Interagency Collaboration - PA Secondary Transition

What is Interagency Collaboration?

Interagency Collaboration is the systematic coordination among schools, community agencies, vocational rehabilitation services, postsecondary institutions, and families supporting students with disabilities in achieving successful postschool outcomes in employment, education, and independent living.

Learn More

Interagency collaboration ensures that multiple agencies work together to provide aligned goals, shared resources, and consistent services to students while they are still in high school, addressing potential service gaps during the transition to adulthood (Rowe et al., 2014).

By leveraging the expertise and resources of various stakeholders, interagency collaboration enables the development of comprehensive, individualized transition plans that increase the likelihood of students with disabilities achieving positive adult outcomes

What are are the Core Components of Interagency Collaboration?

The implementation of formal and informal plans and policies for sharing information, resources, and responsibilities related to the design and delivery of transition activities and services among school, agency, and community partners.

How Does Interagency Collaboration Impact Outcomes Related to IEP Transition Goals?

Interagency collaboration enables schools to partner with vocational rehabilitation and community agencies to provide students with disabilities access to paid employment opportunities, internships, and job coaching while still in school, which are strongly linked to improved postschool employment outcomes (Mazzotti et al., 2020).
By aligning IEP transition goals with agency services, interagency collaboration ensures consistent support (e.g., job placement, skill training, transportation assistance) as students exit high school, reducing service gaps and increasing the likelihood of achieving employment goals outlined in their transition plans (Rowe et al., 2014).

Citation

Mazzotti, V. L., Rowe, D. A., Kwiatek, S., Voggt, A., Chang, W.-H., Fowler, C. H., Poppen, M., Sinclair, J., & Test, D. W. (2021).
Secondary transition predictors of postschool success: An update to the research base. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 44(1), 47–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143420959793

Citation

Rowe, D. A., Alverson, C. Y., Unruh, D. K., Fowler, C. H., Kellems, R., & Test, D. W. (2015).
A Delphi study to operationalize evidence-based predictors in secondary transition. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 38(2), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143414526429

Interagency collaboration helps schools work with postsecondary institutions and agencies to align IEP transition goals with college entrance requirements, disability services, and preparatory coursework, increasing the likelihood that students with disabilities successfully enroll and persist in postsecondary education (Rowe et al., 2014).
Collaboration among schools, vocational rehabilitation, and community agencies allows for shared planning and resource provision (e.g., application support, financial aid guidance, self-advocacy training) during high school, which is associated with higher rates of postsecondary education enrollment for students with disabilities (Mazzotti et al., 2020).

Citation

Mazzotti, V. L., Rowe, D. A., Kwiatek, S., Voggt, A., Chang, W.-H., Fowler, C. H., Poppen, M., Sinclair, J., & Test, D. W. (2021).
Secondary transition predictors of postschool success: An update to the research base. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 44(1), 47–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143420959793

Citation

Rowe, D. A., Alverson, C. Y., Unruh, D. K., Fowler, C. H., Kellems, R., & Test, D. W. (2015).
A Delphi study to operationalize evidence-based predictors in secondary transition. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 38(2), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143414526429

Interagency collaboration allows schools to partner with community agencies to deliver and reinforce life skills instruction (e.g., managing finances, using public transportation, self-care) aligned with IEP transition goals, which increases students’ readiness to live independently after high school (Mazzotti et al., 2020).
Through joint planning and shared responsibility, agencies (e.g., vocational rehabilitation, mental health services, housing supports) can continue providing services as students exit high school, reducing gaps in supports needed to achieve independent living goals outlined in the IEP (Rowe et al., 2014).

Citation

Mazzotti, V. L., Rowe, D. A., Kwiatek, S., Voggt, A., Chang, W.-H., Fowler, C. H., Poppen, M., Sinclair, J., & Test, D. W. (2021).
Secondary transition predictors of postschool success: An update to the research base. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 44(1), 47–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143420959793

Citation

Rowe, D. A., Alverson, C. Y., Unruh, D. K., Fowler, C. H., Kellems, R., & Test, D. W. (2015).
A Delphi study to operationalize evidence-based predictors in secondary transition. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 38(2), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143414526429

Stronger Together: The Power of Interagency Collaboration

When schools, families, and community agencies come together with a shared purpose, incredible things happen. Interagency collaboration creates a network of support that ensures students with disabilities don’t face their future alone. By combining resources, expertise, and care, these partnerships open doors to meaningful employment, education, and independent living

Who are the Key Partners in Interagency Collaboration?

Responsible for aligning IEP transition goals with postschool outcomes and coordinating in-school supports.

Provide career counseling, job placement, and funding for employment supports aligned with transition goals.

Collaborate to align high school preparation with college readiness and disability services.

Offer services such as independent living skills training, mental health supports, and community access resources.

Provide insights into student strengths, needs, interests, and preferences while supporting implementation of transition plans at home and in the community.

Partner to provide work-based learning opportunities and paid employment experiences during high school.

Helpful Tools and Learning Resources

Not Sure Where to Start? Our Featured Resources Might Be Exactly What You Need