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Participant Handbook

Welcome!
We welcome you to the Career Connections Program, designed to “help today’s youth enter tomorrow’s workforce.”  The Career Connections Program is a collaboration between your school district, Grant Wood Area Education Agency, and multiple community providers of supported employment services—Advancement Services of Jones County, Goodwill Industries of the Heartland, Optimae LifeServices, Rural Employment Alternatives, Inc., and the University of Iowa’s Center for Disabilities and Development. 

This packet is your guide to participation in the program.  In it, you will find a description of what Career Connections will do for you and your responsibility to the program.  What we’ve tried to do is give your answers to questions you might have about the program.  Please review the materials with your family and school staff, contact us if you have any questions, and enjoy being a part of this exciting project.

What will Career Connections do for me?
Career Connections is a program designed to help you obtain a satisfying career.  The program is a sort of road map for helping you find, learn, and keep a job that is just right for you.  There are five steps in that road map:

• Career planning:  You likely began this process in high school.  Career Connections will start where you are at in defining your job interests and skills.  You will spend time with a Career Connections staff member discussing your job interests and skills and maybe completing some questionnaires and computer inventories.  Then you will work with staff to identify the people important to you in helping you define and reach your goals.  We will gather those people to outline your person-centered career plan.  That plan will outline your skills and strengths, your career goals, and how we will reach the.  Periodically throughout your time in the program, we will gather those people you identified to review how we are doing. 

• Job shadows and tryouts:  After your plan is completed, we will set up opportunities for you to see and explore businesses in the areas of your career interests.  Job shadowing involves you and a Career Connections staff person visiting businesses, watching staff do their jobs, and asking questions.  Job tryouts involve doing different parts of the job you are observing so that you can get a feel for them.  A tryout may last for an hour or be several days.  Both these experiences will help you get a better feel for the jobs you are interested in, and are risk free ways to see if you might like that type of job.

• Training and certification opportunities:  You will work with a Career Connections staff member to determine what, if any, post-secondary classes, licensures, and/or certifications are needed for your career goal.  You will develop a plan for how to obtain these.  You may also participate in individual or small group practice and training related to a variety of skills such as successful job interviewing, resume writing, work-related problem solving, and getting a driver’s license. 

• Internships:  Finally, you will participate in an internship.  Internships are paid work opportunities that provide on-the-job training and experiences.  Internships can last a few weeks to several months depending on the employer.  They can be full or part-time.  Career Connections staff will support you through job coaching to be successful in your internship.  Staff will also work with you to make sure you have transportation to and from your internship.  Internship experiences look great on resumes, help you build marketable skills, and sometimes even lead to ongoing employment with the business.

• Get a job:  Career Connections staff will do their best to help you find a job in your career of choice, though we cannot promise that you will leave the program with a job.  We will support you by providing job coaching while you learn the job and help you to ask for any accommodations that you might need.  Best of all, Career Connections staff help your employer and supervisor understand how to support you in being successful on the job. 

What will Career Connections staff do?
Career Connections staff will be your primary “teacher” (though they are not actually teachers but employment specialists), coach, and support as you navigate the process of finding and keeping a job in your career of interest.  They will:

• Gather information for conducting a person-centered career planning process

• Lead or facilitate your person-centered career planning meeting to help you develop your career goals

• Provide you career counseling and information

• Develop job shadows and tryouts, internships, and job placements for you

• Provide on-the-job training and coaching to help you learn the details of your job and provide follow along support to ensure your success on the job

• Assist you with developing transportation opportunities to help you to get to and from work

• Connect you to resources in the community that might be available to you

• Assist you in accessing training through your employer or the community that might be of benefit to you

• Provide time limited wage subsidies for internships

• Participate in your IEP team and provide documentation to the school as needed to outline progress toward you goals.

What are my responsibilities to the Career Connections Program?
You also have responsibilities.  In fact, Career Connections students that have the most successes are those that take their personal responsibilities seriously and participate actively in the program.

• You will be responsible to show up to meetings, appointments, and work on time.

• You will be responsible to call or text if you cannot make it to any meetings, appointments, or work.  You must call or text your Career Connections staff person if you need to cancel a meeting or appointment.  You must also call your employer if you cannot make it to work.

• You will be responsible to inform staff of other meetings or appointments that may create conflicts with Career Connections activities.

• You will be responsible to complete any paperwork or assignments asked of you in a timely manner.

• You will be expected to actively participate in your career planning.  You will be asked to give your input and honest opinions.  You will not be allowed to sit back and just agree with everything your team decides.

• You will be expected to be an active member in the job search process, completing applications, participating in interviews, and other tasks to help you get a job.  Career Connections staff will support you with these tasks but will not do them for you.

• When in a job shadow or tryout, internship, or job, you will be expected to follow the rules of the business and follow the directions of your supervisor.

Who can be in Career Connections?
You can be in Career Connections if you meet the following requirements:

• You qualify for special education services and have an Individualized Education Plan or IEP.

• You have transition goals in your IEP and a desire for competitive employment after high school.

• You are likely to need assistance clarifying a specific career goal.

• You are likely to need short-term (6-12 months), community-based, on-the-job training to achieve your career goals.

For more detailed information, please see the Referral Criteria link on this website.

What is this “fifth year” thing? 
Typically students enter Career Connections following their senior year of high school.  They work on IEP goals related to work in the community setting for another year which is sometimes referred to as a “fifth year” of high school.  However, you will not spend the fifth year at your high school unless you and your IEP team determine that you could benefit from specific courses offered there.  Instead, Career Connections staff will work with you at locations other than school such as in businesses, staff’s offices, your home, or other community-based meeting places.

Do I need to take any classes at my high school during my fifth year?
If you have fulfilled your graduation requirements, you do not need to take any more classes.  If you and the rest of your IEP team think that taking classes will help you meet your IEP goals, then you may do so.

How much time will I spend doing Career Connections activities during my fifth year?
Each student moves through the Career Connections Program at her or his own pace.  Most students will be doing some type of Career Connections work-related activity at least an average of ten hours per week during your fifth year.  Many students will have internships or jobs that are twenty hours per week or more by the end of their fifth year.

Do I have to stay in the program the entire fifth year?
No, some students may only need a few months during their fifth year to learn the skills needed to enter the workforce and be successful.  Students may exit the fifth year program any time their IEP team determines that it would be best to do so.

How does the Career Connections Program affect my graduation?
You and your IEP team will decide if you will participate in the Career Connections Program during the winter or early spring of your senior year.   If you will participate in Career Connections, you may still go through graduation ceremonies with your classmates.  Since you are not technically graduating, your school may be required to date your diploma according to when you have your special education exit staffing.

How do I successfully complete the Career Connections Program?
You can successfully complete the program by:

• Meeting the goals of your person-centered career plan and completed all of the action steps within the plan.

• Meeting the goals in your IEP.

• Being successfully employed for at least thirty days.

• Having your planning team, your IEP team, and you feel that you have successfully met your goals for employment.

Is it possible that I might not complete the Career Connections Program?
Yes, Career Connections may not be for everyone.  From time to time, there may be students who don’t successfully complete the program.  Students may not complete the program for several reasons, including:

• You decide the program is not for you.

• Not following the student responsibilities as outlined in this handbook.

• Career Connections staff and your IEP team determine that your employment needs are greater than the program can support.

Career Connections staff will work with you and your IEP team to determine if an alternative to the program should be considered.  As a member of the IEP team, you will be part of this decision making process.

Is it possible to quit the Career Connections Program?
Yes, should you decide your aren’t happy with or no longer wish to participate in the program, you should let your Career Connections staff or teacher know.  That way, we can try to find out what we can change to better meet your needs.  If you still feel like it isn’t working, we will gather your IEP again.  This will allow us to inform them of your decision and help provide you with resources that may help you achieve your IEP goals in a different way.  Our job is to help you succeed.  Career Connections staff will do this in a dignified and respectful manner, even if our program does not meet your needs.

What if I have a complaint about the Career Connections Program?
You or your parents can talk with Career Connections staff at any time about any concerns or complaints you may have. If you feel your concern or complaint has not been resolved after speaking with Career Connections staff, you can contact your high school to file a complaint or grievance.  Unresolved concerns or complaints will follow the grievance procedures used in the IEP process.  You can obtain a copy of those procedures by contacting your high school or Grant Wood Area Education Agency and request a copy of the Procedural Safeguards Manual for Parents.

Can I be assured that any medical or personal information I provide staff will be protected?
All Career Connections staff are required to protect the information you and your family provide the program.  Career Connections staff adhere to strict policies on confidentiality and privacy of personal and medical information you provide.  This information will not be shared with anyone other than Career Connections staff without your written consent (and parent/guardian written consent if the student is under the age of 18).  When you begin the Career Connections Program, you will be asked to sign an Authorization and Release of Information form that will outline with whom Career Connections staff may share information. At that time you also will be given information on how we specifically store and protect any health information you provide.

What is harassment?
Harassment is any unwanted, intimidating, hostile, or offensive action that singles out a person to the person’s objection or detriment because of race, sex, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or personal characteristics. Harassment also includes actions by any employee that are intended to interfere with or impede the proper performance of another employee’s job duties.  Some examples of discriminatory harassment include, but are not limited to the following:

• Verbal abuse or ridicule

• Unnecessary physical contact

• Interference with an employee’s work by improper action such as threats, intimidation, or improper inducements

• Offensive sexual flirtations, advances, propositions, intimate physical contact or display of sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or gestures

• Retaliation against an employee for some previously taken actions

• Demanding favors (sexual or otherwise) for employment, promotion, transfer, or any other term or condition of employment

Each employer will have specific policies and rules about how to handle harassment and discrimination. All students participating in the Career Connections Program will be expected to follow their employers’ policies regarding harassment and discrimination.

What if I am harassed at work?
If you find yourself being harassed at work, you need to report the incident to your supervisor as soon as possible. If you do not feel comfortable talking with your supervisor about the incident, contact your Career Connections staff. They will help you talk with your employer and follow your employer’s policies and procedures for reporting and dealing with such incidents.

What is workplace violence?
Employers are committed to maintaining a safe workplace environment that is free from violence.  Workplace violence is any behavior that jeopardizes the safety of yourself or others at work.  Some examples of workplace violence include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Severe disruptive behavior involving physical, sexual, or verbal harassment.

• Theft or damage of other employees’ property or the company’s property.

• Use of alcohol or drugs or being intoxicated while at work.

• Deliberate or careless violation of safety rules.

• Carrying into the employment site a weapon and/or any item that could be and/or intended to be used to inflict bodily harm or used to intimidate.

Each employer will have its own policies about what defines workplace violence and how to handle such situations. All students participating in the Career connections Program will be expected to follow their employers’ policies regarding workplace violence.

What if I witness (or am involved in) a situation that is considered workplace violence?
If you find yourself a witness to, the victim of, or involved in any other way with a violent situation at work, you need to report the incident to your supervisor as soon as possible.  If you do not feel comfortable talking with your supervisor about the incident, contact your Career Connections staff.  They will help you talk with your employer and follow your employer’s policies and procedures for reporting and dealing with such incidents.

If you have any specific questions about your employer’s harassment or workplace violence policies, please talk with your Career Connections staff. They are more than willing to help you understand these policies and how they affect people at work.