10901Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
| Program Contact | Kathleen Connell |
| kathleen_conwell@hcpss.org | |
| Phone | 443-518-4479 |
| Website | http://www.hcpss.org/about-us/partnerships/community-connection/ |
A Howard County Public School Systems vocational, life skills program supporting students aged 18-21.
Community Connection eases the transition to independent adult life for post-high school students with mild to moderate disabilities. The program, located on the Howard Community College campus, helps students develop the skills essential for success in work, social, and community environments. Skills addressed: Finding employment. Workplace skills. Financial literacy (money management, budgeting, and shopping). Appropriate behavior in work and social settings. Navigating independently. Self advocacy. Recreation and leisure. Students sharpen these skills while working and functioning in the community, with guidance and support from Community Connections staff.
| General | |
|---|---|
| Public or private: | Public |
| Type of school: | 2-year community college or junior college |
| Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? | No |
| Students in this program: | Are still enrolled in high school |
| Number of students: | 26 |
| Affiliates | |
|---|---|
| School district or agency partner: | Howard |
| Contact person: | Dawson Robertson |
| Email: | dawson_robertson@hcpss.org |
| Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Deadline to apply to this program: | Spring of each year |
| Requirements for admission to this program: |
|
| Accepts out-of-state students: | No |
| Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have: |
|
| Program length: | Varies from student to student |
| Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates | |
|---|---|
| Percent of students applying who are admitted: | 94% |
| Retention rate: | 100% |
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Cost of the program: | The Community Connections Program is a Howard County Public Schools Vocational/life skills program located on the Howard Community College campus. |
| Is this program able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP)? | No |
| Students pay for the program in the following ways: |
|
| Scholarships available: |
This program is for certificate students enrolled in the public school system until age 21. |
| Academic | |
|---|---|
| Students take these types of "typical" courses (with students who don't have disabilities): | Students do not take typical college courses |
| More about course access: |
The majority of our students do not take typical college courses; however whenever possible students may take typical college courses for audit. |
| Students take courses that are only for students in this program: | Yes |
| Classroom/academic time spent only with other students in this program: | About 75% of the time |
| Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: | High School Certificate of Completion |
| The credential(s) is/are: | Just for students in this program |
| Employment | |
|---|---|
| Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: | 2% |
| Other career development activities are: |
|
| Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: | 5% |
| We offer the following specialized credentials: |
Childcare Aide certification |
| Housing | |
|---|---|
| Housing is provided to students: | No |
| Extracurricular | |
|---|---|
| Students participate in student organizations on campus: | Yes |
| Proportion of time spent only with other students in this program: | Between 25% and half the of the time |
| Students have participated in these social/extracurricular activities and organizations: |
Anime Club, Volunteer Girls Soccer team manager’s assistant. |