The HSC Foundation Receives Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award

In 2002, U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao established the Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award. This award encourages the use of public-private partnerships to develop and implement strategies that enhance employment opportunities and career advancement for individuals with disabilities. Such strategies include increasing access to assistive technologies and utilizing innovative training, hiring and retention strategies. The award is presented annually to one or more individuals, non-profit organizations, small businesses or corporations that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts to further the employment objectives of President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative.

 

 

 

 

Deputy Secretary Howard Radzely (right) and ODEP Assistant Secretary Neil Romano (left) present a 2008 New Freedom Initiative Award to Dr. Thomas W. Chapman, President and Chief Executive for The HSC Foundation(DOL Photo/ Neshan Naltchaya)

 

NFI AWARDEE 2008

Skills for Success

The HSC Foundation, Washington, D.C.

Values at Work: Promoting a Positive Transition to Work and Adulthood

The HSC Foundation (HSCF) is an organization that strives to improve access to services for individuals and families in the Washington metropolitan area who face social and health care challenges due to disability, chronic illness or other circumstances. In support of this mission, HSCF also supports The HSC Pediatric Center and Health Services for Children with Special Needs, Inc., and participates in various local, regional and national initiatives.

A major focus of HSCF's work is its Youth Transitions Initiative, which assists young people with disabilities and chronic illness to successfully move from school to adulthood and the world of work. It uses a comprehensive approach combining health, education, vocational training, youth and leadership development, employment preparation, and social activities.

The Youth Transitions Initiative was launched at a summit that convened more than 200 youth with disabilities and their families and service providers. This was followed by a roundtable at which clinical experts shared their insight and experience. The Initiative's efforts are conducted in collaboration with many organizations, including the National Council on Independent Living, the PACER Center, the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, The John F. Kennedy Center, George Washington University, National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, and the D.C. Department of Mental Health, among others.

In addition, HSCF assisted the U.S. Business Leadership Network to form a Student Advisory Council and sponsors the annual Advocates in Disability Awards, which honor talented young people involved in public advocacy for people with disabilities. Through its different programs, HSCF personally impacts the lives of more than 150 young people each year and countless more through its capacity-building grants to organizations that serve youth and its transitions research initiative.

For information on other 2008 NFI Awardees, go to: www.dol.gov/odep/newfreedom/2008nfi.htm

**NEW** Pediatric Perspectives & Practices on Transitioning Adolescents with Special Needs to Adult Health Care

The HSC Foundation, in collaboration with The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health (formerly Incenter Strategies) is pleased to announce the availability of a new Fact Sheet on the provision of transition support services in pediatric practices.

This Fact Sheet presents new national data on the transition support services offered in pediatric practices to adolescents with special needs and the barriers affecting their availability. The data found that most pediatric practices do not initiate transition planning early in adolescence or offer the transition support services identified as critical for ensuring a smooth transition to adult health care. Gaps in transition support are due in part to limited staff training; lack of an identified staff person responsible for transition; financial barriers; and anxiety on the part of pediatricians, adolescents, and their parents about planning for their future health care.

The fact sheet is authored by Margaret McManus, Harriette Fox, Karen O'Connor, Thomas Chapman, and Jessie MacKinnon.

Click below to view or download the Fact Sheet:

Download the "Transitions Fact Sheet" as an Adobe PDF file

Grantees

Children´s Hospital Boston
Sponsorship of the "State of the Science Conference", including support for an evening Town Hall meeting with a keynote presentation by Greg Smith, a disability advocate, radio host, and motivational speaker.

Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School
Sponsorship of a study to determine the incidence, prevalence, and survival of selected chronic illnesses, followed by a final paper on study findings indicating the economic impact of youth with disabilities as they transition into adulthood.

City Year
Three year grant to support the development of an infrastructure to become an inclusive service organization so they can best recruit, train, and support youth with disabilities to become successful City Year corps members. The HSC Foundation is joined by the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation as a funding partner in City Year’s inclusion initiative.

Disability Funders Network
Sponsorship of a series of informational teleconferences around topics relating to disability, including youth transitions.

Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso (FAN)
Program support for their Positive Youth Development, Youth Ensemble, and Transitions Programs.

Goodwill of Greater Washington (former the Workforce Organizations for Regional Collaboration, WORC)
Capacity-building grant for the Youth to WORC Initiative.

Incenter Strategies
Focus group study of inner-city adolescents and their parents to determine how best to address adolescents’ physical, behavioral, and reproductive healthcare needs.

Institute for Educational Leadership
Co-sponsorship of a June 2007 national symposium on high school reform, including the issue of diplomas versus certificates of completion.

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Sponsorship of five internships for youth with disabilities within cultural organizations in the Washington metropolitan area.

Kingsbury Center
In partnership with The George Washington University, internship opportunities for students with severe learning disabilities.

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
Co-sponsorship of an August 2007 National Youth Development &Leadership Summit to develop an action plan for improving policy and practice in the youth development and leadership field.

National Consortium on Leadership & Disability for Youth
Translation and printing of seven tools/guides for youth transitions in Spanish and English.

National Council on Independent Living
Curriculum development and regional trainings for youth practitioners in community-based organizations.

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic of Metropolitan Washington
Expansion of the vocational education series and outreach program.

Smithsonian Institution Accessibility Program
Sponsorship of the youth transitions module for the October 2007 IDEA Celebration for youth.

TASH
Sponsorship to support five scholarships for youth to attend the 2008 TASH Conference:  Social Justice in the 21st Century.

The University of the District of Columbia
Sponsorship of scholarships for nine students, three in each of the following four-year undergraduate programs: Language and Speech Pathology, Special Education, and Nursing.

The Washington Center
Expansion of the Public Service Internship Program for College Students with Disabilities.

U.S. Business Leadership Network
Sponsorship of the formation of a Youth Advisory Council.