Empowering Transitions Project

A Four-Year Project

Target Population:

Freshmen and sophomore in special education programs attending two inner city high schools.

Description:

These students are all of African American and/or Hispanic Backgrounds and reside within or on the borders of the empowerment zone clusters. The project's goal is to provide a dropout prevention intervention for at-risk youth. The project achieves its goal of dropout prevention by using case management to promote greater school engagement in both academic and extra-curricular activities. Students are supported in pursuing activities before and after school related to areas of interest, including sports, arts and academic clubs as well as part-time employment and summer internship opportunities. The case managers provide the students and families with knowledge about their rights under IDEA and as they get older under ADA.
Participants are also introduced to the VR system and learn about SSI benefits as well as resources in the community for individuals with disabilities. Youth learn how to set goals, develop action plans, understand the importance of mentors and are supported in actively pursuing their goals. Program effectiveness is evaluated based on individual goal attainment by project participants as well as acquisition of help-recruiting skills and positive engagement within the school setting.

Project Staff:

Fabricio Balcazar, PhD (Principal Investigator)
Chris Keys, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator)
Teresa Garate-Serafini, M.Ed. (Project Director)
Tina Taylor-Ritzler, MA (Graduate Research Assistant)
Susan Ryerson-Espino, MA (Graduate Research Assistant)
Michele Murvay (Case Manager)
George Ortiz (Case Manager)
Sarah McCullough (Case Manager)

Funded by:

Department of Education - Federal
Office of Special Education Programs

Outcomes:

Students served: 31
Employment Experience (summer or permanent part-time):18; Extracurricular Activities: 15

Contact:
Tere Garate-Sarafini, M.Ed.
tere@uic.edu