Assessments

This paper presents a broad overview of the direct-care workforce. The authors examine issues such as wages, benefits, training, worker retention rates, staff satisfaction, and the importance of worker-focused "culture change" initiatives in long-term care settings. They conclude that the quality of direct-care jobs must be increased in order to attract a "stable and competent" workforce, and point to research that suggests ways to create more collaborative, effective, and satisfying jobs.

This report is the result of a study exploring management techniques and programs States have put in place to rebalance their Medicaid long-term supportive services. It summarizes the methods, products and findings of this project then suggests conclusions and recommendations for State officials, legislators, advocates, and providers and CMS on ways to increase and improve LTSS systems for people with disabilities, enhance participant choice, and reduce reliance on institutions.

In 2005 CMS funded a national evaluation by a consortium led by the RAND Corporation to study the implementation and outcomes of ten funded initiatives. These initiatives were meant to improve the recruitment and retention of the Direct Service Community Workforce. Review the report and listen to a recorded webinar where the author's present their findings.

This outcome evaluation, by The Center for Outcome Analysis, Inc., (their website is included), measures whether microenterprise participants and their direct support workers experienced changes in the qualities and quantities of work life. The results found within this study affirm that microenterprise options do offer a viable alternative to “adult day programs” and “sheltered workshops” for citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Connect-Ability’s goal of enhancing and supporting employment for people with disabilities is informed in large part by the experiences of people with disabilities themselves. The Pathways to Success project collects information on individual experiences, on an ongoing basis through periodic in-person interviews. With this information, the findings will be used to inform not only state agency policy, but also potential employers, so that they may better assist job seekers with disabilities.

This is a survey of Connecticut school districts concerning transition, work experience and community participation services for students receiving special education services. This survey, focused on youth in transition; stakeholder education; recruitment, employment, and retention; transportation; and technical assistance. The results and subsequent strategic plan will be useful to the State Department of Education for continuing technical assistance and training to school districts.

In an effort to understand the services and strategies that sustain employment, the state of Washington conducted an evaluation of Washington’s Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities Program. This program is the state’s version of Medicaid Buy-In, and the results show that enrollees are working more hours, earning more money, paying health insurance premiums, contributing more in taxes relying less on food stamps.

This assessment is designed to answer important questions about the population eligible for DVR services that live in Maine and their vocational rehabilitation needs. Maine Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) assists eligible individuals with disabilities to prepare for, achieve and retain employment in integrated community settings. The goal is to provide services to all eligible consumers at the time that they need them to achieve competitive, community-based employment.

Review this sample of an MOU between the Alaskan Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Alaskan Division of Behavioral Health. It addresses providing equal access to employment, not just as a fundamental right for those affected by behavioral disabilities, but as an essential step towards better behavioral health. Use this sample MOU as a template if your program were trying to craft a similar document.

This report is a collective summary of the impact and outcomes of Medicaid services to over half a million unique individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Using data and statistics, from 2007, State rankings are given with the intention of providing guidance as to how each State performs overall in serving these individuals, acknowledging areas for each State that need improvement, and identifying top performance areas for each State, making resources easily identifiable.