Employment First Training
Ohio Dept. of Developmental
Disabilities
Division of Policy and Strategic Direction
Employment First Employment Services as a 1st Option for individuals
regardless of level of disability
Employment First
not Employment Only
Employment First is not a
program, plan, or a service, it is a philosophy
* 44 States with Employment 1st Action
* Ohio 1 of 4 states with Exec. Order and Law
Supreme Court Decision enforcing
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“A public entity shall administer services,
programs and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with
disabilities.”
Applies to Housing, Day Supports and Employment
The Home and Community-
Based setting Is integrated in and
supports access to the greater community
Provides opportunities to seek employment and work in competitive integrated settings, engage in community life, and control personal resources
Ensures the individual receives services in the community to the same degree of access as individuals not receiving Medicaid HCBS
Person-centered planning
Aligns Medicaid Funding with DOJ activity
Compliments Integration Mandate of ADA
Not a disability-specific program
Individualized activities and opportunities
Promotes interaction with general community
2000 job placements over the next 10 years
Average employment of 20 hours per week
Provides for up to 40 hours of work and wrap-around supports
Re-allocate resources away from sheltered work to integrated employment
Establish an $800,000 workshop conversion fund
Strict Variance Process
Rehabilitation Services
Administration Technical Assistance Circular
14-03 May 6th, 2014
Circular defines employment outcome & integrated
setting
VR eligibility held up to “Clear and
Convincing” standard
(unequivocal)
Outlines specific contents of interagency agreements
between State VR and
Education Agencies
Rehab Services
RSA resides in the Dept. of Education at the Federal Level
• Requires agreements between state VR systems, state Medicaid systems, and state IDD agencies.
• A definition of Customized Employment in federal statute, and an updated definition of Supported Employment
• A definition for “competitive integrated employment” as an optimal outcome.
Signed into law by Pres. Obama on July 22nd, 2014
15% funds allocated for transition Requires
referral to VR before enrolling in SW
Ohio Dept. of MHAS
DD Council of Ohio
Ohio Dept. of DD
Ohio Dept. of Education
Ohio Dept. of Medicaid
Opp. for Ohioans with Disabilities
Ohio Dept. of JFS
Employment First Executive Order March 2012
Advisory Committee
and Taskforce Creation
Whereas… Ohio’s DD system currently spends less than 6% of available funding on supporting individuals in community employment…
5123.022 of the Ohio Revised Code
“It is hereby declared to be the policy of this state that employment services for individuals with developmental disabilities be directed at community employment. Every individual with a developmental disability is presumed capable of community employment.
Employment First
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/5123.022
“.…all people with developmental disabilities are presumed capable of community employment.”
Employment First
https://doddportal.dodd.ohio.gov/rules/ineffect/Documents/5123-2-2-05%20Effective%202014-04-01.pdf
Employment First Administrative Rule Language
Every individual of working age takes part in a person-centered planning process to identify their desired employment outcome and their place on the path to community employment.
Employment First Administrative Rule Language
Every individual of working age takes part in a person-centered planning process to identify their desired employment outcome and their place on the path to community employment.
Every individual of working age takes part in a person-centered planning process to identify their desired employment outcome and their place on the path to community employment.
Employment First Administrative Rule Language
6,600
6,800
7,000
7,200
7,400
7,600
7,800
8,000
8,200
6/1
/20
12
7/1
/20
12
8/1
/20
12
9/1
/20
12
10
/1/2
01
2
11
/1/2
01
2
12
/1/2
01
2
1/1
/20
13
2/1
/20
13
3/1
/20
13
4/1
/20
13
5/1
/20
13
6/1
/20
13
7/1
/20
13
8/1
/20
13
9/1
/20
13
10
/1/2
01
3
11
/1/2
01
3
12
/1/2
01
3
1/1
/20
14
2/1
/20
14
3/1
/20
14
4/1
/20
14
5/1
/20
14
6/1
/20
14
7/1
/20
14
8/1
/20
14
9/1
/20
14
10
/1/2
01
4
Axi
s Ti
tle
Integrated Employment – 13% Increase since June 2012
Path to Employment
http://www.ohioemploymentfirst.org/view.php?nav_id=63
Developed in partnership with self-advocacy groups, this publication explains the Employment First Rule for all audiences, and can be a useful tool in the person-centered planning process. Order at ohioemploymentfirst.org
(detail)
Path to Employment
I have a job but would like a better one or to move up.
1
• Individualized employment services may include:
• Follow-along
• Job coaching
• Natural support facilitation
• Skill development
• Education and training
• Skill building, job development and placement for career advancement
Career planning, Career profile development,
Benefits counseling and support
Path to Employment
• Referral to Vocational Rehabilitation
• Individualized employment services may include:
• Career exploration/discovery
• Community-based assessment
• Skill development
• Job development
• Job coaching
• Retention
Career planning, Career profile development,
Benefits counseling and support
I want a job! I need help to find one.
2
Path to Employment
I’m not sure about work. I need help to learn more. 3
Informed Choice Process:
• Awareness of employment support services
• Meetings with peers who are employed
• Family meetings
• Interviewing formal and informal support network
• Learning from authentic experiences
• Exploring the multiple benefits of employment
• Addressing individual concerns
• Referral to Vocational Rehabilitation, if appropriate
Career Planning, Career Profile Development,
Benefits Counseling and Support
Path to Employment
Informed Choice Process:
• Awareness of employment support services
• Meetings with peers who are employed
• Family meetings
• Interviewing formal and informal support network
• Learning from authentic experiences
• Exploring the multiple benefits of employment
• Addressing individual concerns
Career planning, Career profile development,
Benefits counseling and support
I don’t want to work, but I may not know enough about it.
4
Employment First
Partnership
Family and Job Seeker Support
Employment First Website
Local Leaders
Project Transformation
Employment First Data Collection System
Transition Framework
Provider Support
Employment First Rule and Companion Document
DB 101
Community and Employer
Support
Funding System Redesign
In Ohio
Em
ploy
men
t First T
askforce E
mplo
ym
ent
Fir
st A
dvi
sory
Partnership with OOD
• 17 (soon to be 25) Employment First counselors
• More than 1200 job seekers currently on the path to employment with 125 placements so far
• Personalized Career Planning process for all job seekers
• Benefits Analysis for all job seekers
• Competency-based training for providers
• Dual Certification
• Each county receives slots based on population
Transformative Consulting Group (Nancy Gurney):
Shelby/
Champaign
TransCen:
Trumbull
TransCen:
ViaQuest
Dale DiLeo Consulting Group:
Fairfield
Dale DiLeo Consulting
Group: Koinonia
Dr. Bryan Dague: Darke
Gail Fanjoy, KFI Consulting: Creative Life and Work Services