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Grant To Help Youth With Disabilities
STATE RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES
TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO EMPLOYMENT
SACRAMENTO - The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) today announced that it has been awarded a five-year, $1.5 million federal grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) for the California Mentoring Initiative for Youth with Disabilities, which will provide services to youth with disabilities between 16 and 26 years of age who are transitioning from school to post secondary education and employment.
"Young people with disabilities deserve the right to lead independent, self-fulfilling lives," said Catherine Campisi, director of DOR. "We are extremely grateful for this funding and look forward to expanding successful mentoring strategies throughout the state."
This demonstration project will serve to increase meaningful community post secondary education and employment outcomes through research-based mentoring methods. Also, the project will develop an effective mentoring model that can be offered as a vocational rehabilitation service for other youth with disabilities.
The project will be piloted in San Jose and Orange/San Gabriel. An advisory committee of stakeholders will provide direction and oversight to the project. Two community-based agencies will be competitively selected to coordinate recruitment, matching and supervision of the mentors.
DOR assists people with disabilities train for and obtain meaningful employment so they can lead independent lives in their communities. DOR provides services to approximately 100,000 Californians who are preparing for or seeking work as well as receiving independent living services.
