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

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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

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Fir

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Employment First Website:

www.ohioemploymentfirst.org

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

Questions?

Kristen Helling Community Advisor

Ohio Dept. of Developmental Disabilities

614-466-6612