Competitive Employment Capacity Building: Starting points to increase employment for people with disabilities
“The purpose of this document is to spark dialogue and support your local planning efforts to improve employment outcomes for the people you serve. In your efforts, consider these evidence based practices to develop your next steps:
1. Set/Affirm Expectations and Roles
2. Analyze and Use Data
3. Embed Benefits Planning and Education
4. Make Employment Part of the Plan
5. Develop and Increase Capacity for Employment Services and Supports
6. Build Early Work Experience for Youth
The best advice we heard is to jump in and start trying something; learn, build and adapt along the way.”
“Six states receive nearly $15M in grants to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities”
“Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development $2,500,000” This is the seventh round of DEI funding. Since 2010, the department has awarded grants of more than $123 million through the initiative to 49 projects in 28 states to improve education, training, and employment outcomes of youth and adults with disabilities. More information on the DEI is available here. DEI funds help refine and expand workforce strategies proven to be successful, and enhance inclusive service delivery through the public workforce system. Improvements include increasing the accessibility of American Job Centers, training front-line AJC and partner staff, and increasing partnerships and collaboration across numerous systems critical for assisting youth and adults with disabilities in securing meaningful employment.”
“Strategy: Implement the Employment First Policy. Continue the implementation of the informed choice process with persons served by the Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Medicaid funded programs and students who are a part of the Employment Capacity Building Cohort as outlined in the Olmstead Employment goals. Minnesota’s Employment First Policy promotes the opportunity for people with disabilities to make informed choices about employment. This policy views competitive, integrated employment as the first and preferred option for individuals with disabilities.”
Minnesota Medicaid Home and Community Based Waivers
“Minnesota currently administers the following five home- and community-based waiver programs:
Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver. This waiver is for people with developmental disabilities or a related condition who need the level of care provided at an ICF/DD.
Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver. This waiver is for people who have a chronic illness and need the level of care provided at a hospital.
Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) Waiver. This waiver is for people who have a disability and require the level of care provided in a nursing home.
Brain Injury (BI) Waiver. This waiver is for people with a traumatic or acquired brain injury who need the level of care provided in a nursing home or neurobehavioral hospital.
Elderly Waiver. This waiver is for people who are over 65 years old and need the level of care provided at a nursing facility.”
“Supported Worker Program
The Supported Worker Program provides employment opportunities in state government to individuals with certain disabilities. This program combines several employment techniques including job sharing, reasonable accommodations, and a job coach. There are about 50 full time positions within various state agencies that can be shared by up to three people.
What is supported employment?
Work is performed on a full- or part-time basis, and averages about 20 hours per week.
The work setting is integrated with individuals of various abilities.
A job coach provides ongoing training and support services.”
Minnesota “Connect 700” State Hiring Initiative (2014)
“Joined by community advocates and state hiring leaders, Governor Mark Dayton today announced the re-launch of the Connect 700 and the Supported Worker programs, two state hiring initiatives aimed at removing barriers and creating opportunities for Minnesotans with disabilities. This effort supports Governor Dayton’s 2014 executive order directing state agencies to increase employment for people with disabilities to at least seven percent by August 2018.” “State government should reflect all of the people it serves. They should include Minnesotans with disabilities,” said Governor Dayton. “These programs will provide employment opportunities for more of our citizens, and help to create a more inclusive Minnesota.” Connect 700 (formerly known as 700-Hour Program On-The-Job Demonstration and Appointment) will give Minnesotans with disabilities an opportunity to demonstrate their ability through an on-the job trial work experience, lasting up to 700 hours. This gives hiring managers the ability to better match people with the best opportunities for success, based on their skills and abilities.”
Minnesota DEED Annual Report of Department Programs and Services (2017)
“Overview Per Minnesota Statute §116J.0125, the Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is required to report on department programs and services annually. To fulfill that requirement, DEED staff prepared updated SFY2016 reports for each of the agency’s 74 programs featuring brief descriptions of DEED programs and their outcomes. Each summary contains current information on the program’s purpose, customers and services, performance measures, targeted population groups, funding sources and allocations, relevant statutory authority, and staff contact information…
To address disparities and advance equity, data on populations groups served by programs are now included, where applicable, and include communities of color, individuals with disabilities, Veterans, and women. ”
Free Training for Supported Eemployment Sservices Providers
~~“The Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Moving Home Minnesota initiative will offer free web-based training to employment service providers who serve people with disabilities. This 12-week training will begin May 9 and train 25 people to deliver high-quality employment services to people with disabilities. DHS invites applications from employment specialists, job developers, job coaches and anyone who would like to add to their knowledge and skills to provide supported employment services.”
Minnesota DHS Report: 2017 Biennial Report on Long-Term Services and Supports for People with Disabilities
“Employment First policy
Minnesota’s Employment First policy asserts that people with disabilities can work, want to work and do work. Minnesota’s Employment First policy maintains that people with disabilities must have an informed choice about the range of employment options and opportunities open to them. It includes the idea that competitive, community-integrated employment is the preferred outcome.
During 2016, DHS and the Minnesota departments of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and Education (MDE) developed, piloted and implemented a statewide interagency informed-choice framework and resource toolkit. Service planners and teams who support people with disabilities use the informed-choice framework and resource toolkit.”
Minnesota Disability Waiver Rate System Report (2017)
“This is the third report to the legislature about analysis of the Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS). Legislation enacted in 2013 required the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to implement DWRS. The system was implemented in January 2014. This report:
Details evaluation and research on rate-setting components
Projects long-term fiscal impacts of DWRS
Provides recommendations for data-driven system changes.
DHS conducted complex analysis in 2015 and 2016 on the new rate methodology and the costs of providing home and community-based services in Minnesota. Based on this analysis, DHS recommends that the legislature make adjustments to DWRS.
We have based the recommended adjustments on three years’ worth of data, research and analysis. The statute that authorized system implementation requires DHS to complete in-depth analysis to ensure costs accurately reflect rates.”
