L.I.F.E. Bucks- Reinforcing positive work-related behaviors and job skills

School:: Barron Collier High
Subject:: Special Needs Students
Teacher:: Gina Manville DeJager
Students Impacted:: 10
Grade:: 12
Date:: September 11, 2023

Investors

Thank you to the following investors for funding this grant.

Perna-Rose Foundation for Hope - $1,043.91

A Champion for Learning - $576.09

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 13

The money that funded this grant went towards incentive rewards for thirteen Learning Independent Functional Employment (L.I.F.E.) students. The "L.I.F.E. Bucks" were used to reward positive work-related behaviors and completed job tasks. At the end of the first semester, the students exchanged their “L.I.F.E. Bucks” for gift cards as a benefit for their hard work, while reinforcing newly learned and invaluable job skills at Royal Poinciana Golf Club where the interns train daily. The interns plan to take their second shopping trip on May 29th, once they finish their second intership.

The key outcomes of the project were that when the students with learning challenges demonstrated an excellent work ethic through the L.I.F.E. program employment training model, they were rewarded for their efforts by receiving a gift card to go shopping with on our Curriculum Based Instruction trip. Students learned that to earn their daily “L.I.F.E. buck” they had to follow the supervisor’s directions, request clarification when needed, dress appropriately, maintain proper hygiene, complete tasks in a timely manner, and contact their teacher if late or absent from work. Their work opportunities were provided through an authentic, hands-on supported work experience site at Royal Poinciana Golf Club. The students' job tasks were completed in thirteen different departments, including restaurants, culinary, golf, tennis, floral, green and grounds, locker rooms and human resources.

For the Curriculum-Based Instruction (CBI) experience, students looked in the weekly flyer and, on the internet, to create a shopping list. While in the store, they used their calculator to determine how much money they were spending and how much they had left to shop with. They also had to make choices and problem solve when deciding how many items they could purchase with their earned amount and return products to the shelves, which they could not afford at that time. They checked their own items out at the register with minimal support. This positive reward system helped develop independence, confidence, social communication skills, positive work ethic, task completion skills and other effective skills to become productive and valued citizens. We know that what is rewarded will be repeated. By rewarding the interns for following the rules and completing their tasks accurately, this project will also increase the likelihood of each student obtaining and maintaining employment later in life. We are truly grateful to

our donors, Perna-Rose Foundation for Hope and Champions for Learning for providing the funding to reward and compensate our students for the invaluable skills they have obtained.

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal of the Learning Independent Functional Employment (L.I.F.E.) program's employment training model is to provide students with learning challenges, authentic, hands-on supportive work experiences in a community-based setting to increase each student’s likelihood of obtaining and maintaining sustainable employment later in life. The objective of using "L.I.F.E. Bucks" to reward positive work-related behaviors and completed job tasks is to compensate the students for their hard work during their non-paid internship, while obtaining invaluable job skills at Royal Poinciana Golf Club.

What will be done with my students

Businesses and employers value employees who demonstrate an excellent work ethic. An important emphasis of the L.I.F.E. program is assisting students in developing the job skills needed to be an asset to any business. Each day that students incorporate essential job skills while successfully completing their morning and afternoon assigned job tasks, they will earn a “L.I.F.E. Buck”. These skills include; demonstrating a positive work attitude, following employer directions or instructions, requesting clarification as needed, completing a job task in a timely manner, dressing appropriately, and contacting the employer if late or absent from work. The students practice these skills in multiple hospitality departments at a private golf course, including; restaurants (front of the house/back of the house), purchasing, Human Resources, green and grounds (landscaping), floral, the tennis shop, golf shop/cart barn/driving range, Men’s Locker Room, and Women’s Locker Room. Since this is an unpaid structured work experience, students are rewarded and recognized for their hard work and daily demonstration of positive work behaviors through a Positive Behavior Support incentive system using the "L.I.F.E. Bucks" to compensate the students. The "L.I.F.E. Bucks" will be exchanged for a gift card to be used on a class shopping trip at the completion of each semester in January and May respectively.

Benefits to my students

Without this program, many of our students would have limited opportunities for employment after graduating from high school. By having the opportunity to participate in our authentic structured work-study program in a community-based setting, students can train for and experience a variety of career options with guidance and assistance as needed. In addition, the L.I.F.E. program provides students with the chance to develop confidence, independence, social and communication skills, positive work ethics, functional academic skills, teamwork, and effective employability skills to become productive valued and respected citizens. The "L.I.F.E. Bucks" positive behavior incentive system results in a shopping trip, which reinforces the concept that demonstrating consistent, excellent work skills will increase your likelihood of obtaining and maintaining sustainable employment.

Budget Narrative

Students have the ability to earn one "L.I.F.E. Buck" per work day to reinforce positive work-related behaviors and successfully completed job tasks. Workdays follow the Collier County Public School calendar. The "L.I.F.E. Bucks" are exchanged at the end of each semester for a gift card to be spent independently on a class Curriculum Based Instruction trip.
1st semester= 74 eligible work days x 10 students=$740
2nd semester= 88 eligible work days X 10 students= $880

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	1st semester= 74 eligible work days x 10 students	$740.00
2	2nd semester= 88 eligible work days X 10 students	$880.00
	Total:	$1,620.00

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