Students who require supported employment services to find and keep a job will need to learn how to pay for (fund) these services. Several government funding sources are available, however, qualifying for funding, and knowing how and when to use it can be confusing. Participation in the School-to-Work Project requires 1) that students want to work, 2) their parents/ providers support this goal and 3) that they participate in planning to find funding for the employment supports they will need after school. A secondary goal of this project is that students experience a smooth transition from school to the adult service system.
Even students that were successful in school, participating in community based work experiences, can end up waiting for services after school. During that wait time, these very capable students can lose skills, confidence, and community connections. Parents/ Providers can become overwhelmed and frustrated by the system and the lack of services for their sons and daughters.
Participating in the School-to-Work Pilot Project gives students a chance to start early. Participating in School-to-Work can not guarantee that students will leave school with a job, however participants and their families will be further ahead in planning and agency connections before leaving school.
