Reports
Youth and Adult Transition Systems Collaboration Research Report
Researchers at the Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth) designed a study to quantify levels of collaboration among agencies supporting the transition to adulthood for youth and young adults with disabilities (Y&YAD). In addition, they aimed to identify common collaboration practices, estimate how collaboration relates to vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency employment outcomes, and determine the impact of COVID-19 on collaboration. Previous research commonly recommends interagency collaboration as a practice in transition to adulthood for Y&YAD; however, further transition research was needed to develop the evidence base for specific features of successful collaborations.
There were two phases of the study:
Phase 1: Researchers collected data from 338 participants via a national online survey focused on quantifying frequency of collaboration, partner knowledge, quality of collaboration, data use, and confidence.
Phase 2: Researchers collected data through focus group interviews across nine states to explore best practices and challenges related to programmatic and policy-based collaboration practices.
One key finding from phase 1 was that job role had the greatest impact on collaboration ratings by survey respondents (i.e., supervisors tended to rate their collaborations with other agencies higher than frontline practitioners).
Key themes emerging from phase 2 focus group discussions confirmed the Levels of Collaboration Scale (LCS) by Frey et al. (2006) framework which includes mutuality and role clarity, as well as information and resource sharing and frequent communication. Another common theme from focus group discussions was youth empowerment and how collaboration supports it.
Findings indicate the core Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (2014) partners benefit from the federal requirements to collaborate, but weaker relationships exist with non-core partners (e.g., juvenile justice, mental health, and child welfare). Thus, state level efforts to formalize collaborations with non-core partners are important. Additionally, lack of knowledge and staff turnover often result in fewer connections among agencies, ultimately negatively affecting Y&YAD.
Click here to view the Collaboration to Support Youth Employment Outcomes webinar.
Click here to view the Collaboration to Support Youth Employment Outcomes slides.