Translating Evidence to Support Transitions (TEST)

PI: Marsha Ellison, PhD
Co Investigators: Maryann Davis, PhD, Sloan Huckabee, PhD, Deanne Unruh, PhD, Catherine Fowler, PhD, David Test, PhD, Joann Starks, MEd, Mary Wagner, PhD
UMMS Project Personnel: Laura Golden, BA, Emma Pici-D’Ottavio, B.A.
Project Partners: The American Institutes for Research (AIR), the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT), and SRI International
Time Frame: 9/29/2015 - 9/28/2020
Funded By: The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR; grant number 90DP0080-01-00). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  

Description:
The goal of the newly funded Translating Evidence to Support Transitions (TEST) grant is to increase the use and adoption of research-based best practices in transition planning services for high school students with EBD receiving special education services.  Outcomes from TEST include the development of guides and curricula for practicing and implementing best practices in transition planning for students with EBD. We anticipate wide scale adoption and use of TEST practices by special education transition teams across the US, which will in turn improve employment and education outcomes for this vulnerable group.  All TEST activities will be built on an implementation science framework and guided by knowledge translation principles.  Over the five year project timeline, data and feedback will be collected at each step in order to continually improve TEST materials.

Related Products and Materials

Practice Guides

Supporting Student-Led Transition Planning for Students with Emotional Behavioral Disturbance December 2018 Kathleen Biebel, Laura Golden, Sloan Huckabee, Marsha Langer Ellison

Incorporating Career and Technical Education in Transition Planning for Students with Emotional Behavioral Disturbance December 2018 Marsha Langer Ellison, Sloan Huckabee, Laura Golden, Kathleen Biebel

Partnering with Community Agencies in Transition Planning for Students with Emotional Behavioral Disturbance December 2018 Sloan Huckabee, Laura Golden, Marsha Langer Ellison, Kathleen Biebel

Presentations

TEST - Translating Evidence to Support Transitions: Improving Outcomes of Youth in Transition with Psychiatric Disabilities by Use and Adoption of Best Practice Transition Planning 1 April 4, 2019 | NARRTC Conference Marsha Ellison & Catherine Fowler (NTACT)

TEST - Translating Evidence to Support Transitions: Improving Outcomes of Youth in Transition with Psychiatric Disabilities by Use and Adoption of Best Practice Transition Planning 2 May 2019 | Capacity Building Institute (CBI) Conference Sloan Smith (formerly Huckabee), Marsha Langer Ellison, Deanne Unruh (NTACT), Alycia M. Trakas, Missy Wrigley, Roberta Lucas

Webcasts

Best Practices for Transition Planning for High School Students with Mental Health Conditions September 12, 2019 Marsha Langer Ellison, Ph.D. and Laura Golden Download the webinar slides

Research to Practice in the NIDILRR Community: Translating Evidence to Support Transitions March 2018 Kathleen Biebel

Research to Practice in the NIDILRR Community: TEST Project May 2017 Sloan Huckabee

Creating Career Pathways for Youth with Mental Health Conditions February 2016 Marsha Langer Ellison & Sandra Miller

Research in the Works

Improving the Outcomes of Transition Age Youth with Psychiatric Disabilities through the Adoption and Use of Best Practice Transition Planning December, 2015 Lauren Davis, Kathleen Biebel, Marsha Ellison, Sloan Huckabee, & Laura Golden

News Article

New grant to help teens with psychiatric disabilities become successful adults February 17, 2016 UMassMedNow - Sandra Grey, UMass Medical School Communications