Ticket to Work

During the Pathways to Employment Conference in December 2006, the Ohio MIG program administered surveys and conducted three focus groups in order to assess the struggles and successes of consumers with disabilities in finding work, being in the workforce, and experiences with health coverage. A final report and executive summary were produced which recap and analyze the results of the surveys and focus groups.

On March 31, 2006, HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt outlined new flexibilities available to states under the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 (Pub.L. No. 109-171). Find out how the new DRA provisions may link with other options available under Medicaid to transform long-term care to person-centered care and to expand coverage for individuals with disabilities, increase access to community supports, and promote personal responsibility, independence, and choice.

The National Council on Disability released a new report with recommendations on improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities receiving Social Security benefits. The major reasons cited for the extreme underutilization of these work incentives by beneficiaries were lack of knowledge on work incentives and the complex and hard-to-grasp nature of the incentives for even those who were aware of them. The report further discussed ideas for policy and procedural modifications.

Organizations interested in applying to become Employment Networks (EN) can now do so directly with the Social Security Administration, no longer having to process requests through MAXIMUS. All Request for Proposal (RFP) applications can be downloaded from the Federal procurement web site. This press release provides detailed instructions and contact information.

The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work. The quarterly newsletter covers marketplace news, opportunities and experiences. This Winter 2005 issues details a new EN Promising Practices Anthology and spotlights a South Florida program. The Newsletter also has an events calendar and a list of Recently Approved Employment Network Providers.

Gainful employment is entirely possible for people with disabilities and yet it remains outside the grasp for many who remain unemployed or grossly underemployed. Success in employment is caught in a vicious circle with the insufficiency of employment supports, health care coverage, education and training, and income potential. Further aggravating that cycle are barriers in transportation, child care, accessible and affordable housing.

NCHSD held its 4th Annual National Fall Technical Assistance Conference for Medicaid Infrastructure Grantees. This year’s meeting featured pre-conference regional gatherings, a day-long session on building public-private partnerships with employers, updates from our CMS partners, and a series of state expert panel presentations. Attached are the Fall 2004 Conference Edition eNews with highlights and promising practices plus the conference materials and presentations from every session.

This paper subtitled: A Look at Federal, State and Public Systems as Sources of Cash-Outs and Other Fiscal Expansion Opportunities, examines promising interconnections between the concepts of recovery, self-determination, and self-directed care. It reviews the five principles of self-direction and explores the major systems that can serve as sources of cash-out funding. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations for next steps in adopting this mental health care financing mechanism.

The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work. The quarterly newsletter covers marketplace news, opportunities and experiences. This Autumn 2004 issues details the new marketing alliance and offers the experience of promising practices and partnerships. The publication also has a calendar and lists all recently approved Employee Network Providers.

CMS has announced a modification to its solicitation of proposals from states to develop Medicaid infrastructure to support the competitive employment of people with disabilities by facilitating targeted improvements to the state’s Medicaid program and/or developing a comprehensive employment infrastructure that coordinates disparate state service delivery systems. The Announcement provides complete information about the grant, including the proposal due date, award date and agency contacts.