Partnership Plus A Collaboration between Employment Networks and State VR Agencies for Ongoing Employment Supports

Learning Objectives Review the Ticket to Work Program Introduce Partnership Plus o Purpose o Goals, Roles and Responsibilities o Models Share best practices from Utah service providers Discuss benefits and next steps 2

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act Signed into law in 1999 The goals of the Ticket to Work Program are to: o Offer beneficiaries with disabilities expanded choices when seeking service and supports to enter, re-enter, and/or maintain employment; and o Increase the financial independence and self-sufficiency of beneficiaries with disabilities; Improved healthcare Work Incentives o Created a State option to establish a Medicaid (MA) buy-in o Provided continuation of Medicare Coverage while working 3

Employment Networks Organizations must meet strict Social Security guidelines in order to become an EN ENs can be for-profit and non-profit organizations, including: o Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) o Government agencies (state or local) o Sole proprietorships 4

Employment Networks continued Primary role o Engaging beneficiaries in one-on-one: Career planning Job Placement Ongoing employment support services 5

State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies Ticket Program legislation recognizes Vocational Rehabilitation's long history of serving beneficiaries with disabilities o State VR agencies are automatically ENs Common program goals = maximize and maintain employment o Best outcome is self-sufficiency through work and earnings 6

State VR agency Ticket Coordinator Each State has designated a primary contact for the SSA Ticket to Work Program The roles and responsibilities of a Ticket Coordinator o Submits SSI and SSDI beneficiary “In-Use SVR” status to SSA o Attends SSA Ticket Program training sessions and calls o Implements and monitors the state Ticket to Work program o Serves as the Partnership Plus primary point of contact 7

State VR Agency Counselors VR counselors inform beneficiaries about their options under the Ticket program Ticket information should be discussed at key points during rehabilitation process: o Wait listing o Development of the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) o Job Placement o Case Closure 8

Progress Check 1 Who is responsible for directly providing informed choice to beneficiaries about Employment Goals, Services and Providers? a.Social Security Administration b.Ticket Program Manager c.Employment Networks d.State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies e.Both C and D f.All of the above 9

Similarities between ENs and State VR agencies Goals o Reduce or eliminate reliance on Social Security disability benefits resulting in savings to the: Social Security Trust Fund (SSDI) General Revenue Fund (SSI) SSA performance-based payments o Beneficiaries with disabilities enter and maintain employment resulting in earnings leading to self-sufficiency, Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Both have underlying principles of ‘informed choice’ o Meaningful conversations and information Choice of employment goal, services, provider 10

SVR Measures of Success Vocational Rehabilitation o Rehabilitation Act focuses on employment outcomes Entering/retaining full-time/part-time employment Competitive wages Integrated labor market Consistent with individual strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice o Individual must be employed a minimum of 90 days after job placement for a successful closure outcome 11

EN Measures of Success Ticket Program o Assisting beneficiaries to find and maintain employment at Trial Work or SGA+ o SGA level work and earnings retained over 3-5 years o Beneficiary “exits” the SSA cash benefit system 12

Progress Check 2 What is the main similarity between State VR agencies and Employment Networks? a.Reduce or eliminate beneficiaries’ reliance on Social Security disability benefits b.Receive Milestone/Outcome payments c.Claim Cost Reimbursement payment d.All of the above 13

Partnership Plus The Basics

Partnership Plus: What is it? A functional definition “... the two programs provide a continuum of services— VR agencies provide more intensive, up-front services to help beneficiaries enter or return to work, while employment networks under the Ticket to Work program can provide longer-term supports to help beneficiaries stay at work.” Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on Employment for People with Disabilities (June 2012) 15

SVRA – Intensive up-front services leading to employment Beneficiary – obtains employment; VR case is closed following a minimum of 90 days of employment; the Ticket is available for assignment to an EN EN – Develops IWP after VR case closure to provide long term supports to help beneficiaries retain employment PPlus preplanning VR unassigns the ticket PPlus EN assigns the ticket Handoff 16 Partnership Plus VR to EN Handoff

Partnership Plus = Coordination and Collaboration 17 Partnership Plus ensures that beneficiaries experience a smooth transition or “handoff” as they move to and from SVR and EN services o From a SVR wait list to EN services o From EN services to SVR services o From SVR case closure to EN on-going support services (most common) A handoff is a smooth transition as beneficiaries move from State Rehabilitation agencies (after case closure) to Employment Networks for ongoing support services

VR Community Rehabilitation Provider/EN EN VREN VREN 18 Common Partnership Plus Models

Partnership Plus Arrangements Best practices: o Partnership Plus SVR agency and EN written agreement Referral agreement Referral agreement including benchmark payments o Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between state agencies o Pre-negotiated “handshake” referral process Partnership Plus can be customized to suit the provider’s operational needs 19

Ticket regulations and the EN RFQ state that an EN should refer a beneficiary being served under the Ticket program to a SVR agency for services only if the SVR agency and the EN have an agreement that specifies the conditions under which services will be provided by VR. (20 CFR Part 411, Section )  Applies when an EN chooses to keep the Ticket assignment  Applies to both active and passive referrals  Agreement must be signed by both EN and State VR agency * Non-compliance can result in a violation of the BPA EN keeps Ticket assignment VR When is a written referral agreement required? 20

Progress Check 3 What are the different options for participation in Partnership Plus? a.Partnership Plus SVR agency and EN agreement b.VR Program Policy/Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) c.Pre-negotiated “handshake” referral process d.All of the above 21

22 Partnership Plus = Coordination and Collaboration Beneficiary referral and Ticket assignment agreements between VR and EN. (AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, IA, ID, MD, NM, PA, RI, UT, WI) Beneficiary referral and Ticket assignment between VR and EN. Plus VR benchmark payments to ENs. (FL, MA, OK, TX, VA) Beneficiary referral and Ticket assignment agreement between two state agencies (AK, ME, MN, SD, TN) Partnership Plus Collaboration (IN, MO) Statewide Partnership Plus/Administrative model (NY) States with no formal Partnership Plus Collaboration

State Vocational Rehabilitation Common Up-Front Services Medical Evaluation Services Career Assessment Vocational Training Assistive Technology On-the-job training Job Placement …Leading to Partnership Plus o Prior to 90 days of employment or after the case is closed, the SVR coordinates the handoff between the beneficiary and the EN 23

Employment Networks’ ongoing employment support services Examples of EN services after VR case closure Benefits advice (by a qualified work incentives provider) Follow along services Ongoing support services Job retention services Other employment supports Job coaching Transportation Mentoring Education/training 24

Partnership Plus Process Key Features: Coordination and Collaboration A Successful Job Placement of 90 days of employment A Successful Job Placement of 90 days of employment PARTNERSHIP PLUS VR, Ticket Holder and the EN discuss ongoing support services; an EN is selected to provide ongoing job retention services Ticket is unassigned from VR Ticket Holder has 90 Days immunity from Continuing Disability Review (CDR) Employment NOT Achieved Unsuccessful case closure Ticket is Assigned to the EN The Ticket still has $ Value Ticket is Assigned to the EN The Ticket still has $ Value Value for Employment Achieved Phase 2 Milestone & Outcome Payments = est. $19,411 EN may provide services over the next 3-5 years Value for Employment Achieved Phase 2 Milestone & Outcome Payments = est. $19,411 EN may provide services over the next 3-5 years Value for Employment NOT Achieved Possible Remaining Payments available = est. $24,919 EN may provide services over the next 3-5 years Value for Employment NOT Achieved Possible Remaining Payments available = est. $24,919 EN may provide services over the next 3-5 years VR may provide post employment services, and verifies employment after nine consecutive months for Cost Reimbursement VR may provide post employment services, and verifies employment after nine consecutive months for Cost Reimbursement Handoff 25

Progress Check 4 What is a handoff? a.The process of submitting payments b.A smooth transition as beneficiaries move from State Rehabilitation agencies (after case closure) to Employment Networks for ongoing support services c.A beneficiary between the ages of 18 through 64 and receiving SSDI or SSI benefits d.All of the above 26

Virginia Partnership Plus Collaboration between the State VR agency and Employment Networks 27

Partnership Plus Collaboration Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services o David Leon, Ticket to Work Coordinator, Grants & Special Programs Virginia Employment Network, Didlake o Emily Gebhart, MSW, Director of Employment Services 28

29 Virginia Statistics as of 9/30/2015 Eligible Ticket Holders311,049 In-Use with VR5,420 Assigned to ENs1,317 ENs in Virginia26 Percentage of ENs who are VR vendors 73% Number of traditional Partnership Plus Handoffs 276 o Number of Handoffs in FY201586

Twenty six approved ENs, nineteen of them are VR Vendors ENs12 ENs13-14 ENs15 ENs

Highlights of Partnership Plus in Virginia 31 Partnership plus improves long term outcomes for our clients 86 handoffs during Fiscal Year 2015 More revenue in the system through Ticket to Work handoff Increased Cost Reimbursement revenue Know when to approach your VR – use your payments to tell the story of the value of your EN services

Highlights of Partnership Plus in Virginia 32 Tips for Success: Start Early… Be Organized… Communicate…

Contact information: David Leon (office) (fax) Emily Gebhart (office) x1414 (mobile) (fax)

Partnership Plus Benefits 34

Benefits of Partnership Plus Beneficiaries o Increases choices for services and supports to enter and maintain long-term competitive employment leading to self- sufficiency o Assures the continuation and expansion of best practices and informed choice ENs o Can work with beneficiaries during a single time period or at multiple points in time (as a VR CRP/vendor prior to case closure and as an Employment Network after case closure ) o Compliments existing VR fee-for-service agreements o Expands revenue sources 35

Benefits of Partnership Plus continued State VR agencies o Reduces recidivism because of the seamless delivery of necessary ongoing supports o Offers opportunities to coordinate post-employment services with a handoff to an Employment Network o Maximizes Cost Reimbursement opportunities Pre- and Post-Employment Services are reimbursable through Cost Reimbursement Program 36

Progress Check 5 Who benefits from Partnership Plus? a.State Vocational Rehabilitation agency b.Beneficiaries c.Employment Networks d.Ticket Program Manager (TPM) e.State VR agency, Employment Network and Beneficiaries f.All of the above 37

Resources

Your Partnership Plus Resources Consult with your TPM Senior Account Managers or Account Specialists View websites o o o State Vocational Rehabilitation agency o Employment Networks Talk to other ENs and State VR agencies 39

Moving Forward/Next Steps Understand best-fit Partnership Plus options for your EN Review Partnership Plus arrangement within your state Contact the SVR Ticket Coordinator Implement a relationship that can lead to Partnership Plus collaboration 40

Questions?