Ticket to Work One Stop Employment Strategy

1. Ticket to Work One Stop Employment Strategy A Report on the Full Employment’s Council Ticket to Work Program  By Gary E. Enyard, Project Manager/Rehabilitation Coordinator

2. The Full Employment Council The Full Employment Council The Full Employment Council is a business-led, private, nonprofit corporation whose mission is to obtain public and private sector employment for the unemployed and underemployed residents of the Greater Kansas City area. The Full Employment Council also serves as the fiscal agent for the One Stop Career Centers in the Greater Kansas City area.

3. The Full Employment Council The Full Employment Council accomplishes this goal by working in collaboration with business, local units of government, educational institutions, labor and community-based organizations. This partnership responds to employer needs while reducing unemployment, underemployment and the public dependency of area residents.

4. Background The decision to become an EN (Employment Network) under the Ticket to Work program evolved as a natural progression from the Full Employment Council’s experience as a Work Incentive Grantee. The Full Employment Council received a Work Incentive Grant in October 2000 to improve the capacity of the One-Stop System to more effectively serve individuals with disabilities.

5. Background The decision to become an EN (Employment Network) was based on the fact that the One- Stop system was serving clients with disabilities under the Work Incentive Grant. Additionally, it was noted that the One Stop system was serving a number of individuals with disabilities who were receiving social security benefits.

6. Background The Ticket program presented an opportunity to be reimbursed for services already being provided to clients under WIA and non-WIA programming and at the same time afford the Full Employment Council the opportunity to access additional funds by targeting Ticket beneficiaries. Therefore the Full Employment Council became an EN in January 2003.

7. Disability Resources The resource infrastructure for Ticket beneficiaries established under the Work Incentive grant was established in partnership with the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Institute, Jewish Vocational Service, Helping Hand of Goodwill, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and the Local Investment Commission.

8. Resources at the One- Stop centers include the following: • physical and program accessibility • placement of Rehabilitation Specialists within each One Stop center • placement of One Stop Liaison Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors at each One Stop center • utilization of tools to screen for disabilities, to include specific learning disabilities • placement of assistant technology equipment within the One Stop center

9. Resources at the One- Stop centers include the following: • placement of language interpretive services within each One Stop center • development of a management information system to track individuals with disabilities • establishment of disability web site through the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (kchasjobs.com) • continuous cross training of One Stop staff and partner staff on vocational and disability aspects • establishment of a Rehabilitation Advisory Board

10. Implementation Challenges • Inadequate staffing • Lack of disability training • Marketing and outreach • Client Screening • Call volume • WIA benchmarks • Non-WIA Funding • Access to BPAO • Relationships with other organizations • Lack of upfront capital • Medical stability

11. Current Status • The Ticket program has been integrated into the One Stop menu of services • Ticket beneficiaries are being evaluated for services • Ticket beneficiaries are being enrolled into WIA and non-WIA programming • Ticket beneficiaries are being placed into training • Ticket beneficiaries are being pre-screened • Ticket beneficiaries are being referred for placement

12. Conclusions The decision to utilize the Ticket program as an employment strategy within the One Stop system has been positive in that the strengths of the One-Stop Centers are classroom training, on the job training, internships, work experience and employer contact. These strengths compare favorably with that of traditional vocational rehabilitation programs, which tend to be strong in the area of medical diagnostic, evaluation and assessment.

13. Conclusions The Ticket program has forced the One- Stop staff to acquire a level of expertise in vocational and disability aspects, which previously they felt no obligation to acquire.

14. Conclusions The establishment of a strong partnership with Vocational Rehabilitation is crucial in securing supportive services and expertise on the accommodations of certain disabilities.

15. Conclusions The Ticket program as an employment strategy at the Full Employment Council is a work in progress. There is still a need for additional staff with training and experience in the placement of individuals with disabilities and the need to identify sufficient funding beyond WIA funding to serve Ticket beneficiaries.

16. Conclusions As the One Stop system gains more experience, there is every reason to conclude that utilizing the Ticket to Work Program as an employment strategy will turn out to be a prudent and profitable decision.