Youth in Transition Toolkit:
The Framework’s guiding principles are the beliefs that guide decisions at the system, agency and professional level. They serve as the foundation for what we do and how we do it.
The Framework’s guiding principles are:
1. The youth is at the center of transition planning.
2. Families play a key role in successful transition outcomes.
3. Transition planning should start early in a youth’s life.
4. High expectations matter.
5. Strong partnerships support a smoother transition to adulthood.
6. Success is measured by improved youth outcomes.
Minnesota's Youth In Transition Framework shares the same guiding principles as person-centered planning:
To learn more about applying person-centered principles in your work, check out the Framework's shared practice: person-centered practices.
Families are the best partners in building successful transition outcomes. In fact, family involvement is a measurable predictor of success. Nobody knows a youth better than the youth and their families. Families play a valued and essential role in making sure transition plans reflect a youth's interests and future goals.
We will engage families early to discover their dreams and concerns for their youth's future, and to understand how to best support them. We will honor the family's wealth of knowledge and the key role they play in a youth's life.
To learn more, check out the Engage families section in this toolkit, including a Get ready section that outlines new perspectives on family engagement.
Under law, transition planning must be in place by 9th grade. However, transition planning is a lifelong process that begins well before 9th grade.
To build a richer transition planning experience, we will work to incorporate the concept of planning for adulthood into each stage of a child’s life, aligning efforts across programs and grade levels. This encourages youth and their families to work toward a vision for an inclusive, meaningful life after school.
To learn more, check out the using a lifespan approach section in the YIT toolkit.
Expectations are contagious. A youth’s aspirations are influenced by what others communicate about what’s possible.
In our work we will tune into our own thinking—are we inadvertently making assumptions that place limitations on a youth’s possibilities for the future? We will lead with a spirit of optimism and a focus on the possibilities, helping youth and their families see what can be achieved with the appropriate opportunities and supports. We will help youth and their families set a big vision for the future.
To learn more, check out the setting high expectations section of this toolkit.
Successful transitions take a collection of committed partners working together within and across systems and agencies. Some needs can be met through informal resources, while others call for a range of services and supports. Either way, strong person-centered informal and formal partnerships support better outcomes.
At both the state and local level, we will look for ways to:
Learn more about our work to create strong partnerships at the state and local level in the E1MN partnership section of this toolkit.
Ultimately, high-quality transition planning is measured by its ability to help youth reach their goals (not by how coordinated systems are or how collaborative teams are). We all want youth to have better lives, not just better plans. Learn how the Framework defines improved youth outcomes.
We will use evidenced-based practices and measure individual outcomes, analyzing data along the way to continually improve and adapt efforts. At all levels (state, regional, district, school and individual student level), we will look to data to tell us what's working and what's not, and we will leverage and share promising practices.
Check out the professional resources section of the this toolkit to learn more about data-driven practices, and to access data and reports for transition age students and recent graduates in Minnesota.