Navigating Agency Support

In order to achieve successful and meaningful employment, school transition team members, person centered planning teams, community transition services and other agencies must come together early in the process to begin and then continue planning for employment. Connections to agencies should be made while the student is still in high school and early enough so that the agencies can develop meaningful relationships and connections with the youth and his/her family. Age 14 is really not too early to start this process! In the case of an adult, many of the same agency and community partners can continue or begin working together with the person to achieve and support employment.

Navigating Agency Support provides tips, guidance and information about steps to enhance working together as a multi-agency team. These are practices and planning strategies that can be used to help teams collaborate for the benefit of the individual. This information should be reviewed and considered before digging into agency eligibility and services. However, understanding more about agencies and what they can do to support employment will be important for an individual and the team to understand. Therefore, specific information is included about several important agencies that promote and support employment for people with disabilities.

One resource that may help explore and understand agencies is the Ohio Employment First Agency Navigation Tool. After reviewing the information on strategies for team collaboration, use this tool to help determine what agencies may need to be included in a person’s multi-agency team.