Relationship Building : An Overview and the DPNs Role as a Resource

1. Relationship Building : An Overview and the DPNs Role as a Resource Relationship Building: Serving as a Resource on SSA’s Webinar Series– Part III March 31, 2009

2. SSA Specialists to Know and Use • Area Work Incentives Coordinator • Work Incentive Liaison (WIL) • Relationship Building with SSA Field Office • Work Incentives Planning and Assistance • Protection and Advocacy • Youth Transition Demonstration • Ticket to Work Program • EARN Works

3. SSA Resources & Specialists to Know & Use:DPN’S Providing Resources AREA WORK INCENTIVE COORDINATOR • The AWIC can assist the Navigator with specific benefits, planning questions, and serve as a guide to a Navigator by: • Helping to make a connection with the local Work Incentive Liaisons (WILs), PASS Cadre, and Area Ticket Coordinators • Answering questions and or concerns regarding the WIPA Program • Answering questions regarding Ticket To Work • Coming into your community for larger training events on SSA Work Incentives for One Stop Staff and other community partners • Answering complex Work Incentive questions and providing Navigators with accurate information

4. AWIC Connecting to Field Office • Reasons for DPNs to Access a SSA Local Field Office Manager • To offer an in-service presentation or training on the DPN Initiative and One Stop Career Center services to the Local Office SSA staff • To request information (outreach materials) to be shared with potential job seekers (SSA Beneficiaries) and placed in the Local One-Stop Career Centers • To request an overview or training from the WIL or other SSA staff for the One Stop Career Center staff • To invite a WIL or SSA Field Reprehensive to a community event (career expo, job fair, agency symposium, etc) • To locate the local field offices in your area, http://www.ssa.gov/regions/

5. DPN’s Strategies: Local SSA Field Offices • Invite the local SSA field office staff into the One Stop Career Center(s) that you cover to provide information about what the One Stop has to offer, what services they provide and how they might be able to assist the Social Security field office • Schedule monthly meetings with the CWIC and local field offices • Copy the AWIC on e‑mails to the field office staff at Social Security about PASS plans and other work-related issues to keep everyone on the same page and to hold local staff accountable for following up on important time sensitive issues • When working with SSA, use their language to ensure that you will get accurate answers to your questions

6. Work Incentive Planning and Assistance: WIPA • Build relationships with the Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) with the goal of welcoming collaboration in the One Stop Career Center to connect the SSA Beneficiaries to Benefit Planning • Help to create a process or schedule to set appointments between the CWIC and Beneficiary at the One Stop • Ensure that the CWIC has accurate contact information for One Stop Career Center Directors and the support staff that will be working with SSA Beneficiaries

7. DPN Strategies: The WIPA and the Job Seeker • Encourage job seekers to use their WIPA appointment wait time by collecting the information needed for their appointment, reviewing SSA work incentives online, reviewing their employment goals and calculating their monthly income requirements • Provide training for SSA field staff and other providers that include motivational speakers/success stories (and food!) to build relationships • Maintain/Increase your knowledge of SSA work incentives to the level of providing general information (not to the level of a CWIC or providing benefits planning) • Utilize SSA’s online resources including “SSI Spotlights” to provide information on work incentives and other SSA work related questions

8. Protection and Advocacy:Protection and Advocacy of Beneficiaries of Social Security PABSS • Protects the rights of beneficiaries of SSDI and SSI • Check out any complaint against an employment network or other service provider helping an individual return to work • Give information and advice about vocational rehabilitation and employment • Explain SSA’s work incentives • Provide consultation and legal representation to protect the rights of any one wanting to return to work • Assist with problems concerning work plans under the Ticket to Work Program

9. DPN’s and Youth In Transition • Expectations • Youth ages 14-25 • Increase work activity • Test SSI waivers • Enhanced coordination of services • Alteration of certain SSI rules as incentives to work

10. Demonstration Projects • Bridges to Youth Self Sufficiency—5 cities in California • Youth work Incentive Network of Support (WINS): University of Colorado Health and Sciences Center • The Broadened Horizons Brighter Futures Program: Abilities Inc. of Florida Miami-Dade County • The Career Transition Program: Montgomery County, Maryland • Mississippi Youth Transition Innovation: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services • West Virginia Youth Works: West Virginia University Center for Excellence

11. SSDI and SSI beneficiaries have: Greater choice of employment services Assigned Ticket protects against periodic medical review through a Continuing Disability Review process with SSA Employment Network and State Vocational Rehabilitation to choose from for employment services Employment Networks Coordinate and provide services to employment Develop with the beneficiary an Individual Work Plan DPN and Ticket To Work Program

12. Ticket to Work Program: CESSI • SSA Program Manager for Recruitment and Outreach • Build Capacity for Ticket to Work Program • Recruiting Employment Networks • Increasing awareness to beneficiaries of the Ticket Program • Increasing awareness of all the SSA Work Incentives

13. Ticket to Work Program: MAXIMUS • Establishing and maintaining a toll-free telephone call center and electronic mail response capability to answer beneficiary questions and make referrals, as appropriate; • Administering and supporting the Ticket assignment process; • Administering and supporting the Employment Network payment process; • Insuring the continuity and seamless operations of the Ticket Program for the key Ticket Program participants; i.e., Social Security Administration beneficiaries, Employment Networks, and state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies • To receive a more comprehensive understanding of the Ticket Program and to have specific questions answered, please contact MAXIMUS Ticket to Work at 1-866-968-7842 (TDD 1-866-833-2967).

14. DPN and EARNWorks Employer Assistance Referral Network • It is designed to assist employers with recruitment and information resources that will connect them to Employment Service Providers who have access to job-ready candidates in their community. • EARN works with Employment Service Providers and or Employment Networks to increase exposure in the employer community and expand job placement opportunities. • Free Service and once an organization is enrolled in EARN, it is eligible to receive job vacancy announcements from employers in your community who are also enrolled in EARN.

15. DPN’s and Ticket to Hire • Part of the EARNWorks Program • Also a free national employment referral service, • Assists employers in hiring qualified workers with disabilities through the Social Security Administration’s Ticket-to-Work Program. • It is sponsored by SSA with additional support from the U.S. Department of Labor. • Ticket-to-Hire links employers to Employment Networks (ENs) and state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies in their communities that have job-ready candidates.

16. Review of DPN’s and Community Resources • Expands Network Of Support Programs for job seekers with disabilities • Expands One Stop Career Center services to Community Programs • Enhances and builds trust with both customers and community • Encourage Employment and Supports

17. Contact Information www.socialsecurity.gov Sharon Brent, Director Training and Technical Assistance National Disability Institute sbrent@ndi-inc.org Elizabeth Jennings, Program Coordinator National Disability Institute ejennings@ndi-inc.org Michael Roush, Program Coordinator National Disability Institute mroush@ndi-inc.org