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Vocational Rehabilitation Effective Practices: Partnership Plus in Wisconsin

This presentation discusses the benefits of Partnership Plus for Vocational Rehabilitation agencies and Employment Networks in Wisconsin. It covers direct hand-off referrals and characteristics of strong Partnership Plus EN models.

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Vocational Rehabilitation Effective Practices: Partnership Plus in Wisconsin

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  1. Vocational Rehabilitation Effective Practices:Partnership Plus in Wisconsin Operations Support ManagerSocial Security’s Ticket to Work program June 10, 2014

  2. Presenters • Facilitator: James Wackerbarth, Account Specialist, Operations Support Manager (OSM) • Gina Haupt MS LPC - Ticket to Work/Social Security Specialist, Divison of Vocational Rehabilitation • Tammy Liddicoat, Executive Director, Employment Resources Inc. (ERI) • Kate Kingree, Ticket to Work Program Manager, ERI • Ryan Schomber, Work Services Coordinator, Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board

  3. Objectives • Explain the benefits of Partnership Plus to State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and to Employment Networks (EN) • Explain the benefits of direct hand-off referrals • Describe the characteristics of strong Partnership Plus EN models

  4. Wisconsin Statisticsas of 6/01/14 • Eligible Ticket Holders 363,530 • In use with State VR Agency 8,913 • Assigned to ENs 435 • ENs in Wisconsin 16 • ENs that are VR vendors 12 (75%) • ENs that are Workforce 6 (38%) • Number of Handoffs 94

  5. Wisconsin ENs – Areas Served and EN Locations

  6. Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Gina Haupt MS LPC-Ticket to Work/Social Security Specialist Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

  7. Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation • Traditional Cost Reimbursement only • Partnership Plus EN Agreement • 8 EN Agreements • Outreach • Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) vendors • DVR looks for what the vendors can offer to the consumer • High quality to the consumers

  8. Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation • Processes in place: • Ticket to Work letter included when case is closed • Appointments offered to recent Successful Case Closures to meet with Partnership Plus ENs to ensure ongoing supports. Ticket coordinator gives informed choice on ENs that are a good fit based on geographical service area and disabilities the EN serves. • Participating ENs must have signed the Partnership Plus agreement, and ensure beneficiaries have access to Community Work Incentives Counselors (CWIC).

  9. Increased Benefit Analysis • Wisconsin DVR makes it a requirement that all consumers getting SSI or SSDI be offered a benefit analysis • A pop up was placed into the case management system at the time initial plan for employment to remind counselors if consumers are getting SSI or SSDI • We do not use Work Incentives Planning and Assistance as a comparable benefit • Reason (flooding the system, wait time for consumers, inappropriate referrals to DVR, results were decreasing and was not comparable due to flooding of system)

  10. Section 503 efforts • Consultation on disability related workplace issues • Business Service Consultants (BSC) are main contact • Financial incentives • On-the-job Training • Trial work • Internships • Information and referral resources on the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act • BSC main contact

  11. Section 503 Efforts • BSC are being prepared to help businesses understand and learn how to tap into a large talent pool of jobseekers • DVR can help businesses access qualified job seekers through the National Employment Team (NET) and the new Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP). • Both can help with tracking outreach and hire • Brian Solomon of DVR is overseeing these efforts and is WI main contact

  12. Section 503 Efforts • Strategies for accessibility solutions • Assistive technology strategies, work site assessments, and job restructuring recommendations • Diversity planning • Employers can come to DVR and express the desire to meet 503 goal • BSC can match the company’s job openings and locations with consumer information in DVR’s case management system • Along with O*Net codes, BSCs pull a list of potential consumers that are in training, work ready status, supportive employment status, or any other desired status, along with contact info so the BSC can make contact about potential employment.

  13. Employment Resources Inc. Tammy Liddicoat, Executive Director Kate Kingree, Ticket to Work Program Manager Promoting… Continuity, Confidence and Connections

  14. Employment Resources Inc. • About ERI the organization… • Mission: Employment, Healthcare, Financial Security • Key service: Employment & Benefits Planning and Advisement • Our focus: Continuum of services, long term customer engagement • About ERI PLUS the EN… • Wisconsin-based national EN since 2008 • Key service: Employment retention and advancement • Customers: Individuals who are working substantially • Key strategy: Collaborating with State VR since 2009 to advance Partnership Plus. Currently the EN has 27 tickets assigned with prior history with DVR.

  15. ERI PLUS EN • Continuity between services • VR Closure is BIG, but journey continues…. • Confidence to move forward and upward • Peace of mind – Our EN has certified Community Work Incentive Coordinators to provide benefits planning and assistance to: • Leave cash benefits • Manage overpayments • Understand safety nets, healthcare and other options including rights under Section 503 • Growth and opportunity (career exploration and action plans) • Connections really can change lives • Being part of the “team” • Help navigating workplace, community, resources and systems • ERI relationships with VR, the Social Security Administration and other trusted partners

  16. ERI PLUS EN Results? YES! Win-Win-Win • Partnership: ERI PLUS/DVR • 75% of ERI/VR Partnership Plus cases result in CR • VR/EN/Consumer (TRUST) • Program: Long-term Employment, Engagement and Advancement • 6 (2014) graduates: 3+ year off of cash benefits • Average wage: $16.00 • Referrals back to DVR at or above SGA: certification or advanced degrees • Consumer: Stories of Success • Robbie • Samantha • Navid

  17. Employment Resources, Inc. Contact: • Tammy Liddicoat, Executive Director608.246-3444 x222 | toll-free 800-710-9326 liddicoat@eri-wi.org • Kate Kingree, Ticket to Work Program Manager608.246-3444 x225 | toll-free 800-710-9326 kingree@eri-wi.org • Employment Resources, Inc.4126 Lien Road, S­te. 104 | Madison WI  53704www.eri-wi.org

  18. Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board Workforce Employment Network Ryan Schomber, Work Services Coordinator

  19. Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board Workforce Employment Network • Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB) has been a Workforce EN for over five years and is one of eleven Workforce Development Boards in Wisconsin covering six counties: • Rock, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Grant and Richland. • Ticket to Work is one of the core services under the Department of Labor Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) grant. Upon completion of the DEI grant, SWWDB plans to continue to operate as a Ticket to Work Employment Network.

  20. SWWDB - Services SWWDB provides these services to Ticket Holders: 1. Work Incentive benefit counseling by certified Community Work Incentives Coordinators/ Timely Progress tracking 2. Community resource coordination 3. Career counseling and job search assistance support 4. Various job retention supports (when applicable) 5. Partnership Plus agreement with WI Vocational Rehabilitation

  21. SWWDB – Partnership Plus • The purpose of the Partnership Plus agreement is to promote coordination of services between VR and the workforce EN. This increased coordination allows a ticket holder to access various employment services before and/or after their ticket is placed “In Use” with VR. Any participation within the Partnership Plus model is completely voluntary. Partnership Plus provides many advantages: • Builds and strengthens employment services for VR consumers • Ensures best practices and that client’s rights are respected • Allows for coordinated and seamless services transition for ticket holder • Maximizes reimbursement received under current TTW payment system

  22. SWWDB – Partnership Plus Results • Currently SWWDB has six tickets assigned that have prior history with DVR • One half of SWWDB Partnership Plus participants are working full time / the half working part-time work over 20 hours per week • 100% of Partnership Plus participants have reached 6 months and 2 participants have reached one year

  23. Summary • Wisconsin Partnership Plus model empowers beneficiary through education and choice • Beneficiaries are directed to ENs that have certified CWICs and provide quality services, increasing chances for long term employment of the individual – a win-win-win for the beneficiary, DVR and the EN • Division of Vocational Rehabilitation proactively matches beneficiaries with Employment Networks, and seeks to partner with employers to meet Section 503 goals

  24. Comments or Questions? Contact: James Wackerbarthjameswackerbarth@maximus.com703.336.8053 Gina Haupt Gina.Haupt@dwd.wisconsin.gov 608.261.0059

  25. Presenters Contact Information Tammy Liddicoat liddicoat@eri-wi.org 608.246.3444 x 222 Kate Kingree kingree@eri-wi.org 608.246.3444 x 225 Ryan Schomber r.schomber@swwdb.org 608.314.3300 x 303

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