The  School to Work Alliance Program operates in all of Colorado’s local education agencies.                      

SWAP exists through collaborative agreements among the Colorado Department of Education, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and local school districts/BOCES/BOCS.  The agreements provide year-round services including counseling and guidance, job development, job placement, on-the-job training and job-site support to assist young people with disabilities to become employed and self-sufficient. To qualify for SWAP, youth are 16-25 years old, have mild to moderate employment needs, and have been identified as having a disability (e.g. special education, section 504, known disability not under any other category, etc.) or are suspected to have a disability.  Youth may qualify if they are in school or out-of school, drop-outs, at risk, under or unemployed or graduated.  

Locally based teams, including educators, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, SWAP providers, and partnering community agencies assist in structuring the program around the economic and employment needs of the local community. Programs are typically housed outside of the school setting and in centrally located facilities. SWAP is staffed and managed by community-based coordinators and specialists with experience in business, education, social work and public health.  The following link provides more information about SWAP and how to find a program near you:
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/download/pdf/FF-SWAP.pdf

Clients