Improving Transition Outcomes

An Innovative State Alignment Grant for Improving Transition Outcomes 
for Youth with Disabilities Through the Use of Intermediaries

Award Winning CASE Prototype 



Improving Transition 
Outcomes with Iowa 
Vocational Rehabilitation 
Services and 
Governance Group 
partners Department for 
the Blind, Department of 
Education, Department 
of Human Services, 
Division of Persons 
with Disabilities, 
Governor’s Developmental 
Disabilities Council, and 
Workforce Development, 
is proud to announce 
that on April 20, 2006 
at the Iowa Association of Community Providers (IACP) Annual Conference, 
Hope Haven, Inc. received the Innovation and Quality Award in recognition 
of the “Careers and Self Exploration” (CASE) prototype of West Sioux 
Community School in Hawarden, Iowa.

 

The award recognizes a high quality, innovative program that enhances the 
quality of life for persons with disabilities and/or mental illness. Accepting the 
award were: Scott Witte, Hope Haven Director of Client Services and CASE 
team member; David R. VanNingen, Hope Haven Executive Director; Melanie 
Pottebaum, CASE Practitioner and Suzan Loverink, Hope Haven Intensive 
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Area Supervisor.

The West Sioux CASE Prototype is one of three community 
demonstrations implementing strategies to improve transition outcomes for 
youth with disabilities ages 14-24. Each prototype tests, adjusts and perfects 
strategies to meet the needs of youth, families, educators, employers and the 
larger community. Preparation for, securing, and maintaining employment are 
among the prototype outcome measures. Soliciting input from those “on the 
front lines” is a hallmark of Transition Partners. 

In May 2004, Hope Haven took the initiative to organize the West Sioux 
Consortium for Improving Transition Outcomes (CITO) for youth in West Sioux 
High School’s Resource Room. They organized around the goal of “Youth 

Hope Haven, Inc. received the Innovation and Quality Award 
in recognition of the “Careers and Self Exploration” 

Iowa Department 
for the Blind

Iowa Department 
of Education

Iowa Department 
of Human Services

Iowa Division 
of Persons with 
Disabilities

Iowa Vocational 
Rehabilitation 
Services

Iowa Governor's 
Developmental 
Disabilities Council

Iowa Workforce 
Development



with disabilities will make empowered and well-informed career choices that result in 
employment consistent with their vocational goals.“ West Sioux CITO partners developed 
a transition service model they named Career Awareness and Self-Exploration (CASE). 
The partners sought and received grant funding for implementation and testing through 
Improving Transition Outcomes with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, funded by 
the U. S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy. 

The key to the CASE project is that youth engage in and direct their career search 
using community resources. The tool used to implement this career planning process, 
the CASE curriculum, was derived from a person-centered model of service known as 
Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation (IPR), which has been utilized throughout Iowa to 
assist people with psychiatric disabilities in achieving personally satisfying outcomes. 

For two years now, eleventh grade students in the Special Education Resource Room 
at West Sioux High School have selected their career goals using the CASE curriculum 
and worked in the corresponding entrepreneurship component, Falcon Joe’s Coffee Shop. 
The positive results achieved by the youth include a tremendous boost in self-concept and 
the realization that dreams are more easily pursued when you are aware of the resources 
available to you.

It appears that the goal of West Sioux High School maintaining the CASE curriculum 
and Falcon Joe’s without additional funding will be realized and that replication will be 
achieved through neighboring school districts. Replication tools are under development. 

West Sioux Consortium for Improving Transition Outcomes (CITO) partners who 
worked with Hope Haven, Inc. and West Sioux School to develop and monitor CASE 
include: youth with disabilities and family members, Area Education Agency 4, the 
Hawarden Area Partnership for 
Progress business community, Iowa 
Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the 
local Transition Advisory Board, and 
Workforce Development.

Improving Transition Outcomes, with 
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services 
and Governance Group partners, 
congratulates Hope Haven, Inc. and the 
West Sioux Consortium for Improving 
Transition Outcomes on a job well done!

Continued...


For More Informa


This document was developed by Improving Transition Outcomes with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation 
Services, funded by a grant/contract/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office 
of Disability Employment Policy #E-9-4-3-0093. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily 
reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, 

commercial products, or organizations imply the endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.

ITO-IVRS

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Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-0275
www.iowaemploymentpartners.com