web page provides basic 

information on the SSI program and several key links including program rules and the 

process to apply for benefits. http://www.ssa.gov/ssi/

Finding Help for Beneficiaries Interested in Work: This web page provides key 

information on the services available to beneficiaries who are attempting to enter or reenter the workforce. This page provides details on several sources of assistance, 

depending on the needs of the beneficiary. Key services for youth with disabilities would 

include WIPAs and PABSSs. http://www.chooseworkttw.net/findhelp/

Redbook: The Redbook is a reference publication on all work incentives available to 

both SSDI and SSI beneficiaries. The publication provides detail on individual work 

incentives and several examples of how work incentives can be used to assist 

beneficiaries maintain benefits while attempting work. http://www.ssa.gov/redbook.htm/

SSI Benefits and Foster Care Youth: SSA recently revised our rules to allow youths 

with disabilities to apply for SSI benefits prior to their release from the foster care 

system. This webpage provides more detail on the process and program 

rules. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-disabled-youth.htm/

Partnerships in Employment: Partnerships in Employment is a national transition systems 

change project whose purpose is to identify, develop, and promote policies and practices to 

improve transition, post-secondary and competitive employment outcomes for individuals with 

intellectual and developmental disabilities. Eight states participate in the initiative and are 

intricately involved with their state education, vocational rehabilitation and developmental 

disabilities agencies, individuals with intellectual disabilities, families, educators, and service 

providers to affect changes within and across state 

systems. http://partnershipsinemployment.com

Emerging Practices are a series of documents that identify replicable practices 

adopted by the Partnerships in Employment. These documents are categorized by the 

Higher Performing States Framework.

• Collaboration: http://partnershipsinemployment.com/wpcontent/uploads/Interagency-Collaboration-Emerging-Practices-Transition.pdf;

• Leadership: http://partnershipsinemployment.com/wpcontent/uploads/Leadership-Emerging-Practices-Transition.pdf;

• Strategic Goals: http://partnershipsinemployment.com/wpcontent/uploads/Strategic-Goals-Emerging-Practices-Transition.pdf;

• Performance Measurement: http://partnershipsinemployment.com/wpcontent/uploads/performance-measurement-emerging-practices-transition.pdf;

• Funding: http://partnershipsinemployment.com/wp-content/uploads/fundingemerging-practices-transition.pdf;

• Services: http://partnershipsinemployment.com/wp-content/uploads/servicesemerging-practices-transition.pdf;

• Training: http://partnershipsinemployment.com/wp-content/uploads/Trainingemerging-practices-transition.pdf
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• Youth Leadership: http://partnershipsinemployment.com/wpcontent/uploads/youth-leadership-emerging-practices-transition.pdf;

“Prevention and Early Identification of Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions” 

(March, 2013-EPSDT)): This CMCS Informational Bulletin was issued to help inform states 

about resources available to help them meet the needs of children under EPSDT, specifically 

with respect to mental health and substance use disorder 

services. http://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/CIB-03-27-2013.pdf

CMS Informational Bulletin “Coverage of Behavioral Health Services for Youth with 

Substance Disorders: This bulletin provides guidance in designing benefits that meet the 

needs of youth with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring substance use and mental 

disorders their families while also complying with Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, 

Diagnostic, and Treatment requirements. http://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policyguidance/federal-policy-guidance.html

State Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Practice Guide:

This guide provides detailed guidance on designing a comprehensive continuum of services 

that will meet the needs of youth with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring substance 

use and mental disorders and their families. http://nasadad.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/10/State-Adolescent-Substance-Use-Disorder-Treatment-and-RecoveryPractice-Guide.pdf

Center on Technology and Disability: The project provides resources on assistive 

and instructional technologies. It conducts outreach to organizations that work directly 

with families and children, strengthening their ability to provide technology-related 

support. The project provides technology institutes, online forums, and in-depth monthly 

newsletters to educators, disability professionals, and 

families. http://www.ctdinstitute.org/

The Emerging Practices web page: This webpage was established as a mechanism 

for sharing state information to help promote communities of practice and increase 

awareness of a variety of approaches that provide a foundation for research and lead to 

the development of evidence-based practices. The practices provide useful samples of 

programs, strategies, and activities. They may work differently or produce different

results in VR agencies should any decide to replicate emerging 

practices. http://rsa.ed.gov/emerging-practices.cfm

The National Center for Systemic Improvement: The Center helps states transform 

their systems to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, children and youth with 

disabilities, helping states achieve a national vision of Results-Driven Accountability for 

special education and early intervention programs and supporting states to build 

capacity in four major areas: data use, knowledge utilization, systems change, and 

communication and collaboration. https://www.wested.org/project/national-center-forsystemic-improvement/

The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center: This Center helps

states build capacity to improve transition planning, services, and outcomes for youth 
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with disabilities. NSTTAC disseminates information and provides technical assistance

with an emphasis on building and sustaining state-level infrastructures of support and 

district-level demonstrations of effective transition methods. http://www.nsttac.org/

The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: This TA Center assists

SEAs, LEAs, State VR agencies, and other VR service providers to implement 

evidence-based and promising practices and strategies to ensure that students with 

disabilities, including those with significant disabilities, graduate from high school with 

the knowledge, skills, and supports needed for success in postsecondary education and 

employment. www.transitionta.org

PEPNet 2 is a federal education project to provide professional development, technical 

assistance, resources and strategies to improve postsecondary outcomes, with special 

focus on effective pedagogies, transition, and accommodations for students who are 

deaf or hard of hearing, including students with co-occurring 

disabilities. www.pepnet.org

This document was created by the Federal Partners in Transition (FPT). FPT is a 

workgroup with representatives of several federal agencies, including the 

Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the 

Department of Labor, and the Social Security Administration, which are involved in 

promoting inclusive service delivery for transitioning youth with disabilities from 

school into postsecondary education, the workforce, and independent living. 

Additional information about FPT’s shared vision, compatible outcomes goals, and 

policy priorities can be found in The 2020 Federal Youth Transition Plan: A Federal 

Interagency Strategy. The report is available at: http://youth.gov/featurearticle/federal-partners-transition.