Program Development
Program Development
MiConnections of Kent County
(our logo was designed by youth in the graphic design class at Kent Career / Tech Center)
After the Michigan's Grant Proposal for the High School / High Tech Grant was accepted (fall of 2003), following is a
summary of the program development process that Ron Irvine facilitated in Kent County. (see Federal Grant
Development Process)
Based on the grant requirements from the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, each local
community were to develop a program to improve outcomes for youth with disabilities based on the latest research
provided by the US Department of Labor matching the needs of the local community determined through a strategic
planning process and collaborative cross-sector decision-making. Through an initial countywide survey, three
strategic priorities came to light. They are three of the practices or activities that tend to improve outcomes for at-risk
youth as identified through research by the US Department of Labor. The survey showed that schools in Kent County
had a difficult time offering these activities consistently without support. The three strategic priorities for Kent County
are Mentoring, Leadership Development, and Entrepreneurship or other project-based learning such as community-
based service learning
As local coordinator, Ron Irvine facilitated the development of the local steering council, strategic planning process,
program development, local funding, recruiting of schools and students, training, and program management. Quality
management and continuous improvement processes were developed collaboratively with the statewide project office
and the local steering council through documenting and reporting customer (school staff, families, and student)
feedback, success stories, and student outcomes.
Following are the basics of the program we developed. MiConnections of Kent County involved 10 schools, 75 youth
with disabilities, 14 local partnering organizations, and 8 statewide partnering organizations.
MiConnections: How it works in Kent County
Don't ask me what I want to be . . .
until I've had a chance to explore the possibilities.
MiConnections is an enhancement to programs that serve youth with disabilities.
It is not a separate program. It is designed to be adapted to needs not being met in present programming. It provides
resources (funding, connections to community resources, ideas), quality practice (based on research), and evaluation
through reporting (tying practice to outcomes and to improvement).
1. Local Sites (in schools or community organizations)
a. Core Group of 5 students (or more) that are
i. Fired up to explore possibilities: learning more about future careers and their own potential.
ii. Willing to become leaders by:
• planning activities.
• getting other students involved.
b. Schedule 3 activities or events that are
i. Aligned with your students' interests and needs
ii. Student led
iii. Funding available:
• MiConnections minigrant
• Transition Grant
iv. Activities could be based on
• Career exploration
• Youth development / leadership
• Entrepreneurship
• Service Learning Projects
2. County-Wide Coordination (Steering Council & Coordinator)
a. County-Wide Events (such as JAM, Summer Event on Leadership, youth / staff training, etc.)
b. Schedule of career exploration activities
c. Providing resources you need (funding, ideas, connections to community resources, assistance with grant-writing
or business planning)
d. MiConnections Network (creating a learning community)
i. Network meetings (regional/county-wide) for collaboration
ii. Database of Activities
iii. Database of Businesses
3. Statewide Coordination (statewide core planning team, statewide steering council, statewide network meetings)
a. Support on a statewide basis includes
i. statewide coordinator and consultants
ii. website for information, communication, and marketing
iii. realigning state resources
iv. statewide network
For more details, go to
MiConnections of Kent County Program Manual
MiConnections of Kent County Website
MiConnections Statewide Website
National High School / High Tech Program
KISD WIA Youth Program
In the fall of 2005, I facilitated a collaborative planning process for a proposal for WIA Youth Services being offered by
Michigan Works through the US Department of Labor. The collaborative partners were Grand Rapids Community
College, Wedgwood Christian Services, Urban League, Women's Resource Center, and MiConnections (under KISD
Transition Services). As the process developed, an adminstrator from the KISD Career Development Office joined the
group and KISD became the fiduciary. Once the proposal was accepted, I assisted the KISD adminstrator in
developing the program and recuiting schools and students. Much of the program was based on the research that
had been provided by the above MiConnections project provided through the US Department of Labor. The primary two
elements that became the core of KISD WIA Youth Services are "Creating Supportive Networks for Youth" and
"Mentoring".
MiConnections of Kent County
(our logo was designed by youth in the graphic design class at Kent Career / Tech Center)
After the Michigan's Grant Proposal for the High School / High Tech Grant was accepted (fall of 2003), following is a
summary of the program development process that Ron Irvine facilitated in Kent County. (see Federal Grant
Development Process)
Based on the grant requirements from the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, each local
community were to develop a program to improve outcomes for youth with disabilities based on the latest research
provided by the US Department of Labor matching the needs of the local community determined through a strategic
planning process and collaborative cross-sector decision-making. Through an initial countywide survey, three
strategic priorities came to light. They are three of the practices or activities that tend to improve outcomes for at-risk
youth as identified through research by the US Department of Labor. The survey showed that schools in Kent County
had a difficult time offering these activities consistently without support. The three strategic priorities for Kent County
are Mentoring, Leadership Development, and Entrepreneurship or other project-based learning such as community-
based service learning
As local coordinator, Ron Irvine facilitated the development of the local steering council, strategic planning process,
program development, local funding, recruiting of schools and students, training, and program management. Quality
management and continuous improvement processes were developed collaboratively with the statewide project office
and the local steering council through documenting and reporting customer (school staff, families, and student)
feedback, success stories, and student outcomes.
Following are the basics of the program we developed. MiConnections of Kent County involved 10 schools, 75 youth
with disabilities, 14 local partnering organizations, and 8 statewide partnering organizations.
MiConnections: How it works in Kent County
Don't ask me what I want to be . . .
until I've had a chance to explore the possibilities.
MiConnections is an enhancement to programs that serve youth with disabilities.
It is not a separate program. It is designed to be adapted to needs not being met in present programming. It provides
resources (funding, connections to community resources, ideas), quality practice (based on research), and evaluation
through reporting (tying practice to outcomes and to improvement).
1. Local Sites (in schools or community organizations)
a. Core Group of 5 students (or more) that are
i. Fired up to explore possibilities: learning more about future careers and their own potential.
ii. Willing to become leaders by:
• planning activities.
• getting other students involved.
b. Schedule 3 activities or events that are
i. Aligned with your students' interests and needs
ii. Student led
iii. Funding available:
• MiConnections minigrant
• Transition Grant
iv. Activities could be based on
• Career exploration
• Youth development / leadership
• Entrepreneurship
• Service Learning Projects
2. County-Wide Coordination (Steering Council & Coordinator)
a. County-Wide Events (such as JAM, Summer Event on Leadership, youth / staff training, etc.)
b. Schedule of career exploration activities
c. Providing resources you need (funding, ideas, connections to community resources, assistance with grant-writing
or business planning)
d. MiConnections Network (creating a learning community)
i. Network meetings (regional/county-wide) for collaboration
ii. Database of Activities
iii. Database of Businesses
3. Statewide Coordination (statewide core planning team, statewide steering council, statewide network meetings)
a. Support on a statewide basis includes
i. statewide coordinator and consultants
ii. website for information, communication, and marketing
iii. realigning state resources
iv. statewide network
For more details, go to
MiConnections of Kent County Program Manual
MiConnections of Kent County Website
MiConnections Statewide Website
National High School / High Tech Program
KISD WIA Youth Program
In the fall of 2005, I facilitated a collaborative planning process for a proposal for WIA Youth Services being offered by
Michigan Works through the US Department of Labor. The collaborative partners were Grand Rapids Community
College, Wedgwood Christian Services, Urban League, Women's Resource Center, and MiConnections (under KISD
Transition Services). As the process developed, an adminstrator from the KISD Career Development Office joined the
group and KISD became the fiduciary. Once the proposal was accepted, I assisted the KISD adminstrator in
developing the program and recuiting schools and students. Much of the program was based on the research that
had been provided by the above MiConnections project provided through the US Department of Labor. The primary two
elements that became the core of KISD WIA Youth Services are "Creating Supportive Networks for Youth" and
"Mentoring".
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