Law, Health Policy & Disability Center
University of Iowa College of Law
http://disability.law.uiowa.edu/dpn/
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 May 2007
Good morning everyone,
Due to the Memorial Day weekend, there will not be a weekly resource disseminated on Friday, May 25th.
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.
To view an indexed list of the resources of the week by subject matter, visit the L.P.H.D.C. web site at http://disability.law.uiowa.edu/lhpdc/resources/wig/default.asp. It currently includes 20 categories, covering over 300 annotated references. Each category opens to a new window with each Resource of the Week which covered material in that area.
Have a good day and weekend!
Laura Farah
Program Associate
Law, Health Policy & Disability Center
University of Iowa College of Law
P: 617–489–0086
F: 617–489–1374
[ E–mail Lgleneck@mail.law.uiowa.edu ]
[ E–mail LFarah8@aol.com ]
[ http://www.onestoptoolkit.org ]
[The full announcement is located under the section heading "Upcoming Events of Interest."]
Many Disability Navigators collaborate with their local TANF offices and Case Managers to provide information and resources that help to effectively serve TANF recipients with disabilities. This is especially important, since The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities states that over the past 10 years, research has shown repeatedly that many TANF recipients have physical and mental impairments and that the recipients ‘falling through the cracks’ - those who are sanctioned, who hit time limits, or who remain on TANF for long periods – often have physical or mental impairments ( http://www.cbpp.org/3-1-07tanf.htm). Throughout May, June and July, Navigators and their local TANF offices have the opportunity to participate in a series of educational audio conferences that cover a range of topics which include
The calls are open to officials and staff of state human service agencies, provider groups, and non–profits interested in TANF and disability-related issues. For Navigators who are looking to build or strengthen their collaboration with local TANF offices, this would be an excellent opportunity participate in the conferences and learn together.
DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications is June 25, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has announced the availability of up to $1.7 million to fund a cooperative agreement to establish the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition and Employment for Youth with Disabilities with a 24-month period of performance. In addition, this initiative may be funded for up to three (3) additional option years at approximately $1,000,000 per year, depending on performance, identified need and the availability of future funding. This Center will conduct research, disseminate information, and provide technical assistance to a wide range of stakeholders on topics relevant to improving post-school outcomes for youth with disabilities.
Over the last 10 years, a number of federal and state efforts to improve access to transition planning and services to improve education, employment, and community living outcomes for youth with disabilities have emerged. As a result, there has been some improvement in indicators relevant to the successful transition of youth with disabilities, including increases in graduation rates, increases in enrollment in postsecondary education, and increases in the number of youth entering the workforce. While this progress is encouraging, education and employment outcomes for youth with disabilities continue to lag substantially behind that of their peers without disabilities.
To address this situation, ODEP is funding a national technical assistance center to build capacity within and across both generic and disability-specific youth service delivery systems to help youth with disabilities successfully transition from high school to post-secondary education and/or employment in high-demand career areas. Effectively addressing the complex and significant barriers to employment faced by youth with disabilities transitioning into the adult world requires the use of multiple strategies and the active involvement of many stakeholders, including Federal, State and local governments, non–governmental organizations, and employers.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Eligible applicants are consortia made up of a minimum of three (3) entities which may include a combination of any of the following: Public/private non–profits or for–profit organizations including faith-based organizations, and universities and colleges, with demonstrated appropriate experience and expertise in conducting research and providing technical assistance about issues important to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The expertise required should include, but not be limited to:
There must be a prime or lead member of the consortium who is responsible for overall grant management and serves as the fiscal agent. All applications must clearly identify the lead grant recipient and fiscal agent, as well as all other members of the consortium applying for the grant. In addition, the application must identify the relationship between all of the members of the consortium.
Access the URL to read the full notice including application and submission information.
DATES: To enter the competition, eligible associations should complete an official entry form and submit it to NOD no later than August 31, 2007
In celebration of the National Organization on Disability’s (NOD) 25th anniversary, the organization is hosting a competition for 40 eligible non–disability American associations to distinguish their work in expanding opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The competition is sponsored by Prudential Financial, Inc. and is a way for NOD to recognize the influential work that these associations have done in the area of disability.
The winners of the competition will demonstrate innovative programs or projects that involve improving access to jobs, education, religious worship, voting, transportation, housing, social opportunities, recreation, cultural or sports activities, or emergency preparedness. The winning programs or projects help people with disabilities become full and equal participants in the life of their community. The competition is designed to highlight the work of the association's chapter or affiliate and inspire others to create equally effective programs or projects. The five winning associations will receive $2,000 each to highlight the program or project of a chapter or affiliate.
Access the URL to check the eligible associations and download the guidelines and entry form.
[The news release is included below in its entirety.]
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) launched its Corporate Community Investment program, a new program dedicated to advancing U.S. corporate community development initiatives. The announcement took place at BCLC’s annual Partnership Conference held at U.S. Chamber headquarters. ‘Companies are investing seven billion dollars annually as well as their time and energy in local communities across the U.S.,’ said BCLC Executive Director Stephen Jordan. ‘This program will provide a national platform for business leaders to share lessons learned and effective practices and work toward common community goals with potential business, government and non–profit partners.’
BCLC’s Corporate Community Investment program will engage companies in activities such as workshops with chambers of commerce around the country and issue a report on U.S. corporate community investment to be released in December 2007. BCLC recently polled corporate external affairs officers and chamber of commerce executives to identify their priorities and attitudes regarding community investment. Responses showed that the leading ways the business sector invests in the community is through volunteerism (86%), followed by cause-related partnerships (75%), executive participation in community organizations (71%), and cash contributions (65%).
The survey also revealed that the most important issues affecting community development are K-12 education (71%), workforce development (68%), entrepreneurship and business development (48%), and higher education (47%). By far, respondents prefer to pursue community investment initiatives at the grassroots level, with local schools, local charities, and local government agencies cited as partners far more often than national charities or the federal government.
The Business Civic Leadership Center is a 501(c)(3) affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the Chamber’s voice and resource on business’ social and philanthropic interests. The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation, representing 3 million businesses, 3,000 chambers and 200 American Chambers of Commerce internationally. To receive a summary of these and other findings, please contact Catherine Taylor at E–mail ctaylor@uschamber.com.
APSE: The Network on Employment is known for hosting the most informative and stimulating conferences on disability and employment in the country. It is the only national annual meeting that focuses exclusively on cutting edge employment practices for individuals with more challenging disabilities. The conference theme is Employment for All—SHOW ME THE FUTURE—IT ‘S BIGGER THAN YOU THINK. The conference will offer opportunities for outstanding professional training and networking opportunities.
Access the URL for more information including hotel and registration. You can also download a detailed conference brochure.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in collaboration with the American Public Human Services Association will sponsor three conference calls to discuss (1) ways to improve the identification of disabilities among TANF recipients; (2) steps states can take to reduce non–compliance among TANF recipients with disabilities and develop workable employment plans for them; and (3) mechanisms for assisting recipients with serious disabilities to navigate the SSI application process. LaDonna Pavetti of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. will join each call as a discussant and will be available to answer questions.
The calls are open to officials and staff of state human service agencies, provider groups, and non–profits interested in TANF and disability-related issues. There is no need to RSVP for the calls.
| Call Time: | 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM (ET) |
|---|---|
| Call-In Number: | 1-866-710-0179 |
| Passcode: | TANF |
Mary Hanley - an occupational therapist with who has worked both with TANF recipients and persons with serious and persistent mental illness will discuss how background information obtained from recipients about past TANF receipt, employment, and interactions with the criminal justice system can be important clues to the existence of significant mental health problems or cognitive limitations. She also will discuss how Ramsey County, Minnesota has used functional needs assessments to identify these issues and the ways in which mental health issues can affect TANF recipients' success in welfare-to-work programs.
Barbara Connors from the University of New Orleans, Training, Resource, and Assistive Technology Center will discuss the validated disability screening tool they developed that is now being used in Louisiana's TANF program.
Mary Hanley will discuss how functional needs assessments can be used to go beyond the identification of barriers and be used to inform the development of a workable engagement plan with the recipient. She will talk about the kinds of barriers Ramsey County has uncovered among some of the most disadvantaged recipients and discuss the kinds of activities in which they were able to engage recipients successfully.
Dixie Barr from Diversified Employment Opportunities will discuss the specialized work program they have recently implemented for TANF recipients through a performance-based contract with the Utah Department of Workforce Services. This program is designed to engage recipients in a gradually increasing number of hours of work participation.
States have long been frustrated that the process of applying for SSI is lengthy and that individuals who ultimately are found eligible for SSI benefits are first denied eligibility for failing to meet the disability-related requirements for the program. This call will discuss how to set up and/or improve efforts to assist eligible individuals with serious disabilities apply for SSI.
Tool Kit For State and Local Governments (new chapters 05/07/07): "On December 5, 2006, February 27, 2007, and May 7, 2007, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice issued installments of a new technical assistance document designed to assist state and local officials to improve compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in their programs, services, activities, and facilities. The new technical assistance document, which will be released in several installments over the next ten months, is entitled "The ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments." The Tool Kit is designed to teach state and local government officials how to identify and fix problems that prevent people with disabilities from gaining equal access to state and local government programs, services, and activities. It will also teach state and local officials how to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings and facilities to identify and remove architectural barriers to access."
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) launched its new ‘Alliance Initiative’ to advance the employment of people with disabilities. The ODEP Alliance Initiative is a cooperative program that enables those organizations committed to improving disability workplace practices to work with ODEP to develop and implement model policies, initiatives, and strategies that increase recruiting, hiring, advancing, and retaining workers with disabilities. The Alliance Initiative is open to businesses, trade and professional associations, labor unions, educational institutions, government agencies, and other organizations.
Tunnels and Cliffs: A Guide for Workforce Development Practitioners and Policymakers serving Youth with Mental Health Needs was developed as part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP’s) work to help workforce development practitioners, administrators, and policymakers increase their understanding of youth with mental health needs and the supports necessary to help them transition into the workforce successfully.
Youth with mental health needs (MHN) often face unemployment, underemployment, and discrimination when they enter the workforce. Employment data show that individuals with serious mental illness have the lowest level of employment of any group of people with disabilities. As a result, large numbers of youth with both diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health needs who are transitioning into young adulthood, to the world of work, and to postsecondary education are likely to experience significant difficulties.
This guide provides practical information and resources for youth service practitioners. In addition, it provides policymakers, from the program to the state level, with information to help them address system and policy obstacles in order to improve service delivery systems for youth with mental health needs.
The Guide was developed to encourage collaborative efforts between workforce development, child welfare, mental health, schools, and other community institutions to improve opportunities for youth in foster care to successfully transition into adulthood. The youth involved in the foster care system represent one of the most vulnerable populations in our society. Of the more than 500,000 children in foster care, 30 to 40% are also in special education. However, this number does not capture all youth with disabilities in the foster care system. In one study, it was estimated that between 20 to 60% of young children entering foster care have a developmental disability or delay. These types of disabilities include cerebral palsy, mental retardation, developmental delays, and learning disabilities, as well as speech, hearing, and vision impairments. This compares with an estimate of about 10% among the general population.
Building upon the NCWD/Youth organizing framework known as the Guideposts for Success, which details what research says all youth, including youth with disabilities, need to successfully transition to adulthood, this new publication applies the Guideposts to meeting the needs of youth in foster care with and without disabilities. Read the Guideposts for Success for Youth in Foster Care in chapter two of the Guide.
In addition, the Guide provides facts, statistics, and contextual information about youth involved in the foster care system; gives examples of states and communities that are changing policy and practices; identifies areas requiring further attention by policy makers and providers of services; and identifies resources and tools to assist cross-system collaborative efforts.
NCWD/Youth will soon be posting on its website a companion piece to the Guide that will demonstrate how the foster care Guideposts can be addressed under several pieces of program legislation affecting youth in the foster care system.
The Resource Guide was developed as a means to provide a framework for state-to-state communication, technical assistance, and for multi-state analysis of policy and program development activities. It is also intended as a resource to other public officials, analysts and advocates.
The Guide has 6 sections which include 65 categories of states’ Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) comprehensive employment project activities. Within the 6 sections are subsections of summaries, recent activities and details and background information.
The Resource Guide is updated at least quarterly.
This Resource Guide is supported under a U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration grant to the Law, Health Policy and Disability Center at the University of Iowa’s College of Law.