Nearly 300 Students With Disabilities Received Robust WorkForce Transition Services
December 1, 2022
WorkForce Central is celebrating its success in facilitating Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) in 2021 and 2022. The program is offered through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and WorkForce Central took the lead to get the program up and running in Pierce County. Training and workforce services were provided to students with disabilities, ages 14-21, at 15 high schools in Tacoma, Clover Park, Puyallup, and Bethel School Districts.
WorkForce Central partnered with two local community-based organizations to provide Pre-ETS over the two-year period. Vadis Employment Services delivered workplace readiness and self-advocacy workshops and provided individualized work-based learning activities (job tours, job shadows, and informational interviews). Tacoma Community House/REACH provided paid work-based learning experiences during the summer, ranging from 20 -40 hours per internship.
During the course of the program, 288 students received 2,243 workplace readiness training and self-advocacy hours. There were 13 work-based learning activities and 19 paid work-based learning experiences.
“Considering this program operated as we were in a pandemic, the success is pretty incredible,” said Kari Haugen, Director of Workforce Partnerships for WorkForce Central.
While WorkForce Central’s contract is complete, Pre-ETS will continue through DVR, coordinated by Stacy Kidd, Regional Transition Consultant.
To be eligible for Pre-ETS, students must be:
- Ages 14-21;
- Attending or enrolled in a secondary program;
- Have an IEP, 504 Plan, or a documented disability.
Kidd said there are 8,000 students in Pierce County potentially eligible for Pre-ETS.
“One year ago, we had 45 students, and now we’re up to 500,” she said. “We start with that first student who wants to be a choir director and find an opportunity, and then we move on to the student who wants to be a media director and on and on.”
For more information about Pre-Employment Transition Services for students with disabilities visit our Pre-ETS webpage.
