Transition Through Middle And High School And Beyond

Person Centered Planning Fact Sheets for Youth

These fact sheets from FFF and the WAZE to Adulthood project, led by the Parent Educational Advocacy and Training Center (PEATC) and supported by the US Rehabilitative Services Administration are designed for youth. They define person-centered planning and offer strategies and offer questions for students to consider, in written and virtual formats.

Person Centered Planning Visual Fact Sheet
Person Centered Planning Written Fact Sheet

Self Advocacy Fact Sheets for Youth

These fact sheets from FFF and the WAZE to Adulthood project, led by the Parent Educational Advocacy and Training Center (PEATC) and supported by the US Rehabilitative Services Administration are designed for youth. They define self advocacy and offer strategies, in written and virtual formats.

Self Advocacy Visual Fact Sheet
Self Advocacy Written Fact Sheet

Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families- VA

March 01, 2024

Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families in Virginia

Graduation from high school can be a time of uncertainty, especially for youth and young adults in foster care, but it can also open a world of opportunities. There are some postsecondary options that might be helpful as youth and young adults in foster care plan for the transition from high school to college or career. Here are some of the options and resources available in Virginia.

Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program provides funding for education, training, and services needed for employment

The ETV Program:

Covers tuition and fees, room and board, and other related expenses including books, supplies, transportation, and child care

Can be applied toward, but not limited to, colleges, universities, community colleges, vocational programs, and one-year training institutions

To be eligible for the ETV Program, the youth/young adult must be:

14-25 years old

In foster care, Fostering Futures, or aged out after 18

Out of foster care through adoption or the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program after turning 16

Great Expectations Program

Great Expectations program provides a bridge from high school to college by connecting foster youth with an adult coach who provides mentoring and wrap around support.

The Great Expectations Program:

Available at all

Virginia Community Colleges

Provides personalized counseling

Tuition grants

To be eligible for the Great Expectations Program, the youth/young adult must be:

17-24 years old

Affiliated with VA foster care system or KinGap

Or adopted from the VA foster care system after age 13

Or adopted as a special needs adoption prior to age 13

Enrolled in at least half-time enrollment (minimum 6 credits) in an eligible program of at least one academic year in length

G3 Tuition Assistance

G3 Tuition Assistance is for students living in Virginia who qualify for state financial aid and is available for select programs in five of Virginia’s most in-demand industries that are offered at Virginia’s community colleges.

G3 Tuition Assistance:

Available at 23 community colleges in Virginia

Helps cover tuition for select programs in healthcare, early childhood education, information technology, and public safety

Can help students earn workplace certification or academic degree

Does not require a high school diploma or GED although specific programs may have those requirements

To be eligible for G3 Tuition Assistance, the youth/young adult must:

Be eligible for Virginia in-state tuition

Have a household income less than or equal to 400% of the federal poverty level (approximately $100,000 for a family of four)

Be enrolled or accepted at a VA public community college in an approved program

Be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours per semester

Apply for federal and state financial aid programs

Check out these other resources:

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Programs and Services offers a comprehensive range of services and workforce development activities to individuals seeking employment, including new entrants to the workforce, and individuals with disabilities.

Virginia Career Works

The Success Foundation of VA (Richmond area) provides mentoring to young adults who have experienced foster care to help identify job and career aspirations and find sustainable employment that provides a living and career wage.

Virginia Education Wizard

VA fact sheet

Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families (SE States)

June 01, 2024

This fact sheet prepared by Formed Families Forward, in partnership with the WAZE to Adulthood project with the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) covers postsecondary educational options and resources for youth and young adults in foster care, kinship care, and adoptive homes, and who have disabilities in 5 states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennesse.

The sheets are designed for parents, caregivers, professionals and youth.

FL fact sheet
GA fact sheet
NC fact sheet
SC fact sheet
TN fact sheet

Considerations for Mental Health Support While Transition Planning

May 01, 2024

This Topical Paper from VCU Center on Transition Innovation addresses mental health prevalence among transition-aged youth. It overviews mental health and disability, and mental health and transition, and offers strategies for supporting students.

Considerations for Mental Health Support While Transition Planning

Competitive Integrated Employment Transformation hub

March 27, 2024

From the US Department of Labor.

The Supporting Transformative Change in Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Opportunities for People with Disabilities landing page links to resources to support steps to increase the participation of people with disabilities in CIE. Whether you’re an individual with a disability or family member, employment service provider, state agency or employer our CIE Transformation Hub has practical resources for you.

Competitive Integrated Employment hub

Transitioning to Adulthood: Options and Resources from Panel Experts webinar

March 06, 2024

Broadcast live on March 6, 2024, this web panel of experts focused on post-secondary options for young adults with disabilities that impact behavioral health.

Three panelists from Breakthru Services, Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia shared information on skill building services, the basics of eligibility for DARS post-high school services, as well as targeted supports available for young adults with mental health and neurobehavioral needs and other conditions which present challenges to traditional post-secondary education, training and employment options.

Panel webinar recording

Paving the Way to College and Careers: Families and Schools Together curriculum

This progressive, 9th-12th grade curriculum, offers high school counselors with five, 1.5 hour lessons they can deliver to parents/students to help them get ready for college/careers. The lessons are structured to achieve five main goals: 1) Strengthen the parent/student relationship by providing a safe and structured space for dialogue; 2) Establish a strong connection between parents/students with their high school counselors; 3) Increase student/family knowledge of the academic and developmental milestones they will encounter in high school; 4) Develop skills and strategies necessary to be on track for a post-secondary education/career; and 5) Successfully complete a PSAT/PLAN, SAT/ACT, FAFSA, and college/technical education application or job application.

Paving the Way webpage

Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative for housing

This federal program offers vouchers for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). Eligibility includes youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days.

FYI information from HUD
Information on FYI program from National Center for Housing and Child Welfare

Military Families with Disabilities Resources

October 02, 2023

This page on the Center for Family Involvement website offers links to video and print resources designed for Virginia military-connected families who are raising children and youth wtih disabilities. Additional resources from Formed Families Forward and PEATC are also linked.

Military Family Resources
Mental Wellness and Trauma-Informed Practices in Military Families video from FFF
Turning 18 in Military Families fact sheet from PEATC

Turning 18 fact sheets

These fact sheets for youth and young adults focus on critical actions, items and services that are important when a youth turns 18 years of age.

Produced as part of the WAZE to Adulthood project of the Parent Educational Advocacy and Training Center (PEATC). One fact sheet, Youth in Foster Care in Virginia: What Happens When You Turn 18 is specifically for youth in foster care and was written by Formed Families Forward as part of an agreement with the WAZE project.

Other sheets address all youth and another addresses youth in military families.

Youth in Foster Care in Virginia - What Happens When You Turn 18 fact sheet
Turning 18 in Virginia: A Resource Document for families
Turning 18 in Virginia: A Resource Document for Military Families

IDEA to ADA: The Difference Between High School and College Accommodations webinar

January 10, 2023

Originally broadcast on January 10, 2023. this webinar was presented by Annie Tulkin, MS, Accessible College LLC.

Webinar presentation slides
Webinar recording
Accessible College Resources from presenter Annie Tulkin

Educate, Collaborate, and Engage with Family Members throughout the Transition Process fact sheet

November 01, 2022

From VCU’s Center on Transitions Innovation, this brief factsheet covers strategies for educating, collaborating and engaging families of transition-age youth and young adults with disabilities.

Transition Process fact sheet

Transition Planning for Youth in Foster Care fact sheet

November 08, 2022

From FFF and the WAZE to Transition project at PEATC, this fact sheet is designed for youth in foster care. It overviews individualized education programs (IEPs) and foster care transition plans.

A Spanish version of the fact sheet is also available.

Transition Planning Foster Care Fact Sheet
Spanish Transition Planning Foster Care Fact Sheet en Espanol

VDOE Credit accommodations for Advanced Studies and Standard Diplomas

This webpage provides updated information about available accommodations for earning credits needed for Virginia’s Standard and Advanced Studies diplomas.

VDOE Credit Accommodations for students with disabilities

Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

Shared in 2022, these resources from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services offers youth and families great tools for planning for key medical, housing, social, educational and other supports as youth enter young adulthood.

Virginia Supported Decision Making Agreement fill-in document
How to fill out the Virginia Supported Decision Making Agreement document
Virginia Supported Decision Making Discovery Tool
Virginia Supported Decision Making Relationship Map
Plain language authorization for education release of information
Plain language authorization for medical release of information

IEP Transition Planning In Virginia: Tips To Know For Youth With IEPs Who Are In Foster Care

April 04, 2022

A fact sheet developed by Formed Families Forward for the Parent Educational Adocacy and Training Center (PEATC)’s WAZE to Adulthood project. This fact sheet offers tips and best practices for implementing strong transition planning for youth and young adults with disabilities who are also in foster care. Virginia-specific policies and resources are provided.

Designed for parents, caregivers, professional partners and others.

Planning for Transition IEPs fact sheet

3 Tips to Improve Communication with Your Youth & Young Adults tip sheet

This tip sheet provides parents and allies of youth and young adults with lived experience of a mental health condition tips be able to improve their connection with them. This tip sheet was developed as a collaboration between the family member and young adult advisory boards that work with the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research at University of Massachusetts. The tips are based on advisory board members’ real experiences.

Who’s on the IEP Team resources

From the WAZE to Adulthood project at PEATC, these fact sheets support parents/caregivers and students in understanding all roles and the members of an IEP team.

Who is on My IEP visual for students
Who is on my IEP team fact sheet for students
Roles around the IEP Table sheet for parents/caregivers

Charting the LifeCourse

Charting the LifeCourse is designed to be used for individuals with disabilities, family members, or in the work individuals do. The framework and tools will help organize ideas, vision, and goals, as well as problem-solve, navigate, and advocate for supports. The LifeCourse Nexus website provides links to resources and information for individuals, families and professionals, including e-learning modules.

Charting the LifeCourse Tools website