Partnerships from the Pews: Promoting Interagency Collaboration with Religious Organizations

Religious organizations often serve as mainstays of communities, especially rural communities with otherwise limited support to promote improved transition outcomes. Yet, religious organizations appear not to be utilized as agencies in transition service partnerships. This article addresses involving religious organizations in the transition process through interagency collaboration by providing strategies, supported by literature, for engaging religious organizations as collaborative partners for community-based instruction and skill development opportunities for students preparing for adult life. Suggestions demonstrate how religious organizations and school systems can have mutually beneficial partnerships.