Effective Practices in Building an Inclusive Workforce: The California Disability Employment Initiative

Panel Members David H. Mayer, DEI State Project Advisor, Employment Development Department Maiknue Vang, Program Supervisor, Madera Workforce Investment Corp. Kasia DeMauri, Disability Resource Coordinator, Golden Sierra Job Training Agency Les Roberson, Disability Resource Coordinator, Managed Career Solutions

CDEI History Built upon previous Disability Program Navigator initiative, which sought to improve services in the AJCCs’ system and improve employment outcomes of persons with disabilities. Since 2010, U.S. DOL awarded over $95 million to 26 states through 5 rounds of DEI implementation. The primary difference between the DPN and DEI Project is the addition of clear expectations for performance outcomes (training, placements, retention). The DEI is jointly funded and administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

CDEI Objectives Supports extensive partnerships, collaboration and service coordination across multiple systems in each state. Designed to implement successful strategies to promote employment of adults/youth with disabilities across multiple workforce, social, and disability systems in each state. Adults- 18 and older with disabilities Youth - 14- 24 with disabilities

NATIONAL DEI GRANTEES Round 1 – 9 States: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Virginia Round 2 - 7 States: California, Hawaii, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin Round 3 – 7 States: Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Rhode Island Round 4 - 8 States: Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, New York, Virginia Round 5 – 6 States: California, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, South Dakota Some states, including California received a second DEI funding. California was funded in Round 2 and Round 5. California receive $6 million for Round 2 and $2.5 for Round 5

DEI Purpose The DEI is designed to: Improve the education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes for adults or youth with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed, and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. Help these people with disabilities find a path into the middle class through exemplary and model service delivery by the public workforce system. (2011 DEI SGA)

DEI Primary Objectives Enhance, expand and promote universal access to the public workforce system Assist in improving physical and program accessibility Increase job placement opportunities for adults with disabilities through training Strengthen relationships with employers Build staff capacity

DEI: Pilot & Control Groups Pilot groups receive program and administrative funding to develop local DEI project. Control groups receive administrative funding for data collection. The outcomes of individuals across the two groups will be compared to evaluate the effects of the DEI. State applicants for DEI randomly divided into pilot or control groups. It is the intent of EDD that data from pilot sites outperform control sites and show a continued need for DOL’s support for the project. The five pilot recipients to receive DEI funding: The Control Group Sites to receive administrative funding: Madera County WIB Merced County WIB Golden Sierra Job Training Agency North Central Counties Consortium City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Dept. Sacramento Employment & Training Agency SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development San Bernardino County WIB Verdugo WIB S.E. Los Angeles County (SELACO)

CDEI Key Elements-1 1. State level DEI Project Lead to guide and support Disability Resource Coordinators (DRC). 2. DRC at local WIB to implement DEI strategic approaches. 3. Participation in the Ticket to Work Program as an approved Employment Network

CDEI Key Elements-2 4. Sustainability of DRC position and continuation of promising practices. 5. Evaluation of DEI using quantitative and qualitative data from grantees.

Strategic Service Delivery Components Partnerships and Collaboration Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Leveraging Resources/ Blending and Braiding Funds Asset Development Self Employment/Customized Employment DEI grantees identified 2 or more strategic components for their service delivery approach. The Current DEI Project focuses on strategies to improve the connection between PWD and existing Career Pathways programs by partnering with community colleges and other education partners, human services, businesses and other partners engaged in Career Pathways programs.

Partnerships and Collaboration Coordination with a variety of partners that provide services which impact people with disabilities Partnering across multiple systems/programs to provide employment related supports necessary to address multiple challenges Collaboration will assist each partner in REALLY knowing what services and resources the other partners have to offer. This can effectively wipe out duplication of services. It also assists partners in integrating resources and funds to ensure that customers receive the most comprehensive services possible. It’s important to remember that the customer doesn’t “BELONG” to an agency. Our primary goal should always focus on the success of the customer, not our program! (And that can be a hard one to swallow for most Administrators!)

Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Promising practice identified by the DPN initiative. Team comprised of representatives from different agencies and service systems that come together to coordinate services and leverage funding to meet the employment needs of an individual with a disability. The job seeker is actively involved in the IRT. The job seeker is actively involved in the IRT and works with providers to identify and strategize how their combined services and resources can benefit and support an individual job seeker’s education, training, or employment goals. IRTs lead to improved communication and coordination of services for those impacted by multiple systems and benefit variables.

Leveraging Resources, Blending/Braiding Funds Leveraging resources involve 2+ agencies contributing to the individual job seeker’s education, training or employment. Blending funds: Funding streams are indistinguishable Braiding funds: funding streams remain visible Integrating resources and services and blending and braiding funds are often incorporated into the IRT approach. Leveraging Resources – The job seeker with a disability may have multiple challenges that are best addressed through a diversified funding strategy. For example, supportive services may be covered by one provider, while training costs are covered by another agency or program. Blending Funds: describe mechanisms that pool dollars from multiple sources and making them indistinguishable. Funding streams are indistinguishable Braiding Funds: utilize similar mechanisms, but the funding streams remain visible and are used in common to produce greater outcomes

Asset Development Asset development strategies include various approaches to enhance long-term economic self- sufficiency. Financial Literacy Trainings Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) Social Security Administration (SSA) Work Incentives Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax provisions Budgeting Credit Repair

Self and Customized Employment Self Employment Viable alternative to traditional employment Flexibility to meet career and financial goals More autonomy-Hours Type of Work and Income Customized Employment Flexible process meets the needs of job seeker and employer Based on match between strengths, conditions and interests of job seeker and needs of employer Self-employment has long been an employment alternative for individuals seeking a new or better career. Self-employed persons have increased latitude in determining the hours they work, the type of work they do, and how much money they make. Customized employment will often take the form of: task reassignment; job carving; job sharing; self-employment. Customized employment provides an avenue to employment for job seekers who feel that traditional job search methods do not meet their needs.

Ticket to Work Program (TTW) The TtW program is designed to assist SSA beneficiaries return to work through the assistance of Employment Networks (EN). SS Beneficiaries receive a “Ticket”, which may be assigned to an EN (of their choice) for assistance in achieving their desired employment goal. Many SSA beneficiaries do not know that the program exists. This will allow the Pilots to market the program to eligible customers. There is no actual Ticket. There was an actual Ticket for the first few years of the program, but the eligibility is quite cut and dried.

TTW Program Benefits Participation Benefits: Medical reviews will be waived while participating in the TTW program. You can keep your Medicare or Medi-Cal benefits after cash benefits end due to work earnings. If cash benefits end and you lose your job because of the same disability, you do not have to reapply for Social Security Benefits. These benefits are immensely important to SSA beneficiaries. Many have been told that if they go back to work, they will lose their benefits, with no recourse or action. Under Ticket to Work, there are several safeguards that assure the Ticketholder that benefits are protected. Certified Benefits Counselors, sometimes called CWICs or WIPAs, are available to explain in detail how a Ticketholder’s benefits will be affected when they go to work. Certified Work Incentives Counselor and Work Incentive Planning and Assistance

DEI Best Practices and Models Increase Expectations of Serving People with Disabilities

DEI Best Practices and Models Service Delivery Flow Co-Case Management with Partners Disability “Leads” at Each AJCC

DEI Best Practices and Models Relationships with Primary Partners Vocational Rehabilitation Mental/Behavioral Health Independent Living Center

DEI Best Practices and Models Building Capacity Through Training and Education

DEI Best Practices and Models Peer Mentoring

DEI Best Practices and Models Employer Outreach and Education

DEI Best Practices and Models Ticket to Work And Benefits Planning

What happened after DEI? Sustainability What happened after DEI?

Any Questions or Comments?

Additional CDEI Resources DEI project resources: http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/DEI.htm http://www.dei-ideas.org https://disability.workforce3one.org/page/tag/dei_project Asset development resources: http://cfed.org http://www.realeconomicimpact.org

Additional CDEI Resources EN/TTW program resources: www.choosework.net http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10061.html https://www.yourtickettowork.com Accommodation/accessibility resources: http://www.askjan.org http://www.ada.gov/ www.dor.ca.gov/disabilityaccessinfo Employer assistance resource: http:// www.earnworks.com

Contact Information If you would like more information about the DEI project: Maiknue Vang, Madera Workforce Investment Corp- (559) 662-4503 mvang@maderaworkforce.com Kasia DeMauri, Golden Sierra Job Training Agency- (530) 823-4635 x236 demauri@goldensierra.com Les Roberson, Managed Career Solutions- (323) 454-6117 lroberson@mcscareergroup.com David Mayer, Employment Development Department- (916) 654-7422 davidhmayer@edd.ca.gov