Changes in the Training Department

The Training Department at the Rural Institute is undergoing some significant changes. First we are changing the name to Community Adult Services and Supports to better describe our role and purpose. Next, as many or our readers may know, Dave Hammis has moved to Ohio to assist with family matters. In response, Cary Griffin and Dave have formed Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC in order to continue their long-term working relationship and to pursue a long-time dream of going for-profit. Cary remains at the Institute part-time as the Director of Special Projects and Dave continues to offer assistance with Social Security and related content areas. Dave can be reached at dhammis@griffinhammis.com or (513) 424-6198 and Cary can still be reached at (406) 243-2454 or at (406) 273-9181 and cgriffin@selway.umt.edu or cgriffin@griffinhammis.com. Griffin-Hammis Associates is working closely with the Institute to build lasting change and development through out the country . For regular updates on activities check http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu or www.griffinhammis.com.

Projects with Industry

MontanaWorks, the direct service employment arm of the Rural Institute, recently received funding from the Rehabilitation Service Administration for a Projects with Industry program. This funding allows MontanaWorks to serve anyone with a significant disability seeking employment in western Montana by underwriting service costs from referral agencies such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Veterans Administration, mental health services, the Job Service, Welfare-to-Work, and others. The program will be administered by the Community Adult Services and Supports department.

WISER
Demonstration Project Funded

The Rural Institute was recently awarded a four-year, Transition Demonstration grant by the U.S Department of Education. The Work Incentives for Student Employment Revisited project (WISER) will increase the number of employed students with severe disabilities graduating from special education in rural remote areas. The project will create an innovative model of transition planning that maximizes the use of innovative resources such as Social Security Work Incentives and Natural Supports to promote the quality, community-based, paid, work experience and longitudinal transition planning. The model will be developed and implemented in a total of eight rural schools in the Bitterroot and Mission Valleys of Western Montana, placing 40 students with severe disabilities over the course of four years.

Local capacity will be enhanced through:

• on-site technical assistance and training around transition planning, community-based work experience, supported employment and alternative resource development,
• peer mentors for parents and students,

• developing local interagency transition councils, and

• creating consumer controlled, alternative funds and resources, thereby increasing student and family choice and empowerment during transition.
Partners in the project for year one will be Polson schools, Stevensville schools, and the Bitterroot Special Education Cooperative.

For more information, contact Ellen Condon, Project Director, at the Rural Institute (406) 243-4134 or condon@selway.umt.edu.