HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Labor & Industry's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation today announced eight recipients of Transition Services contracts totaling $1.2 million.

Contracts are awarded to develop new and expanded innovative strategies and programs to provide transition services, including pre-employment transition services, for high school students with disabilities.

"Labor & Industry is proud to facilitate the transition from education to job-readiness with this additional funding that will go a long way in ensuring that students with disabilities receive services at the appropriate time in their lives," L&I Secretary Kathy Manderino said. "This money will help young people with disabilities transition from high school to secondary education or meaningful employment smoothly and with greater success."

The recipients will receive funding in one of two service types: The first, Transition Planning and Services for Students with Disabilities, will serve 15 high school students with disabilities per each awarded contract during the 2016 school year and additional months of post-graduation services. The ultimate goal of the project is to place a minimum of seven OVR customers who have the most significant disabilities in competitive integrated employment.

The second, Pre-Employment Transition Services for Students with Disabilities, will serve 25 students with disabilities per each awarded contract in a local OVR district office area during the 2016 school year. This project will provide eligible students with disabilities with pre-employment transition services and will result in the successful transition of at least 19 students served from high school to competitive integrated employment or post-secondary education.

Media contact: Sara Goulet, 717-787-7530

Editor's note: Following is a list of the eight Pre-Employment Transition Services Innovation and Expansion contract recipients and the services they will offer students.

AHEDD – York District Office, serving Lancaster and York Counties - $150,000.00 – Transition Planning and Services for Students with Disabilities

Community Integrated Services – Philadelphia District Office, serving Philadelphia County - $148,830.00 – Transition Planning and Services for Students with Disabilities

Goodwill of Southwestern PA – Washington District Office, serving Fayette County - $137,393.29 – Transition Planning and Services for Students with Disabilities

Family Services Association – Norristown District Office, serving Bucks, County - $150,000.00 – Pre-Employment Transition Services for Students with Disabilities

Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living - Allentown District Office, serving Lehigh and Northampton Counties - $249,990.00 - Pre-Employment Transition Services for Students with Disabilities

Partners in Progress – Williamsport District Office, serving Tioga County - $125,474.22 - Transition Planning and Services for Students with Disabilities

School District of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh District Office, serving Allegheny County - $120,590.50 - Pre-Employment Transition Services for Students with Disabilities

Slippery Rock University – New Castle District Office, serving Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence Counties - $149,519.00 - Pre-Employment Transition Services for Students with Disabilities

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us