Using Customized Employment for Individuals with Disabilities Who H ave Criminal Backgrounds Randy Dicks and Elizabeth Coles InVision Human Services November 15, 2011

2 Understand the basics of customized employment, primarily Discovery Understand how Discovery can teach us when we see an individual function “at their best” Understand how to deal with our “fear” and the fear the community feels towards offenders Understand how to create a useful Vocational Profile that will address the behaviors, while maintaining the safety of the community Learn how to monitor and adapt the Vocational Profile and job development process as needed Hear stories of success Goals and Objectives TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

Perseverance is the Key. Image: Cartoon character selling mud pies for 10 cents, says: “I’ve been doing this for 47 years. They say perseveranc e is the key to success.” 3 TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

4 Discovery: to gain insight or knowledge of something previously unseen or unknown; to notice or realize; to make known, reveal, disclose Used with permission from Marc Gold & Associates© The Essence of Discovery TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

5 The Iceberg Analogy of Discovery What we usually know about the people we try to assist – just the tip of the iceberg. We need to know much more – bottom of the iceberg. Used with permission from Marc Gold & Associates© TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

6 Diving into Discovery What are we feeling?  Fear?  Uncertainty?  Excitement? It is common to experience all of these when we embark on a process that is new to us.  The key is to proceed with caution, but keep moving. Don’t be stagnate. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

7 The individual Supports Coordination/VR Counselor Family Friends Staff Anyone who knows the individual well Who is Involved in Discovery TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

8 Getting to know the individual Observing interactions with others Observing daily routines Chores Patterns Understanding skills/tasks the person uses everyday Who is involved in Discovery (cont.) TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

9 The Need to Refocus Our backgrounds teach us to focus on deficits:  Johnnie can’t be around people  Timmy doesn’t understand boundaries  Mary is a thief  Susie has been arrested nine times but wants to work in a daycare We all have deficits/baggage that we carry with us. In our own lives we tend to overlook it and focus on the positive. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

10 What Do We Learn from Discovery? Discovery leads us to discover three critical areas: Conditions Interests Contributions TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

11 What are Your Conditions of Employment? TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

12 What are your Interests? TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

13 What are your Contributions? TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

14 How Do I Use the Information I Gained in Discovery? OK….. So now I have information, but this person is still an ex- offender… TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

15 Employment and Discrimination While employers are generally not allowed to have blanket bars against hiring ex-offenders, they are permitted to consider the relationship between the criminal charges and the position being sought. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

16 Disclosure How What Where When Why Ensuring that we proceed with permission from the individual we are representing TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

Success Stories Image: Person putting laundry into washing machine 17 TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

18 Some tools that are available for individuals with Developmental Disabilities specifically related to problematic sexual behavior: RRASOR or Static 99: review of records, provides baseline score for re-offending, looks at prior offenses ARMADILO-S: looks at risk and protective factors that correlate with the likelihood of re-offending Tools TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

19 Client Specific Environmental Specific Image: Polar bear falling by sign that says “Watch for ice” Areas of Risk TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

20 Feeling a need to protect the individual, and holding information; Assuming that therapy for issues leads to reduced risk; Overlooking little things, which often are acute risk factors (i.e. loss of a friend, staff, or job). Under-Estimating Risk TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

21 Over-Estimating Risk Thinking that a behavior will progress and get worse if certain things are not avoided; We (staff) are responsible, so we are in control; People have their personal assumptions of what indicates risk, without knowing that constitutes risk; People get stuck on stories from the past. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

22 Identifies who may be a target for offenses, and where and under what conditions these offenses are most likely to occur; Outlines specific supervision requirements across all settings; Identifies any restrictions or external controls that are needed to safely support the individual within the community. Components of the Risk Management Plan TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

23 Change Comes from Within…… You first have to envision what you want to accomplish, and then take steps to make it happen. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

24 Motivation We are in the business to motivate, not persecute. As a supporter you need to be respectful, genuine and empathic. Give guidance, avoid harsh judgments, and remember that change cannot be forced. Support self-efficacy; the goal is to help teach self-management skills so they can rely on themselves, not us or the system. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

25 Comments & Questions TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

26 InVision Human Services Randy Dicks Manager of Community and Employment Supports ext Elizabeth Coles Program Supervisor, Employment Supports ext Customized Employment Training Customized Employment Technical Support Behavior Support Plan Development Risk Screenings for Problematic Sexual Behavior Risk Management Plans for Problematic Sexual Behavior Staff Training Program Evaluation and Development TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

27 THANK YOU! TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

28 Offender Webinar Series Obtaining Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities who have Criminal Backgrounds Archived – Providing Employment Services to Individuals with Disabilities who have Criminal Backgrounds Archived – Overview of the Legal Consideration Providers and VRCs should know when working with Offenders Today – Using Customized Employment for Individuals with Disabilities who have Criminal Backgrounds December 14, 2011 – Forensic Employment Programs for Offenders with Mental Health Disabilities TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

29 Education Credits CRCC Credit - (2.0) – DUE November 25 Approved by Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)  Participants must score 80% or better on a online Post Test and submit an online CRCC Request Form via the MyTACE Portal. CEU Credit - (0.2) Approved by the University College at Syracuse University  Participants must submit an online CEU Request Form via the MyTACE Portal. My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

30 Southeast TACE (Region IV) Toll-free: (866) [voice/tty] Fax: (404) Web: TACEsoutheast.org My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services

31 Disclaimer This presentation was developed by the TACE Center: Region IV© 2011 with funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) under the priority of Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Projects (TACE) – Grant #H264A However, the contents of this presentation do not necessarily represent the policy of the RSA and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government [34 CFR (b)]. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © InVision Human Services