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Youth in Transition Toolkit:

Youth in Transition Toolkit

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About the Framework

Minnesota’s Youth In Transition Framework defines quality transition planning, empowering professionals across the state to work together toward the same outcomes for youth.

A circular graphic depicting the Minnesota Youth In Transition Framework. The words 'Youth in transition' are in the center, surrounded by four overlapping circles. The four circles contain the words: Best Life, Outcomes: Use skills to envision and advocate for their best life. Independent Living, Outcomes: Successfully live as independently as possible. Employment, Outcomes: Find competitive, integrated work they enjoy. Postsecondary Education and Training, Outcomes: Obtain industry-recognized credentials. Surrounding the four circles are the words: learning expectations, guiding principles, and shared practices.

Developed by E1MN and transition leaders statewide, the Framework guides professionals with a vision of how their work can impact and improve the lives of youth and their families.

All transition professionals are asked to align their work to the Framework and strengthen their partnerships and delivery of high-quality transition programs and services. Such transition professionals include those in schools, Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)/State Services for the Blind (SSB), county agencies/tribal nations, and service providers who work on programs and services such as:

  • Special education, IEPs, and 504 plans and accommodations
  • Waiver case management and coordinated services and supports plans
  • Vocational Rehabilitation, Pre-ETS and employment plans
  • And more

For a downloadable summary of the Framework, check out About Minnesota's Youth in Transition Framework (PDF).

Why was the Framework was created?

The Framework was developed because:

  • Transition professionals and community partners did not know what was expected of them
  • Families did not know what they could expect from transition planning
  • Transition planning was not coordinated across agencies, which led to inefficient and frustrating experiences for youth and families
  • Broad inconsistencies in programs and services created inequities for youth and families

  

Key elements of the Framework

The Framework’s three key elements create the foundation for effective transition planning and programming.

Guiding principles

The beliefs that guide our work at the system, agency and professional level

Learn about the guiding principles »

Learning expectations

The topics all youth in Minnesota should explore as they prepare for their best adult lives

Explore the learning expectations »

Shared practices

Collective ways of working that can help create consistent and improved experiences for youth, families and professionals

Learn about the shared practices »

 
 

Anticipated outcomes of the Framework

By defining quality transition planning, the Framework will help create:

The framework will help ensure that all youth and families in Minnesota receive consistent, equitable, high-quality transition planning and programming, so they can set a positive trajectory for employment and independence.

By defining learning expectations and the roles of the members of a youth’s support team, the framework helps youth and families know what to expect from transition planning.

When services and supports are coordinated, and when professionals use the same shared practices, youth and families will have a more streamlined experience planning for their future.

By defining guiding principles, setting clear expectations for student learning and outlining shared practices (the Framework's three key elements), the framework helps transition professionals:

  • Know what is expected of them in their work
  • Develop partnerships with families
  • Do their jobs more effectively and efficiently, and
  • Work together to deliver coordinated services and supports

The framework helps professionals support youth so they can prepare for and live their best lives in adulthood. Specifically, the framework defines the improved youth outcomes we are all working toward:

  • Youth use self-determination and leadership skills to envision and advocate for their best life
  • Youth successfully manage in(ter)dependent adult life within their community
  • Youth find competitive, integrated work they enjoy
  • Youth access postsecondary education and training options and obtain industry-recognized credentials

These outcomes can also be found on the improved youth outcomes page of this toolkit.

As leaders across the state adopt the Framework and encourage and support their staff to coordinate and collaborate across agencies:

  • The partnership between schools, Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)/State Services for the Blind (SSB), county agencies/tribal nations, and service providers will be strengthened, and
  • Services and supports will be better coordinated,

All with the goal of improving outcomes for youth.

Learn more about the Framework

Actor, playwright and disability advocate Kevin Kling introduces the transition framework in this 6 minute video.

Minnesota’s transition framework
Next: Key elements of the Framework »