Loan helps bridge services for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities
For Immediate Release
March 10, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY — A recently awarded impact loan will enable the Central Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board (COWIB) to access funds that can be used to assist up to 250 Oklahoma students with developmental and intellectual disabilities. With the new funding, the students will be equipped with the skills and training needed to successfully enter the workplace.
The COWIB works to build a quality workforce through education and connections between businesses and job seekers.
“This impact loan allows us to expand critical workforce development opportunities for young people with disabilities, ensuring they receive the skills and experiences needed for long-term success,” said Ashley Sellers, COWIB Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful for the support that enables us to remove financial barriers and provide a seamless transition into meaningful employment."
Utilizing the loan, COWIB plans to offer two workforce development programs serving Oklahomans with an intellectual or developmental disability. The first is Summer Transition Employment Program (STEP), which will be reimbursed under an Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (OKDRS) contract. The second is Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), reimbursed under a University of Oklahoma College of Continuing Education’s National Center for Disability Education and Training (OU-NCDET) contract.
The impact loan will provide COWIB with sufficient upfront funding for the programs. It will also provide a bridge to access reimbursement from the OKDRS and OU contracts. The loan that is making the programs possible is from the Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative (the Collaborative), a subsidiary of MetaFund.
“There are solutions and resources all around us—some more challenging than others to access. It’s up to all of us to find creative ways to orchestrate them and carry them forward. As our partners exemplify, persistence is a common thread throughout our shared successes. The Collaborative is honored to work alongside those serving our families, friends, and neighbors,” said Ed Long, Collaborative President.
The Collaborative is able to provide this impact loan to COWIB with no interest or fees thanks to the Kirschner Trusts, administered by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. They approved a grant to the Collaborative to cover the cost of interest and fees for the impact loan as funds that are available to COWIB can’t be used for those expenses.
“Phil and Roberta Kirschner envisioned a community where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the same educational and vocational opportunities available to everyone else,” said Trisha Finnegan, President and CEO of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. “This partnership with COWIB and Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative fills a much-needed gap supporting students in reaching their aspirations of long-term independence and self-sustainability.”
By providing comprehensive support and tailored programming for students with disabilities, these two projects will better prepare participants for successful co-enrollment in other workforce programs. They will also increase the students chances of achieving key performance measures such as employment, credential attainment, and measurable skill gains as well as aid in the seamless transition for students with disabilities from post-secondary education to other employment and training services.
In partnership with OKDRS and OU-NCDET, COWIB is entering their fourth year of the STEP program. It is a four-week paid work-based learning opportunity that provides paid summer internships for OKDRS transition clients and potentially eligible students with disabilities that are ages 16 to 21 years. Participants may work in the community for up to 25 hours per week for a maximum of four weeks. To date, there are more than 400 employers across the communities served by STEP that are available for placement.
COWIB is entering its second year of offering Pre-ETS. The program is a national model that engages students ages 14 to 21 years who are enrolled in school and have a documented disability. Its goals are to implement effective strategies to increase independent living, inclusion in communities, participation in post-secondary education, and competitive integrated employment for individuals with intellectual and significant disabilities.
Pre-ETS activities address five key areas: job exploration counseling, work-based learning, post-secondary counseling, workplace readiness and introduction to self-advocacy. COWIB is currently providing Pre-ETS services to students in Norman, Tahlequah and Stillwater. They are also working to expand to numerous other schools.
More information about COWIB and its programs is available at cowib.org.
-30-
Media Contact:
Ed Long, Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative President
(405) 922-7580
About Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative
The Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative (Collaborative), a MetaFund initiative, uses philanthropic capital to provide flexible loans and technical assistance to innovative, mission-driven nonprofit and for-profit organizations, with the potential to improve outcomes for Oklahomans. The Collaborative is a national leader in Pay for Success financing.
About MetaFund
MetaFund is an Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) working with other nonprofits, the private sector, and government toward a just world free of poverty. MetaFund invests in creative solutions for communities, with a primary focus on work, housing, and health. For more information about the Collaborative or MetaFund, visit metafund.org.
About Central Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board
The Central Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board (COWIB) is dedicated to building a strong workforce by connecting job seekers with employment and training opportunities. Through strategic partnerships and innovative workforce solutions, COWIB supports individuals of all abilities in gaining the skills needed for sustainable careers. By working closely with businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations, COWIB fosters economic growth and workforce development across Central Oklahoma.
About the Oklahoma City Community Foundation
Founded in 1969, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that works with individuals, families, and organizations to create charitable funds benefiting our community both now and in the future. We make the biggest impact when we join together to address important issues. To learn more about the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, visit occf.org.