Webcast Information
Alvin Brewer
Haileystar Castañeda
Alyssa Hernandez
Ty W. Krauss
Sagun Sharma
Connie Sung
From Risk to Resilience: Empowering Youth with Disabilities At-risk of Justice Involvement through Employment and Inclusion (RS4)
Haileystar Castañeda, EMP2 Local Steering Committee Member
Alyssa Hernandez, MBA, EMP2 Program Manager, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor School of Social Work
Ty W. Krauss, MPA, EMP2 Local Steering Committee Member
Sagun Sharma, BA/BEd, Research Coordinator, University of Michigan
Connie Sung, Ph.D., CRC, LPC, EMP2 Principal Investigator, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
This webcast highlights the voices of individuals with disabilities as they share their experiences navigating the path to employment while facing the added challenges of justice system involvement. Panelists, including members of the project's steering committee with direct experience in the justice system, offer powerful insights about the supports they received in pursuing meaningful work, as well as the systemic barriers they encountered.
The webcast also explores how targeted programs and community supports promote employment and inclusion for youth with disabilities who are at risk of justice involvement. In addition, it provides an overview of a new research initiative aimed at developing and piloting a school-based, community-engaged intervention to build employment skills and prevent justice system involvement - highlighting the importance of centering lived experience in program design and development.