DISABILITY PROGRAM NAVIGATOR Navigator Demonstration: The DOL and SSA Vision Jim Downing, Senior Policy Specialist Division of DisAbility and Workforce Programs Employment and Training Administration Department of Labor August 12, 2004

Disability Program Navigator The Disability Program Navigator (Navigator) Initiative is:  A multi year demonstration project.  Jointly funded by DOL and SSA.  Includes training of Navigators.  Evaluation of Navigator initiative.

Purpose The Navigator initiative is designed to:  Provide seamless and comprehensive services to persons with disabilities in One- Stop Career Centers.  Increase employment and self-sufficiency for Social Security beneficiaries and others with disabilities.  Facilitate access to programs and services.  Facilitate linkage to the employer community.

Navigator States  Arizona  California  Colorado  Delaware  Florida  Illinois  Iowa  Maryland  Massachusetts  Mississippi  New York  New Mexico  Oklahoma  Oregon  South Carolina  Vermont  Wisconsin DOL has entered into grant agreements with 17 workforce agencies at the state level where SSA has employment support initiatives. The 17 states include:

Navigator Grant Administration The DOL’s Employment and Training Administration is responsible for administration with: Office of Grants and Contract Management – Grant Officer Regional Office Federal Project Officer for each grant Division of Disability and Workforce Programs (DDWP) for policy, programmatic guidance and support And on-going partnership with SSA

RRTC DOL has contracted with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Workforce Investment and Employment Policy for Persons with Disabilities at the Law, Health Policy & Disability Center of the University of Iowa College of Law.

Building System Capacity The RRTC will provide… Training Technical Assistance and Information Evaluation

Navigators will be trained on:  SSA employment support programs  One-Stop partner funded programs  Other programs that impact successful employment

WHAT A NAVIGATOR IS…  A resource  A facilitator  A problem solver  A systems change agent  A relationship builder

Navigator Functions:  Coordination  Cooperation  Facilitation  Collaboration

WHAT A NAVIGATOR IS NOT… Not a case manager Not a front-line staff person in a workforce center Not a Benefits Planning and Outreach Specialist Not a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

The Navigator will…  Assist people with disabilities to access and navigate the complex provisions of various programs that impact their ability to gain, return to, or retain employment.  Develop linkages and collaborate on an ongoing basis with employers to facilitate job placements for persons with disabilities.

The Navigator will…  Facilitate the transition of in- or out- of-school youth with disabilities to secure employment and economic self-sufficiency.  Conduct outreach to agencies and organizations that serve people with disabilities.

The Navigator will…  Serve as a resource on SSA’s work incentive and employment support programs and the provision of services through Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach organizations (BPAOs); Protection and Advocacy systems (P&As); and SSA’s employment-related demonstration projects.

The Navigator will…  Serve as a resource to the workforce investment community to ensure the availability of comprehensive knowledge of Federal, State, local and private programs that impact the ability of persons with disabilities to enter and remain in the workforce.

The Navigator will…  DOL and SSA intend that many Navigators will be a person with a disability, a family member with a disability or a known advocate and, therefore, know the disability system and can provide peer to peer support.

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  Social Security Administration  Supplemental Security Income (SSI)  Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)  Planning for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)  Property Essential to Self-Support (PESS)  Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE)  Ticket to Work

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  Department of Labor Mandated partner employment and training programs including: Adult, dislocated worker and youth WIA Title I programs Job Corps Apprenticeship Older Worker Pell Grants Vocational Training Trade and NAFTA programs Others training and employment resources Training Services Individual Training Accounts Youth Services

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  Department of Education: OSEP/RSA Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Transition Plan Individual Plan of Employment (IPE) Independent Living Services

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Independence Plus Template Individual Budget Medicaid Waivers Medicaid Buy-In

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  Department of Treasury Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) ADA-Related Tax Incentives Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC)

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Choice Vouchers Fair Housing Requirements

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  Department of Agriculture Food Stamps Rural Economic Development Activities

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  Department of Transportation Flex Routes Travel Training Public and Paratransit Job Access -- Reverse Commute

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  Technology Title III Loan Programs Telework Fund Community Technology Centers State Assistive Technology Projects

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  FDIC / SBA / HHS Financial Education Microenterprise Development and Loan Programs Small Business Development Centers Individual Development Accounts

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge  Civil Rights Section 188 Section 504 ADA

Navigator Core Competencies: Leadership – Types of Skills  Communication  Negotiation  Analytical  Problem-Solving  Facilitation  Sensitivity  Capacity Building  Listening  Evaluation  Navigator  Organization  Management

Navigator Core Competencies: Experience  Policy Development  Service Delivery Systems  Individual and Family Support  Training  Team Leader  Problem Solving  Leadership  Systems Change

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes 1.Access to WIA Services:  Core Services  Intensive Services  Training Services  Individual Training Accounts (ITAs)

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes 2.Increase Employment:  Wages  Hours Worked Per Week  Retention 3.Increase customer satisfaction with workforce system for persons with disabilities.

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes  Mental Health Programs  Mental Retardation / Developmental Disability Programs  Independent Living Centers  Medicaid  BPAO  Housing  Transportation  Vocational Rehabilitation  Other Mandated One- Stop Partners 4.Expanded partner relationships (public):

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes 5.Expanded relationships with employers:  Internships  On-the-Job Training  Customized Job Development  Employment Opportunities  Accommodations Assistance 6.Facilitate Social Security beneficiaries use of Ticket

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes 7.Increase One-Stop becoming and linking with Employment Networks 8. Utilization of Work Incentives 9. Utilization of Benefits Counselors

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes 10. Utilization of Medicaid Buy In 11. Asset Development 12. Access to Technology 13. Self Employment

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes 14. Blended funding support for individual jobseekers with disabilities. 15. Improved service, system and funder collaboration.