Transitional and Vocational Services

At Haven Center for Growth, we recognize the skills students need to lead fulfilling lives don’t always show up on report cards. Our aim is to provide students with the tools they need to achieve real-world success. That means helping them to build independence through active, genuine experiences. If college is a goal for your child, do they have the tools they need to succeed in higher education? If the workforce is the goal for your child, do they have the tools they need to succeed in the workforce The process begins by identifying each student's unique needs and strengths, and developing  academic, social-emotional, or employment skills.  We strive to deeply understand each of our students and create an individualized program to help them achieve their goals. We constantly amend and adjust each program as our students grow and gain new skills. Over time, each student becomes more independent and actively engaged in their own learning.  Our transition program for students with learning, language and behavioral disorders such as Dyslexia, Autism, ADHD, Epilepsy and TBI. We build skills such as:  Independence Resilience Responsibility Self-awareness Self-advocacy When students leave our program, they feel prepared and empowered to begin college life or work experiences.

It is natural for families to begin to consider what adulthood will look like for their child as he or she approaches adolescence. When a child is around 12 years old, teachers also seek to understand the child’s strengths, preferences and interests. The emphasis in the entire transition process is for the child, parents and staff to all work together so that the child is prepared to be as independent as possible in adulthood utilizing services in the least restrictive community setting.

NY State Education requirements call for all special education students to receive transition services from 15 years until the time of aging out at 21. It is the responsibility of the Committee on Special Education (CSE) to ensure transitional goals are included in your child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) as appropriate. An assessment of vocational interests and abilities becomes the basis for transition goals to be written into the IEP. In children with complex special needs, there can be a great deal of variability in performance between the ages of 12 to 16 years due to natural maturity and co-occurring medical and behavioral health conditions.

Professional Resume Development: We meet with participants one-on-one to develop, review, and revise their resumes. Interview Coaching/Mock Interviews: Participants learn how to answer difficult questions, develop interview strategies, improve their communication skills, and reduce stress before a job interview. Career Outlook & Real-Time Labor Market Information: We use the Department of Labor real-time data that informs job seekers of the qualifications required, technical and soft skills needed, prospective wages, and projected growth for a particular job or area of interest. Job Placement/Search Assistance: We collaborate with local employers and staffing agencies to offer job leads and interview opportunities. We also assist with individualized job search and networking strategies. ADA Consultation: Participants are informed of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and are coached on how to disclose their disability and advocate for reasonable accommodation. Follow-Up Support: Our team provides follow up support to ensure that participants are meeting job responsibilities and expectations