NDI Technical Assistance Team
NDI Consulting, Inc.
http://www.dpnavigator.net (in process)
and
The Burton Blatt Institute
Syracuse University
http://bbi.syr.edu
One–Stop Toolkit Resources of the Week Technical Assistance Project E–Mail listserv
18 July 2008
Good morning everyone,
Below please find the web site and publication of the week, as well as other resources that we hope will be useful as you work on systems change activities to help improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
To subscribe and / or view past resources of the week archives, access: www.onestoptoolkit.org and click on the link to "Resources of the Week" on the right hand side of the home page.
Have a good day and weekend!
Laura Gleneck
Project Coordinator
NDI Technical Assistance Team
P: 617–489–0086
F: 617–489–1374
[ E–mail lgleneck@ndi-inc.org ]
[ http://www.onestoptoolkit.org ]
[The full announcement is located under the section heading "For Your Information / Action."]
On June 3 and 4, 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) hosted a Summit in which hundreds of leaders from business, government, and non–profit organizations convened in Washington, D.C., to discuss how today’s global marketplace has the power to open doors to employment for people with disabilities. One message resonated loud and clear—hiring people with disabilities is good for business.
Navigator’s you can find a great resource by accessing the following URL to learn more about the disability dividend, read Diverse Perspectives: People with Disabilities Fulfilling Your Business Goals (http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/diverse.htm) one of several publications available from the ODEP website. This publication includes some great reasons to share with businesses on how people with disabilities can fulfill business goals. As the publication states in its opening paragraph: “By fostering a culture of diversity, or a capacity to appreciate and value individual differences, in all aspects of their operations, employers benefit from varied perspectives on how to confront business challenges and achieve success.”
The Navigator highlight in the June 13th issue right before Summer Vacation talked about Navapalooza 2008. “Navapalooza," hosted by the Wisconsin and Iowa DPN Projects, is an event giving Disability Program Navigators the opportunity to exchange information about products, services, events that have proven successful among their peers. This year, presentations about the State of the DPN and Employment Network National Perspective under Ticket to work, were included along with interactive activities and "brag & steal" sessions – actual exchange of a products among Navigators. Access the URL and check out some highlights and some of the resources shared during Navapalooza 2008.
DATES. The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is August 19, 2008.
WEBINAR FOR PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS. A Webinar for prospective applicants will be held for this grant competition on July 29, 2008, 2 p.m. EDT. Access information for the Webinar will be posted on the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Web site at: http://www.workforce3one.org/public/webinars/details.cfm?id=352. [ Get free Flash Player ]
SUMMARY. ETA announces the availability of approximately $10 million in grant funds under the TBL Initiative to be awarded through a competitive process. The purpose of the Initiative is to expand access to training resulting in an increased number of workers trained, particularly in high–growth, high–demand occupations, and to meet the needs of industry for skilled employees.
This SGA is designed to expand the vital role of TBL in helping workers quickly acquire the training and skills they need to be successful in today’s global economy, and thereby increase the nation’s economic competitiveness and growth. Desired outcomes include an increased amount of workforce training available online and/or enhanced with TBL, and an increased number of people trained in high–growth jobs through the use of TBL methods.
ELIGIBILITY. Funds will be awarded to public, private for–profit, and private non–profit organizations, including educational institutions and registered apprenticeship sponsors. Partnership with the publicly–funded workforce investment system is required.
Access the URL to read the full solicitation, which provides background information and describes the application submission requirements, outlines the process that eligible entities must use to apply for funds covered by this solicitation, and details how grantees will be selected.
Article taken from:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities
June 2008 Updates
www.dhs.gov/disabilitypreparednessicc
[The article is included below in its entirety.]
U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration launched the Gulfport Hurricane Initiative through the Disability Program Navigator (DPN) network. This Program provided funds for Disability Program Navigators (DPNs), and mobile One–Stop Career Center vans to assist people with disabilities in states affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The DPNs worked with people with disabilities to assist them with accessing services and benefits needed to integrate back into the world of work following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Now the program is serving people impacted by the flooding in Iowa. Examples of this assistance include:
Plans should be finalized soon and information will be released as it become available. For additional information contact: Randee Chafkin at 202–693–2723 or E–mail chafkin.randee@dol.gov.
On June 3 and 4, 2008, hundreds of leaders from business, government, and non–profit organizations convened in Washington, D.C., to discuss how today’s global marketplace has the power to open doors to employment for people with disabilities. One message resonated loud and clear — hiring people with disabilities is good for business.
Employees with disabilities have proven they have a positive impact on businesses’ bottom line. They adapt to different situations and circumstances. They add to the range of viewpoints businesses need to succeed, offering fresh ideas on how to solve problems, accomplish tasks, and implement strategies.
To learn more about the disability dividend, read Diverse Perspectives: People with Disabilities Fulfilling Your Business Goals (http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/diverse.htm) one of several publications available from the ODEP website. Also, visit the Disability Employment Policy Summit Web site (http://www.odepsummit.org/).
The U.S. Business Leadership Network’s 11th Annual Conference and National Career Fair will be held at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel, which is known for stunning views of Mt. Hood and the Willamette River paired with their award winning service.
The 2008 conference, “Expanding Inclusion: The Business Strategy” is the preeminent national event for business, community leaders and BLN chapters that have an interest in hiring, retention and marketing to people with disabilities. This year’s event promises to provide informational and educational opportunities of the highest quality.
Access the URL for more information including the agenda and registration.
Medicaid is a state–federal program that provides health care to eligible low income individuals. When states participate in Medicaid, the state contributes part of the funding, and the federal government contributes part. The federal government provides guidelines for the program, but each state establishes its own requirements. In addition, states can elect to provide “optional” services. The specific services that are available and whether a person with a disability is eligible for these services is state specific and will vary depending on where an individual lives in the U.S.
Medicaid Waivers may be one of the tools that individuals with disabilities can use to support self–employment. While not every individual with a disability will be able to use a Waiver for self–employment, those individuals who are already receiving services, or who are eligible to become Waiver participants should explore the possibility in their states. This Q and A provides an overview and examples of how individuals with disabilities have used Medicaid Waivers to support self–employment
MassWorks.org is an online resource for those looking to improve community employment experiences for individuals with disabilities. Developed for the Massachusetts Medicaid Infrastructure Comprehensive Employment Opportunities Grant by the Institute for Community Inclusion, this website features frequently changing topics ranging from job coaching to financial work incentives.
At MassWorks.org, employment support professionals, job seekers and educators can download simple and effective templates, checklists and guides that give structure and purpose to providing employment supports. An interactive feature, the MassWorks blog, gives users a forum to comment on articles written about a variety of employment issues. Subscriptions to this site are free, and include electronic updates when new content is added.
The site is designed for professionals who provide employment services and supports for individuals with disabilities.
Thanks to Ivy Medow, DPN with the Arizona DPN Project, for identifying this resource. The National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) is dedicated to advancing the next generation of disability leaders.
The NYLN:
The Resource section (http://www.nyln.org/Clearinghouse/resourceclearinghouse.html) includes links to topics such as Education, Employment, Healthcare, Disability History/Disability Culture, Advocacy, Policy, Material by and for young people with disabilities, International Exchange, and Documents from NYLN and KASA.
You can invite a Youth Expert (http://www.nyln.org/experts/index.html) to speak, mentor or advise. The NYLN can connect you to members that relate to your experiences and interests.
The Newsroom section (http://www.nyln.org/newsroom/index.html) includes the NYLN newsletter and other disability news.
This article describes the experience of State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (SVRAs) with the Ticket to Work (TTW) program. We examined administrative data from the Social Security Administration and the Rehabilitation Services Administration and conducted site visits and telephone interviews with SVRA officials in 25 states as part of a five–year evaluation of the TTW program.
The recession of 2001–2002, along with recent financial constraints due to increased service demand and shrinking state budgets, has negatively affected TTW implementation. SVRAs have spent significant time and energy implementing TTW, particularly assigning Tickets with little apparent benefit to its clients, according to SVRA officials. They also expressed concerns about conflicts between the necessity to obtain Ticket assignments from new and existing clients to receive SSA payments under the traditional cost reimbursement system and the requirements to provide maximum consumer choice under the Rehabilitation Act. New draft regulations rescind this requirement and it remains to be seen what the future role of SVRAs in the Ticket program will be.
[The following is excerpted from the Foreword.]
This strategy brief is one of a series of briefs exploring strategies for financing supports and services that help foster youth make successful transitions to adulthood. It was written by The Finance Project with support from the Foster Care Work Group. The Foster Care Work Group (FCWG) is one of three work groups of the Youth Transition Funders Group (YTFG), a collaboration of foundation leaders dedicated to improving the lives of the nation’s most vulnerable young people. Foundation leaders participating in the YTFG are committed to achieving a common vision—ensuring that vulnerable youth are connected by age 25 to institutions and support systems that will enable them to succeed throughout adulthood. The FCWG brings together foundation leaders with a shared interest in preparing youth in foster care for their transition out of the child welfare system and providing them pathways to lifelong economic well–being.
In March 2004, the Foster Care Work Group, with assistance from The Finance Project, created Connected by 25: A Plan for Investing in Successful Futures for Foster Youth. Connected by 25 made the case for and outlined a bold agenda for foundation and government investment in helping foster youth become successful adults. An important premise of Connected by 25 is that as public child welfare systems grapple with their mandate to provide protection for all children in their care, preparation for independence and adulthood is often given short shrift. FCWG members chose to focus specifically on preparation for economic success, recognizing that youth aging out of foster care are faced with the economic realities of self–support at a much younger age than other young adults and that economic success is associated with a number of positive life outcomes. Connected by 25 outlined five strategies to connect foster youth to resources that would prepare them for economic success: advocating and supporting educational achievement, facilitating and creating access to workforce development opportunities, providing financial literacy education, encouraging savings and asset accumulation, and creating entrepreneurship opportunities. FCWG members recognize that an important foundation for success in all five strategy areas is connections to caring adults who can offer ongoing support and guidance to youth.
Briefs in this series explore funding sources and financial strategies to support each of these critical resources. Based on the recommendations presented in Connected by 25, FCWG members launched an ambitious demonstration initiative to build the capacity of communities to effectively support young people in transition. This collaborative effort began in three sites in Indiana, Florida, and California. Currently, the national Connected by 25 initiative includes sites in Indianapolis, Indiana; Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Brevard County in Florida; and Stanislaus, San Francisco, Fresno, Santa Clara, and Humboldt County in California. In each of these sites, funders and community leaders are coming together around the Connected by 25 vision and crafting efforts to prepare foster youth for successful adulthood, based on the unique needs and resources in their community. This brief explores the range of partners and resources that community leaders and program developers can engage to support educational success for foster youth. It draws on the experiences of the field and the FCWG demonstration sites and aims to further inform those efforts.