Ticket to Work

How can states create employment choices for individuals with disabilities? Arkansas Career Training Institute is a Vocational Rehabilitation Center whose mission is to provide vocational training and employment opportunities to adult clients with disabilities. This presentation on work incentives was given to staff at the ACTI. It gives an overview of the state programs available and explains how they work. This could be a useful resource to other states with MIG programs.

Looking for a clear and concise summary of an existing MIG grant program? Attached is the Arizona Employment and Disability Partnership MIG Grant Fact Sheet which outlines, among other things, the programs’ goal, its approach, 2010 planned initiatives, and its AHCCCS Freedom to Work evaluation and member survey. This document could serve as a helpful guide to other states contemplating a MIG program or accessing an existing program.

People with disabilities having to choose between meaningful work and income, and access to health insurance and needed services, is a problem being addressed by an increasing number of states through the Medicaid Buy-In program. The state of Alabama created the policy paper attached below, outlining the policy objectives and proposed design of their program. It could be a useful resource for other states proposing a MIG program of their own.

Review national trends, gaps and barriers that threaten both the availability and quality of future services for people with disabilities. Research in this report has been aimed at better positioning the human resources sector for the future. Recommendations include identifying opportunities for public-private sector partnerships, promoting opportunities to encourage new entrants into critical occupations, and to establish systematic efforts to acquire information on worker supply.

Getting the word out to eligible enrollees as well as service providers is key to any MIG programs’ success. This can be complicated by the fact that there are often many programs working together. One way Alabama is keeping everyone informed is by distributing brochures about their MIG program that specifically highlight the partnerships between programs and address fears about benefits and health care. Attached are two such brochures. These could serve as samples for other states.

How is Hawaii providing its disabled population with benefits information? In the attached slide presentations, Hilo Benefits Information Outreach covers disability programs, work incentives and self employment work incentives for self-employed clients and case managers. These presentations for Hawaii’ s MIG program could be useful to other states implementing similar programs.

Interested in statistical analysis of MIG grant programs? The following presentation represents Idaho’s Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities (MWD) program. The program’s history and its’ current state are outlined here alongside graphs and charts with corresponding data. It’s an example of how to chart out a state’s MIG program alongside statistical analysis and could be beneficial to other states looking to do the same.

Looking for an in-depth sample of MIG grant program implementation? The District of Colombia has provided their final deliverables document here. This document includes a strategic plan for Medicaid Buy-In Program Implementation, along with the subsequent step-by-step tasks, leading ultimately to the final report, and includes such tools as marketing materials, forms and brochures. This document could serve as a helpful resource to other states interested in implementing a MIG program.

This training tool was presented to students in the Projects With Industries training program, whose purpose is to create and expand job/career opportunities for individuals with disabilities. It provides an overview of Ticket to Work, work incentives, and other work supports. Whether interested in similar training programs, or the details of the programs themselves, this presentation could be a valuable resource to other states looking to allocate or initiate MIG funding for training purposes.

Promoting work incentives for the disabled is one way that Utah is using it's MIG grant to expand it's employment possibilities for its disabled population. They did so through a variety of programs, including Utah Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach (WIPA / BPAO) and Employment Personal Assistance Services (E-PAS). A detailed list of Utah's various work incentives, with helpful program information could be useful to other states and is available for download here.