Improving Service Delivery to Out-Of-School Youth from Minority Backgrounds: Case Study Findings from the Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living

The transition from school to postsecondary life can be difficult. Research shows that youth with disabilities are less likely than their nondisabled peers to successfully make this transition. The disparities in outcomes are larger for youth with disabilities who are from racial and ethnic minority groups. Minority youth are also more likely to be disconnected:

This Minority Youth and Centers for Independent Living (MY-CIL) practice brief is the second of a series in which the project will share key takeaways from its research with Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and other stakeholders about promising, evidence-based, and evidence-informed practices.

This brief summarizes findings from a case study of the Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living (SCRS-IL). SCRS-IL is a CIL serving primarily Latinx and Asian American consumers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. In addition to providing core CIL services, SCRS-IL has developed employment programs and organizational practices that support youth with disabilities who come from minority backgrounds. The purpose of this case study brief is to highlight SCRS-IL’s approach to serving minority youth, which includes ensuring intersectionality in multiple ways, coordinating outreach and advocacy efforts through interagency collaboration, and providing paths to employment.