By Sue Foster

Alamosa -- Transition is a process of preparing young people, ages 14-25, for adult health care, work, and independence. The San Luis Valley Transition Interagency Group Envisioning the Realization of Self (TIGERS) has been formed to help youth with special needs to transition to adult life

TIGERS represents agencies in the San Luis Valley, including the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation South Central Colorado Workforce Center, Blue Peaks Developmental Services, SLV Board of Cooperative Services, the School to Work Alliance Program, SLV Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center, the county public health nursing services and the Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs.

TIGERS was recently awarded a three-year Youth Transition Grant by the Colorado Office of Workforce Development due in part to interagency collaboration demonstrated by the group's member agencies. The South Central Colorado Workforce Center is the group's fiscal recipient of the $43,000 grant.

The Valley was chosen as one of three sites to receive funding, and is the only rural area of the state to be awarded the grant. The primary goal of the grant is to improve transition outcomes for youth with disabilities through the use of intermediaries such s the local agencies in the Valley-Focus groups and resource mapping will be conducted to learn more about various programs available for youth with disabilities, parents and employers.

TIGERS plans to focus on community and employer education and awareness of the contributions that youth with special needs can provide.

For information contact Victoria Romero at the SLV Mental Health Center at 587-6953 or victoriar@slvmhc.org

New Beginnings Wellness & Recovery Center -- September Calendar