Ron Irvine—Portfolio

Program Development

MiConnections of Kent County

(our logo was designed by youth in the graphic design class at Kent Career / Tech Center)

After the Michigan's Grant Proposal for the High School / High Tech Grant was accepted (fall of 2003), following is a summary of the program development process that Ron Irvine facilitated in Kent County. (see Federal Grant Development Process)

Based on the grant requirements from the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, each local community were to develop a program to improve outcomes for youth with disabilities based on the latest research provided by the US Department of Labor matching the needs of the local communty determined through a strategic planning process and collaborative cross-sector decision-making. Through an initial countywide survey, three stategic priorities came to light. They are three of the practices or activities that tend to improve outcomes for at-risk youth as identified through research by the US Department of Labor. The survey showed that schools in Kent County had a difficult time offering these activities consistently without support. The three strategic priorities for Kent County are Mentoring, Leadership Development, and Entreprenership or other project-based learning such as community-based service learning

As local coordinator, Ron Irvine facilitated the development of the local steering council, strategic planning processs, program development, local funding, recruiting of schools and students, training, and program management. Quality management and continuous improvement processes were developed collaboratively with the statewide project office and the local steering council through documenting and reporting customer (school staff, families, and student) feedback, success stories, and student outcomes.

Following are the basics of the program we developed. MiConnections of Kent County involved 10 schools, 75 youth with disabilities, 14 local partnering organizations, and 8 statewide partnering organizations.

MiConnections: How it works in Kent County   

Don't ask me what I want to be . . .

until I've had a chance to explore the possibilities.

MiConnections is an enhancement to programs that serve youth with disabilities.

It is not a separate program. It is designed to be adapted to needs not being met in present programming. It provides resources (funding, connections to community resources, ideas), quality practice (based on research), and evaluation through reporting (tying practice to outcomes and to improvement).

1. Local Sites (in schools or community organizations)

a. Core Group of 5 students (or more) that are

i. Fired up to explore possibilities: learning more about future careers and their own potential.

ii. Willing to become leaders by:

•  planning activities.

•  getting other students involved.

b. Schedule 3 activities or events that are

i.  Aligned with your students' interests and needs

ii. Student led

iii. Funding available:

•  MiConnections minigrant

•  Transition Grant

iv. Activities could be based on

•  Career exploration

•  Youth development / leadership

•  Entrepreneurship

•  Service Learning Projects

2. County-Wide Coordination (Steering Council & Coordinator)

a. County-Wide Events (such as JAM, Summer Event on Leadership, youth / staff training, etc.)

b. Schedule of career exploration activities

c. Providing resources you need (funding, ideas, connections to community resources, assistance with grant-writing or business planning)

d. MiConnections Network (creating a learning community)

i. Network meetings (regional/county-wide) for collaboration

ii. Database of Activities

iii. Database of Businesses

3. Statewide Coordination (statewide core planning team, statewide steering council, statewide network meetings)

a. Support on a statewide basis includes

i. statewide coordinator and consultants

ii. website for information, communication, and marketing

iii. realigning state resources

iv. statewide network

 

For more details, go to

MiConnections of Kent County Program Manual

MiConnections of Kent County Website

MiConnections Statewide Website

National High School / High Tech Program

KISD WIA Youth Program

In the fall of 2005, I facilitated a collaborative planning process for a proposal for WIA Youth Services being offered by Michigan Works through the US Department of Labor. The collaborative partners were Grand Rapids Community College, Wedgwood Christian Services, Urban League, Women's Resource Center, and MiConnections (under KISD Transition Services). As the process developed, an adminstrator from the KISD Career Development Office joined the group and KISD became the fiduciary. Once the proposal was accepted, I assisted the KISD adminstrator in developing the program and recuiting schools and students. Much of the program was based on the research that had been provided by the above MiConnections project provided through the US Department of Labor. The primary two elements that became the core of KISD WIA Youth Services are "Creating Supportive Networks for Youth" and "Mentoring".