Kansas Project SEARCH: High School Transition Program
Call For Investment

Introduction:
It is the intent of the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities (KCDD) to increase employment outcomes for youth with developmental disabilities by investing in a sustainable service delivery system based on Project SEARCH, a nationally recognized program operated by the Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Kansas Project SEARCH is a combined education and work experience program for students with developmental disabilities. Students spend their entire school day at a business site that provides space for a classroom as well as job rotation internships at the host business site. Students work on employability skills the first hour and last half-hour of the day. The bulk of their day is spent on an internship for which they have applied, interviewed and were selected. These internships rotate three times during the school year and are designed to teach competitive, marketable skills. Students receive job coaching services in these assignments which are to fade over the course of each rotation.

The goal of Kansas Project SEARCH is for each student intern to be working competitively no later than three months after the end of the school year. Job development placement services are to begin by the start of the second semester of the school year. Students may apply to become permanently employed in an open position with the host business site during the school year. Students not employed or not anticipated to be employed by the host business by the end of the school year will be actively assisted in finding employment with other community businesses.

Investment Requirements:
KCDD is seeking 3-4 collaborative teams to serve as pilot sites to receive technical assistance, training and start-up funds. Collaborative teams must include, but are not limited to, representatives from local School Districts, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Developmental Disabilities Community Service Providers to be considered for funding.
Please address each requirement:

1. Provide letters of commitment from each of the required collaborative team members. Letters need to identify staff committed to the project.

2. Identify who will be the leader from your team for this project. This individual must be an individual with sufficient experience and qualifications that includes, but is not limited to, exceptional education, transition, and supported employment for students with developmental disabilities. Please include name and actual work examples with qualifications and experience.

3. How will your team ensure continuous staff will be made available for support? Please outline your generic plan or process to ensure that service is continued without gaps.

4. How will your team strategize to develop natural supports? Provide specific examples.

5. Provide examples of effective current supported employment and/or transition services partnerships. Include communication strategies, relationships, etc.

6. Provide confirmation of the local school district’s commitment to reallocate staff and student funding to the classroom at the business site (to be identified during the first year.)

7. Provide evidence of the Community Service Providers prior experience providing employment supports and services to people with developmental disabilities, compliance with state licensing requirements, and approved vendor status for Vocational Rehabilitation.

8. Assurances that each team member organization will attend a 2-day technical assistance training

Budget:
KCDD is purchasing technical assistance from Project SEARCH to support each pilot site for the purpose of securing a business partner and providing ongoing technical assistance and training for program implementation. Please see attached document outlining what is included in the High School Transition Program.

Additionally, KCDD is providing $7,500 to each pilot site to cover start up expenses. Funds may be used to cover travel, materials and equipment, Project SEARCH classroom expenses, open house events, etc. Please complete Grant Application Budget Summary form.

It is the intent of this project to create a sustainable service delivery system based on the Project SEARCH model that draws on existing resources. Start-up funds cannot be used to supplant existing educational or employment services, supports or funding.

Deadline for Submission:
Proposals should include a cover letter, response to investment requirements and budget form. Proposals are due to the KCDD office no later than 5:00 PM on April 30,2012.

For more information, please contact:

Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities
Attn: Shelly May, Grants Manager
915 SW Harrison
Docking State Office Building, Room 141
Topeka, KS 66612
(785)296-3272
smaygm@kcdd.org