Employment Programs

Washington states' Alderbrook 2007 was a “discussion” among some 150 people, about current attempts to implement The Working Age Adults Employment policy in communities statewide with the goal of learning from each other about how to do it better. This paper explores “what’s working” and how to improve and expand its' implementation. It's a discussion with wide reaching implications for any state interested in improving or implementing similar policies.

The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a school-to-work program that takes place entirely at the workplace. The goal for each student is competitive employment. The program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help youths with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life. Review an article from the DCS newsletter and accompanying pamphlets that outline this program.

Review the key findings of this report which uses information from multiple state and federal data sources and provides the most comprehensive information to date on patterns of Medicaid and Medicare spending and service use among Buy-In participants. Overall findings suggest that Buy-In participants who are working may require fewer services or a less expensive mix of services than other adult disabled Medicaid enrollees.

Check out ePolicyWorks, a collaborative, information-sharing initiative between national policy-makers and stakeholders, managed by the Office of Disability Employment Policy. It addresses barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities, using web-based technology to enable communication between departments on key policy areas. The workspace contains news, a bulletin board to post info, social networking and eWorkgroup capacities. The initiative is currently focusing on health care.

This letter provides clarification on the receipt of Federal funds under the SSA Ticket to Work program and encourages utilization of the program’s flexible funding offers. Policy clarifications regarding State Medicaid providers’ acceptance and the treatment of SSA ticket payments are included, as well as clarification regarding the prohibition of using Ticket Outcome and Milestone payments as the State share of financial participation.

This high level systems map of Indiana’s disability and employment infrastructure gives a general overview of state agency programs and services. This includes statistics on each agency program, separated into Employment and Training Programs, Health Related Disability and Employment Supports, and Other Programs Involved with Individuals with Disabilities and Employment Supports. Also outlined are the steps taken, the activities, completion date and persons responsible for these outcomes.

SSA’s Office of Employment Support Programs (OESP), CMS and SAMHSA hosted a two day summit focusing on its Ticket to Work Program and mental health employment services. Presenters gave a series of keynotes and breakout sessions including topics such as dispelling Ticket Program myths, functioning as a successful Employment Network, and evidence-based practice in supported employment.

How are states incorporating the needs of people with disabilities into career and job fairs? The State of Maryland created the Employ-Able Disability Career Fair, which was incorporated into the state’s annual World of Possibilities Expo, with the goal of helping to bring more employment opportunities to the disabilities community and returning disabled veterans by linking employers with job seekers. A sample flyer for this fair is attached, as well as a link to the website.

How well is the state of Indiana’s Information Network (BIN) program satisfying participant needs? Funded in part, by the Indiana Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, BIN was set up to create a network between all the benefits counselors and providers to improve the use of federal and state work incentives. By exploring the number of cases per region, as well as work incentives used and recommended, this survey could serve as a guide for other states, with similar goals.

Hispanic individuals with disabilities have unique needs that service systems often do not meet. Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital recently conducted a needs assessment with our Hispanic patients with disabilities, striving to understand the general disability-related needs of Hispanic patients and how medical systems can fit into meeting these needs. These PowerPoint presentations were presented at the Latino Social Workers Organization's conference in March 2009 (Chicago, IL).