Employment Programs

How is Alaska getting its’ younger population informed about the work incentives available to them? This brochure is directed at those 22 years of age and under who are working and going to school. These incentives were developed to help Social Security Administration Benefits enrollees manage their benefits while at the same time promoting employment and earned income opportunities. The approach this brochure takes could be useful to other states seeking to address this demographic.

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.

Because the MIG grant program is relatively new, flexibility is needed to help programs evolve successfully. One way Oregon has addressed changes in its program is by creating fact sheets. The attached example explains important changes in definition and introduces a new payment structure. It was provided to recipients, professional staff, stakeholders and the general public, and could be useful to other states with MIG programs.

Partnering with business and the workforce system is an important part of improving employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The goal of the Disability Program Navigator Initiative is to achieve more seamless, comprehensive, and integrated service delivery and supports that can expand the capacity of this workforce investment system. The attached presentation is part of a webinar outlining this initiative, highlighting examples in Oregon, Maine and Virginia.

Why focus on employment? Funded by Oregon’s MIG grant, this presentation stresses the importance of working for social reasons, not just financial ones. It presents the case that supported employment is an important part of improving the lives of people with a mental health diagnosis. The principles and findings described here provide information that could be beneficial to any state interested in the issues of evidence based supported employment and the research to back it up.

How can we dispel myths and create opportunities for the employment of the disabled? Oregon’s Work Incentives Network (WIN) addresses this issue in the attached presentation. Given at the 6th Annual Pacific Northwest Brain Injury Conference, as well as statewide training events for stakeholders, this presentation explains how WIN works, myths that exist about benefits and working and how to access services. While WIN is specific to Oregon, the approaches it takes could be useful to other states.

The Oregon Competitive Employment Project seeks to enhance the quality of life in Oregon by achieving, maintaining and advancing the competitive and inclusive employment of persons with disabilities. The project is funded by a four-year Medicaid Infrastructure Grant and is part of the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. The project website contains information and downloads, and could be a useful tool for other MIG grantees.

How can states more successfully facilitate the employment of their disabled population? One approach Nebraska has taken is gathering information from both clients and worksites with the help of detailed questionnaires. These forms assess the requirements of the job and the needs of the clients, taking into account such factors as transportation, learning style and mobility issues. Three samples of these forms are included here and could prove to be valuable templates for other states.

How is Nebraska using its MIG funding to assist individuals with disabilities manage the chronic pain that prevents them from acquiring or maintaining employment? The Nebraska Ticket to Work Palliative Care Program combines palliative care with employment services in an effort to address chronic pain as a barrier to employment. The program takes a cutting-edge approach, which could be employed in any state. A more detailed summary of the program is provided in the newsletter available here.

What do Nebraska’s Medicaid Insurance for Workers with Disabilities (MIWD) clients think about the employment supports offered them through the MIG funded program? In December, 2007 current clients were asked to participate in a telephone survey, which was a follow-up to a more extensive evaluation finalized in April 2007. The methodology, goal and summary of the findings are included here and could be helpful to other states looking to improve the effectiveness of their employment supports.