Purpose

To provide training and technical to Centers for Independent Living and state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies to encourage them to coordinate services and develop working relationships in order to develop supportive communities at the local and State levels to assist and sustain young people with disabilities as they make the transition from school to living independently in the community.

Goals and Objectives

1. To improve cooperative working relationships between CILs, the SILC, the DSU and other relevant agencies in the state of Texas by focusing on the common goal of successfully transitioning young people with disabilities to adult roles in their communities.

a. Establish state-level incubator.
b. Enable partners to define complementary roles and agree upon state-level goals.
c. Support and guide local level transition community networks.
d. Collect, compile and evaluate evidence of success across the state.
e. Evaluate and improve working relationships through the use of the Iowa Paths Collaboration Survey.

2. To develop tools, techniques and strategies for CILs to add value to transition services in the state of Texas.

a. Build in high quality and applicability of products by including end-users in design and development.
b. Develop training curricula for CILs, consumers and community partners.
c. Develop web-based and CD supports.
d. Provide training for trainers and peer mentors.

3. To build communities of support for youth in transition by strengthening collaboration.

a. Provide technical assistance to CILs and DSU staff in establishing or enhancing local level transition networks.
b. Support local networks with ongoing access to training, technical assistance and peer mentoring.

4. To develop evidence-based practices for replication across the country.

a. Establish National Think Tank.
b. Document and evaluate results of collaborative work.
c. Disseminate project materials through Think Tank partners, presentations at conferences and web-based strategies.
d. Link Texas peer mentors with the Association of Programs in Rural Independent Living’s (APRIL) CIL to CIL Peer Network.

CHIRP Sites

Amarillo, Texas

Austin, Texas

Belton, Texas

Corpus Christi, Texas

Crockett, Texas

Dallas, Texas

El Paso, Texas

Houston, Texas

Lubbock, Texas

Tyler, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

Award 

CHIRP was the winner of the 2008  RSA Commissioner’s Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation Education and Training. The Commissioner’s Award recognizes truly superior professionals and programs that support the state-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) program. It honors excellence among state agency, educational and federal leaders. It is an opportunity to share innovative and creative efforts with colleagues.

To be considered for the award, nominees must be a current or past RSA training grantee, have demonstrated an innovative training program, and have demonstrated a special emphasis on partnering with the vocational rehabilitation program or the public vocational rehabilitation community. Read the CHIRP Nomination Letter here.