The Rural Routes to Employment Project: Customizing Employment, Expanding Communities Beth Keeton, Southeastern Regional Director The Center for Social Capital GRIFFIN-HAMMIS, LLC

Established through a FDDC (Florida Developmental Disabilities Council) grant with the Center for Social Capital Initial funding: 1 year (extensions possible) October 1, 2011: anticipated start date The Rural Routes to Employment Project Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Identify and work with 5 rural communities –Discern barriers & opportunities to consumer- directed employment –Application process Open to agencies/entities throughout state Application disseminated through state networks If interested: contact project staff Rural Routes: Year 1 Project Goals Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Facilitate public meetings & focus groups in each of the 5 target areas to: –Engage communities –Identify stakeholders –Generate data on barriers & opportunities Rural Routes: Year 1 Project Goals Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

In each location: –Form Community Action Teams (CATs) –Perform comprehensive resource mapping to inform employment creation in collaboration with entities such as: Project 10 The Institute for Small & Rural Districts Local Economic Development authorities, civic groups, and other other community partners Rural Routes: Year 1 Project Goals Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Develop scalable models of rural economic development and employment program refinement –Building upon community partnerships and collaboration –Utilizing an economic development approach –Identifying community/business “needs” and providing a solution Rural Routes: Year 1 Project Goals Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Conduct best practice training on: – Customized Employment –Self-employment/microenterprise including –Family and consumer-directed assessment (Discovering Personal Genius) –Employment support Rural Routes: Year 1 Project Goals Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Develop replicable, cost-effective model employment initiatives based upon: –Blended funding –Employment creation –Consumer controlled methods Rural Routes: Year 1 Project Goals Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

The CAT approach emphasizes that through collaborative efforts of a variety of interested stakeholders resources and strategies are better leveraged to support individual job seekers to achieve their employment goals. Community Action Teams Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Work to identify areas in practice and policy that impede or enhance CE implementation and outcomes Work collaboratively and strategically to resolve those issues locally Share identified issues with FDDC and other key state agencies for statewide impact CAT Roles & Responsibilities Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

CATs specifically organized and trained to utilize flexible strategies & tactics to increase individualized employment outcomes for people with disabilities in their local communities –Employment is key focus and primary responsibility Made up of a broad representation from the community (i.e. schools, businesses, providers, community organizations) How CATs Support Employment Outcomes Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Discovering Personal Genius Customized Employment Resource Ownership Self-Employment/Microenterprise Benefits Planning & Analysis Rural Routes: Training Components Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Each site receives comprehensive TA, including: –Helping coordinate collaborations –Implementing strategies to blend funding –Assisting to develop additional resources –Providing outreach to the local employment community –Helping with benefits analysis and planning –Problem-solving identified barriers in practice & policy Rural Routes: TA Components Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Based on Interest-Based Negotiation between the Job Seeker and the Employer Person-Centered One-Person-At-A-Time Identifies the Ideal Conditions of Employment using Discovery Includes Self Employment Customized Employment is Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Not a Service or Program – It is an Approach Not Group-Based Not Labor Market-Driven Not looking for that Dream Job Not Vocational Evaluation & Testing Not Interest Inventories Customized Employment is Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Especially effective for Individuals with High or Complex Support Needs Applicable to anyone, with any disability (or without) seeking employment Circumvents the Comparison of Applicants made in Competitive Hiring Relies on natural relationships, supports, training Customized Employment is Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates

Discovering Personal Genius A planful approach that reveals life themes That presents a path of Discovery That begs Investigation That creates Options That breeds Innovation in job development Go where the career makes sense Customized Employment Center for Social Capital/Griffin-Hammis Associates