Willmar Public Schools is proud of our FOCUS Transition Program which is designed to equip students with the essential skills needed to live semi-independently or independently within their communities. Through a variety of hands-on learning opportunities in real-world settings, students can autonomously apply these skills in their daily lives.
Participants engage in diverse work experience rotations tailored to their specific interests within the community. In a supportive environment, with guidance from job coaches and program instructors, students develop job readiness and job-specific skills necessary for meaningful employment. Additionally, they learn vital social skills for workplace success, such as communicating with employers about scheduling, managing illness, and resolving job-related issues.
At the FOCUS facility, students acquire essential life skills for independent or semi-independent living. They participate in activities like budgeting for food, planning weekly menus, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. Through practical experience, they learn about healthy eating, nutrition, safe food handling, kitchen tools, and maintaining a clean kitchen. Students also gain basic home management skills, including regular cleaning, laundry, and home maintenance.
The program emphasizes community involvement and resource utilization, integrating recreational activities and access to local health organizations like fitness centers. This holistic approach ensures that students receive a well-rounded experience, preparing them for a successful transition to adult life.
A testament to the program's success is highlighted in the Focus House 23-24 Ambassadors 4 Respect (A4R) Report. The report showcases the incredible work done by our students and staff through the A4R program. This initiative strengthens self-advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities and amplifies bullying prevention efforts in elementary schools. Students at the FOCUS Transition Program learned about bullying prevention and developed training sessions for fourth graders in the district. These Ambassadors were even paid stipends for their peacemaking efforts within the school community.
Focus House Team Outcomes for Students Trained by Focus House:
97% of 4th graders could list three ways to include others.
96% could list three ways to advocate for themselves and others.
93% indicated they learned how to use Person First Language.
A teacher's thoughts from the report echo the program's impact: "This will help many kids with bullying. Awesome opportunity for students to learn about inclusion and first-person language. It's an educational, scaffolded, engaging, and developmentally appropriate presentation. Bravo!!"
We are incredibly proud of the positive work our staff and students are doing. Their dedication and hard work are truly making a difference in our school community.
Source:
Willmar Public Schools. (2024, July, 30). Focus House. Willmar Public Schools Website. https://www.willmar.k12.mn.us/departments/special-education/focus-house
