Pre-Employment Transition Services Specialist - Southwest Region

Pre-Employment Transition Services Specialists will primarily serve in the Southwest MOarea/region, and others as assigned/needed.  NOTE:  this position is not located in the Columbia area and the individual(s) hired must live in and around the assigned Pre-ETS region indicated above.

One of the provisions in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, requires Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) in collaboration with the Local Educational Agency (LEA), to provide, or arrange for the provision of, pre-employment transition servicesforstudentswithdisabilitiesinneedofsuchserviceswho areeligible orpotentiallyeligible forservices.Thispositionis created to help meet staff capacity by providing highly qualified personnel who will work in collaboration with local education agencies and Vocational Rehabilitation, in the provision of pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities enrolled in Missouri secondary schools, who are not yet eligible for VR services.

Providejobexplorationcounselingtoincludebutnotlimitedto

·         WorkwithstudentstodevelopaMissouriConnectionsaccountandstudentprofile.

·         Usecareerinterestinventoriesandothercareerassessmentstoidentifyskillsandcareerinterestareas.

·         Provideinformationregardingin-demandoccupationsandlocallabormarketcomposition.

·         Counselstudentsto identify andexplorecareersintheirlocalcommunity and/orgeographicalregionwithinacareer pathway of interest.

CollaboratewithVRbusinessspecialists,LEAs,andlocalbusinessestofacilitateajob-shadowingmonthforstudentstoexplore careers in their field of interest.

·         CollaboratewithLEAs andDivisionof WorkforceDevelopment (DWD)to facilitate a field day for students atthe local careercentertoeducatestudentsabouthowtoregisterforemploymentservices/youthprograms,fillouton-linejob applications, etc.

·         Assiststudentsinidentifyingandexploringjobfieldsthatmayrequireapprenticeshiptrainingandvisitapprenticeship programs with students in the local community.

·         Coordinatemockjobinterviewsforstudentswithbusinesses.

·         AssistLEAstaffandVRcounselors/businessspecialiststoidentifyworkexperienceopportunitiesforstudentsinthelocal community.

Providecounselingonenrollmentinpostsecondaryeducationatinstitutionsofhighereducationtoincludebutnotlimitedto

·         Educateandinformstudentsofshortandlong-termpost-secondarytrainingopportunitiesandassiststudentsingaining an understanding of how different training options may meet their individual needs.

·         Facilitatestudentvisitstodisabilitysupportservicesofficesatlocalcollegesoruniversities.

·         Buildandsustainaneffectiverelationshipwiththestudentutilizingstrength-basedcareerplanning.

·         Research degree or credential requirements for jobswithin the student's careerpathway of interest and work with the school counselor to identify ways for the student to develop skill acquisition for jobs in that career pathway through course selection.

·         ParticipateinLEACareerandTransitionFairs,FAFSAFrenzyevents,etc.

·         AssistthestudentinusingMissouriConnectionstosearchforcollegesandtrainingoptionsintheircareerpathway.

·         Assistthestudentinlearningabouttheirdisabilityandtheaccommodationstheyneedtobesuccessfulinatraining program or academic setting.

·         Assistthestudentinlearningthedifferencesbetweenhighschoolandcollege.

·         Assistthestudentinresearchingthosecollegesortrainingprogramsthatofferspecificservicesforstudentswith disabilities.

·         Assistthestudentandtheirfamiliesinunderstandingthefinancialaidprocess.

Provideworkplacereadiness&socialskillssupporttoincludebutnotlimitedto

·         Identifyworkreadinessskillsthatareidentifiedbyemployersaspriorityareasandreviewthoseskillswithstudents.

·         ConnectstudentsandtheirfamiliestotheirlocalCenterforIndependentLiving.

·         Work with students to identify and measure work readiness skills by developing or utilizing a work readiness inventory that willaddressthe followingareasthroughavolunteerorworkexperienceopportunityonoroffcampus:attendance, punctuality, workplace appearance, taking initiative, teamwork, quality of work, communication skills, response to supervision, problem-solving/critical thinking, workplace culture, policy, and safety.

·         Reviewanddiscusstransportationoptionsavailableforstudentsforgettingtoandfromwork.

·         Reviewanddiscussassetdevelopmentandbenefitsplanningwithstudentsandfamiliesbyconnectingthemwith appropriate resources and following up to discuss questions/concerns.

·         Support the student's social connectedness and overall health by discussing with the student the importance of participatinginschool-basedactivities,after-schoolclubs,orcommunityserviceprojectstohelpconnectthestudent socially.

Provideself-advocacytrainingwhichmayincludepeermentoringtoincludebutnotlimited to

·         Assistwithfacilitatingstudentunderstandingoftheconceptsofself-determinationandself-advocacy.

·         Utilizeexistingresourcesandmaterialstohelpstudentslearnhowtopracticespeakingup,leadingtheirIEP/504orother personal planning meetings.

·         EncouragestudentstotakeadvantageofpeermentoringprogramsintheircommunitiesincludingtheGovernor’s Council – Youth Leadership Forum.

·         Workwiththestudentstopracticeself-advocacyandskillbuildingthroughreallifeactivities,suchasorderingamealin a restaurant, etc.

Individuals selected for this positionwilllive andserveinthePre-Employment TransitionServicesassignedareaabove,andothersas needed or assigned.This position is not located in the immediate Columbia, MO area.

Individualsinthispositionshouldbewillingtoworkfromahomeoffice.

The individual in this position should be aware that they will be traveling up to 75% of their time to assigned school districts providingpre-employmenttransitionservicesforstudentswithdisabilitiesinneedofsuchserviceswho areeligible orpotentially eligible for these services.

All applicants will be screened based on the preferred qualifications below:

·         Required years of experience:  Three to four years minimum; two years of teaching experience or guidance and counseling experience - would have frequent contact with state agencies, school districts, school personnel, and students enrolled in MO secondary schools.

·         Bachelor's degree is acceptable but a master’s degree from an accredited college/university in Education or a related field is preferred.  A current MO Teachers Certificate or the ability to obtain a Substitute Teacher Certification is required.  Teaching certification in Special Education for Mild/Moderate-Severe/Profound is preferred.

·         Experience working directly with transition age youth/families and school personnel is preferred.

·         The selected individual should be knowledgeable about disability programs and policies to include vocational rehabilitation, special education, career and technical education, career pathways; and should have strong communication, organization, relationship building, leadership, and community consensus-building skills.

·         Travel and ability to work flexible hours will be required.

·         Valid MO Driver’s License is required.