Community Conversations and Transition Systems Change

Abstract

Within the sphere of transition to integrated employment, systems change impacts all aspects of services and supports from broad-based policies addressing funding and contracting to performance management. Although the policymaking obligations of employment systems change rests with governmental agencies, the actual implementation of policies is dependent on those either delivering the services (e.g., such as teachers, transition specialists, service coordinators, and vocational rehabilitation counselors) or those experiencing services (e.g., individuals with disabilities and their families and businesses). The purpose of the Partnerships in Employment National Transition to Employment Systems Change Project was to address state policies and practices to improve transition to postsecondary education and employment outcomes for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Several states incorporated community conversations as a strategy to build consensus for systems change at the grassroots level. We provide an overview of this work and address the ways community conversations contributed to state policy and practice development. We also offer recommendations for how this approach can be used to inform and spur policy change.