Helping Youth Transition to Adulthood: Guidance for Foster Parents, a fact sheet of Child Welfare Information Gateway.
This factsheet provides guidance on how foster parents can help youth build a foundation for a successful transition to adult life outside of foster care. It describes the challenges youth face, how the adolescent brain affects them during this time, and Federal laws and programs. It also provides concrete ways they can partner with youth.
Great Expectations program for Virginia foster youth pursuing community college and other post-secondary education options.
Services for Older Youth, VDSS. These include the Independent Living Program for youth 14 and older and education programs such as the Community College Tuition Grant and Education and Training Vouchers (ETV).
Project LIFE, sponsored by Virginia Department of Social Services and United Methodist Family Services. The mission of Project Life is to enhance the successful transition of older foster youth to adulthood by a) increasing the capacity of professionals working with youth to engage in sound, evidence-based practices and b) by promoting permanent connections, effective preparation for transition to adulthood, and meaningful youth input into state and local policies and practices.
JobCorps, a free education and training program that helps young people learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and keep a good job has several locations in Virginia.
The Center for Parent Information and Resources provides a webpage on Education/Training Connections resources.
The Center for Parent Information and Resources offers this webpage on Employment Connections resources.
PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment provides information and resources for youth, families, employers and others helping teens and young adults with disabilities as they transition.
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition, funded by US Department of Education to support states and local school systems.
Getting Ready for When Your Teen Reaches the Age of Majority: A Parent’s Guide from the Center for Parent Information and Resources
Comprehensive Approach to Transition Guide from the Association of University Centers on Disability is a youth-friendly planning workbook.
Hiring People with Disabilities is one of many disability resources from the US Department of Labor.
The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition has a matrix of effective transition planning practices and predictors. Parents and caregivers, as well as educators, can learn about what works well for transitioning students with special needs.
A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities from the U.S. Department of Education covers transition planning, transition services, and post-high school education and employment options.
Wilson Workforce Rehabilitation Center, in Fishersville, VA offers vocational evaluation and training services.
Center for Transition Innovations at VCU is funded by the Virginia Department of Education and serves as a resource for educators and other stakeholders in the transition of youth with disabilities.
Resource compiled by the Arc of Northern Virginia, written for Northern Virginia but much is applicable in other areas of state.
Virginia’s I’m Determined project provides training modules and resources for teachers, parents and youth to promote self-determination of youth with disabilities.
Person-Centered Practices is a Virginia resource to promote the use of person centered practices among people with disabilities and older adults, their families and supporters in order to create positive change in their own lives, communities and organizations. The Center for Person Centered Practices is a project of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Partnership for Persons with Disabilities. It promotes ways for people to create and maintain positive change in their lives, organizations, and communities through the use of person centered skills and actions.
Virginia Department of Education’s Transfer of Rights for Students with Disabilities Upon Reaching Age of Majority in Virginia, which includes information on educational power of attorney.
APPENDIX C is a Sample Specific Power Of Attorney For Educational Decisions Made Under The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.
Transfer of Rights for Students with Disabilities guide