The Youth with Disabilities Demonstration Project was intended to complement and support existing youth programming under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) for in-school and out-of-school youth. It targeted youth with hidden disabilities including those with mental health needs and learning disabilities. WIA youth case managers identified youth potentially in need of mental health care and referred them to care coordinators who were hired for this project. The State of Washington Learning Needs Assessment was developed and used with participants to detect hidden disabilities or mental health issues that would require more formalized assessment. A referral form completed by case managers described areas of concerns. Two assessment tools - the Casey Life Skills Assessment and the Child and Adolescent Strengths and Needs (CANS-MH) assessment tool were used to identify youth needs and develop individual service plans for youth with mental health issues. Linkages were established with mental health agencies so that youth in need of services could be referred. Additional services included job shadow experiences and site visits, transportation assistance through bus passes, tuition, books, and supplies, clothing, temporary housing needs, formal disability assessments to diagnosis disabilities and accommodations, and health and nutrition assistance.

During the demonstration program, the WDC also sponsored system-wide trainings for partners to learn about person-centered planning. The curriculum proved so successful that WIA staff began to implement person-centered planning with all of their youth enrollees. In addition, in order to increase staff awareness about hidden disabilities in youth 14-21, staff were trained regarding disability systems, screening tools, disability law, and youth development.

The overall objective of the project was to identify and provide additional support and services to those youth, ages 14-21 enrolled in WIA-supported youth programs with mental health care needs.

Project results included the following:

-75 youth were referred, assessed and helped to access needed services through the project.
-Person centered planning (PCP) teams were established for out-of-school youth participating in WIA programs. PCP teams focused on youth strengths and goals. Team members put plans in place to help young people move ahead in their education and vocational goals. WIA staff found the PCP methodology so helpful that they began to implement PCP with all WIA youth enrollees, not just those enrolled in this demonstration project.
-Two care coordinators were hired and provided services to agencies operating both in-school and out-of-school youth programs. They provided training to staff on mental health manifestations and coordinated training on other topics by local area specialists (e.g. suicide prevention and learning disability screening). Care coordinators linked with K-12 special education departments to procure pre-existing diagnoses on out-of-school youth and ensured that appropriate accommodations were inserted into the overall WIA youth case management plan.