Improving Transition Outcomes: Youth Leadership Forum Alumni Survey

Results from a survey conducted in cooperation with Iowa's Youth Leadership Forum.

Improving Transition Outcomes: State Transition Plan: Iowa's Youth Development Strategic Plan 2007-2010 developed by the Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development team

Iowa's youth development plan for fulfilling Iowa's Promise.

Improving Transition Outcomes: Council Bluffs Youth Connections Prototype: Conference Presentation

Promotional article on a presentation at the Parent Educator Connector conference.

Improving Transition Outcomes: Council Bluffs Youth Connections Prototype: General Information

General information on the Council Bluffs Youth Connections prototype under Improving Transition Outcomes with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

Improving Transition Outcomes: Henry County Transition Partners: Youth Interview Invitation

Henry County's Transition Partners' youth focus group interview invitation.

Improving Transition Outcomes: Council Bluffs Youth Connections Prototype: Barriers Identified Through the Focus Groups and Interviews

Information gleaned from the focus groups and individual interviews with educators, youth and parents.

Working with Persons with Disabilities: Title I of The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Guide for State Supervisors and Managers, 2003

What are a supervisor’s responsibilities when it comes to interviewing, hiring, and retaining persons with disabilities? First and foremost, do not discriminate against persons with disabilities. What this means is that you are required to provide the same level of employment consideration and supervision for a disabled employee that you would for an able-bodied employee. No more – no less. State of Iowa management personnel must be proactive with regard to Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and managers and supervisory personnel should have an operational knowledge of the significant aspects of The Americans with Disabilities Act. This manual is for Iowa management personnel to use.

Performance Report for Fiscal Year, 2008

I am pleased to present the performance report for the Iowa Department for the Blind for fiscal year 2008. This report is provided in compliance with sections 8E.210 and 216B.7 of the Code of Iowa. It contains valuable information about results achieved because of the services that we and our partners provided to blind and visually impaired Iowans during the past fiscal year in the areas of Vocational Rehabilitation, Independent Living, Library Services, and Resource Management. We determine our competitive success in a number of ways. We look at the federal standards and indicators to learn our ranking in relation to the performance of other public rehabilitation agencies. We compare our library's production and circulation figures with those from previous years to determine trends. We set our own standards for success by looking at such factors as the number of successful case closures, average hourly wage at case closure, skills training provided, and compliance with regulations. Results show that the Department is working positively toward achieving its strategic goals of increasing the independence and productivity of blind Iowans and improving access to information for blind Iowans. Major accomplishments of the year included:  The selection of our Library as one of eight libraries to receive the new digital talking book machines and books in digital media from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Priority for distribution of the machines is given to Library patrons who are veterans.  The Department, the Iowa Braille School, and the Department of Education have been promoting the new expanded core curriculum as part of their continued efforts to improve the coordination and delivery of services to blind and visually impaired students in Iowa.  The Department's five-year grant funded Pathfinders mentoring program ended this year. A total of 49 blind youths aged 16-26 were paired with successful blind adult mentors. Assessments of the program clearly showed that participation in the program had a measurable positive effect on the youth involved.  Finally, earnings ratios and the percentage of employment for vocational rehabilitation clients of the Department are among the best in the nation, as measured by the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration's standards and indicators for the year ended September 30, 2007. Overall, we met or exceeded 13 of 18 targets included in this report. A discussion of the Department's services, customers, and organizational structure, and budget appears in the "Department Overview" that follows. Information pertaining to performance results appears in the final section of this document. The success of the Department's programs is evident in the success achieved by blind Iowans. It is reflected in the many blind persons who can be seen traveling about independently, going to their jobs and to the community and family activities in which they participate. Sincerely, Karen A. Keninger, Director Iowa Department for the Blind

Report on a special investigation of the University of Northern Iowa, Camp Adventure Youth Services program for the period April 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008

Report on a special investigation of the University of Northern Iowa, Camp Adventure Youth Services program for the period April 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008

Working with Iowans building a culture of conservation, Program Summary, November 2008

Over 94% of Iowa ’ s land is held in private ownership, and the programs of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Division of Soil Conservation (IDALS-DSC) have been established to work with these landowners. Over 90% of the landscape is used for agricultural production so much of our focus is in rural communities, but we haven’t overlooked the importance of land management in urban areas. It is crucial to understanding of both conservation and hydrology issues, that what happens on the landscape has immense consequences to the environmental health of our state and the quality of life we enjoy. IDALS-DSC is striving to integrate our programs with other agencies and local concerns to improve water and local concerns to improve water and soil quality throughout the state and nation.

2008 Iowa Youth Survey State of Iowa Results, Revised June 2009

In September and October of 2008, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) collaborated with schools in Iowa to conduct the 2008 Iowa Youth Survey (IYS). The 2008 IYS is the twelfth in a series of surveys that have been completed every three years since 1975. The survey is conducted with students in grades 6, 8, and 11 attending Iowa public and private schools. The IYS includes questions about students’ behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs, as well as their perceptions of peer, family, school, neighborhood, and community environments.

2002 Iowa Youth Survey State of Iowa Results, April 2003

The 2002 Iowa Youth Survey (IYS) State of Iowa report was designed to help state-level planners identify youth development-related needs, develop relevant programs, and assess the outcomes of those programs. These data can help us better understand our youth and their needs. They can help us assess the strengths and weaknesses of our schools, families and communities from the young person’s perspective. In addition, the data in this report help the state obtain funds for a wide variety of programs. At every step in the process – from needs identification, to program development and implementation, to program assessment – the 2002 IYS data will provide a valuable resource. The state report can also help Iowa’s schools, area education agencies and counties assess their relative strengths and weaknesses. The grades 6, 8, and 11, as well as male and female percentages reported in each of these reports can be compared with the respective state report percentages. The higher the proportion of students in each of these columns that completed a usable IYS questionnaire, the more likely the comparisons with the state report percentages will be unbiased. Such comparisons should be considered exploratory, but for the most part are likely to prove useful.

2005 Iowa Youth Survey State of Iowa Results, Revised December 2006

The 2005 Iowa Youth Survey (IYS) State of Iowa report was designed to help state-level planners identify youth development-related needs, develop relevant programs, and assess the outcomes of those programs. These data can help you better understand our youth and their needs. They can also help you assess the strengths and weaknesses of our schools, families, and communities from the young person’s perspective. In addition, the data in this report help the state obtain funds for a wide variety of programs. At every step of the process–from needs identification, to program development and implementation, to program assessment–the 2005 IYS data will prove to be a valuable resource. The state report can also help Iowa’s schools, area education agencies, and counties assess their relative strengths and weaknesses. The grades 6, 8, and 11, as well as male and female percentages reported in district-level, AEA-level, county-level, and other 2005 IYS reports can be compared with the respective state report percentages. The higher the proportion of students in each of these columns that completed usable IYS questionnaires, the more likely the comparisons with the state report percentages will be unbiased. Such comparisons should be considered exploratory, but for the most part are likely to be useful.

Hydrologic Simulations of the Maquoketa River Watershed Using SWAT Working Paper 09-WP 49,June 2009

This paper describes the application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to the Maquoketa River watershed, located in northeast Iowa. The inputs to the model were obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency’s geographic information/database system called Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS). Climatic data from six weather stations located in and around the watershed, and measured streamflow data from a U.S. Geological Survey gage station at the watershed outlet were used in the sensitivity analysis of SWAT model parameters as well as its calibration and validation for watershed hydrology and streamflow. A sensitivity analysis was performed using an influence coefficient method to evaluate surface runoff and base flow variations in response to changes in model input hydrologic parameters. The curve number, evaporation compensation factor, and soil available water capacity were found to be the most sensitive parameters among eight selected parameters when applying SWAT to the Maquoketa River watershed. Model calibration, facilitated by the sensitivity analysis, was performed for the period 1988 through 1993, and validation was performed for 1982 through 1987. The model performance was evaluated by well-established statistical methods and was found to explain at least 86% and 69% of the variability in the measured stream flow data for the calibration and validation periods, respectively. This initial hydrologic modeling analysis will facilitate future applications of SWAT to the Maquoketa River watershed for various watershed analysis, including water quality.

Report to the Governor and General Assembly on the Status of Out-of School Arts Programming for Youth, December 2006

In the 2006 Iowa General Assembly, House File 2797 called for a study on the status of afterschool arts programs and appropriated $5,000 for the study. In accordance with the legislation, the Iowa Arts Council, who received the charge, contracted with the Iowa Afterschool Alliance to form a Resource Group of out-of-school arts providers and experts to develop and oversee the study, review its results, and make recommendations for the expansion of arts programs that operate outside the normal school day. As a part of its charge in HF 2797, the Iowa Arts Council also documented a sampling of out-of-school arts programs statewide. Five are featured in this report.