School to Work Alliance Program(SWAP)

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The Adams 12 School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) is a collaborative initiative between the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and Adams 12 Five Star Schools, and is supported by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). SWAP provides case management and direct services to young adults with disabilities who:

• Are potentially eligible, applicants of or are eligible to receive DVR services (meeting disability documentation requirements and able to benefit from the program); and
• Have mild to moderate needs in employment;
• Need support in developing vocational awareness, career exploration, and experiencing career and employment opportunities to become competitively employed and to achieve successful outcomes.

Purpose of SWAP:

The purpose of SWAP is to assist young adults in making the transition from school to employment, provide successful employment outcomes, increase community linkages, and new patterns of service for young adults within all categories of disabilities. The program's goals include:

• Building on current transition planning efforts;
• Creating a career pathway through pre-employment transition services;
• Filling the case management gap for the targeted population; and
• Supporting collaboration between DVR and local school districts/BOCES.

SWAP is intended to provide employment-related assistance to young adults with disabilities, who are experiencing mild to moderate barriers to employment. Disabilities can include but are not limited to physical, emotional, or learning disabilities. SWAP provides opportunities for young adults to practice and improve workplace skills, consider their career interests, and obtain real world work experience that will lead to competitive, integrated employment in today’s high demand industries.

SWAP services may include:

Young adults potentially eligible or eligible for services provided through DVR, qualify to receive evaluation and diagnostic services, vocational counseling and guidance, physical and mental restoration services, and training. Additionally, SWAP may provide services such as:

• Pre-employment transition services
• Career exploration
• Career development
• Employment-related instruction
• Job development / placement
• Case management
• One year of follow-up
• Year round community-based services

SWAP may provide services when appropriate to:

• Potentially eligible, applicants of or eligible for DVR services, and
• Young adults between the ages of 15-24, and
• Have mild to moderate needs in employment, and
• Typically living within the boundaries of a school district/BOCES participating in the SWAP program. Young adults who do not live in a participating district/BOCES may access vocational rehabilitation services directly through DVR.

Young Adults could be:

• In-School:
  • Person with a disability under 504 of the Americans with Disability Act
  • Receiving special education services
  • Suspected or known disability not under any other category
• Out-of-School
  • Graduated or aged out
  • Drop-out or at risk of dropping out
  • Under or unemployed

SWAP would NOT be appropriate for:

• Middle school aged students or younger
• Young adults with significant needs who will require extensive services or currently are eligible for supported employment services
• Young adults with on-going legal problems that make placement in a work setting difficult

Referrals:

The appropriate time for a referral to DVR/SWAP is when a young adult’s focus includes employment and they are available for services.

Contact SWAP

To make a referral in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools area, or for more detailed information, please contact:

SWAP Team Email: swap@adams12.org                                                                         

Peter Hoff 
SWAP Coordinator
(720) 972-4043 (office)
(720) 436-3092 (cell/txt- Recommended!)
peter.e.hoff@adams12.org

Dorita Deveney
SWAP Employment Specialist
(720) 972- 4355 (office)
(303) 472-9156 (cell/txt- Recommended!)                                                                          
dorita.m.deveney@adams12.org

Joseph Garcia
SWAP Employment Specialist
(720) 972- 4781 (office)
(720) 872-2660 (cell)
joseph.e.garcia@adams12.org