2012 Florida Partners In Crisis Annual Conference

1. 2012 Florida Partners In CrisisAnnual Conference Orlando July 12-13, 2012

2. Overview of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program in Florida A Federal/State Partnership with USDOE/RSA • To Assist Individuals with Disabilities with Employment

3. 1918 – The Soldiers Rehabilitation Act • Supplemented traditional pension given to soldiers with a disability with vocational rehabilitation where employment was “feasible” • 1920 – Smith-Fess Act Extended vocational rehabilitation • to civilians • 1935 – Social Security Act Established vocational rehabilitation as a permanent program • 1973 – Rehabilitation Act • Right to participate in planning a rehabilitation program Choice

4. It is the mission of the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to help individuals with disabilities achieve gainful employment and the highest level of independence

5. Americans with Disabilities Act • A person with a physical or mental impediment • Has a record of such impediment • Or is regarded as having one

6. A disability is defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment of a person that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as… Walking Talking Eating Breathing Seeing Hearing Learning Psychological Functioning, etc…

7. ADA Amendments Updates • Clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing discrimination by reinstating a broad scope of protection under ADA • The term “disability” must now be construed in favor of broad coverage of employees “to the maximum extend permitted “Major life activity” –Major bodily functions

8. The individual requires vocational rehabilitation services to prepare for, obtain, retain, or regain employment. Receiving Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income and intend to become employed. An eligibility decision should be made within 60 days after you apply for services.

9. Speech and Language Therapy On-Site Job/Task Analysis Training and Education After High School Medical and Psychological Diagnosis and Treatment

10. Vocational Evaluation Career Planning Job Placement Counseling and Guidance Assessment of Technology Needs Job Coaching

12. #1 Reason People Don’t Seek Treatment Is Stigma • Stigma is the aura of shame and blame • It is a barrier to well-being and a full life • It holds applicants back • Deters people from seeking help • May cause discomfort for returning employees

13. Were You Aware…. • Stigma is not just the use of the wrong word or action • Stigma is a barrier and discourages individuals and their families from getting the help they need due to fear of being discriminated against • Many people would rather tell employers they have committed a petty crime and were in jail than admit to being in a psychiatric hospital

14. What People Believe…. Nearly half of the population associate mental illness with violence • 57% believe that mental illnesses can not be diagnosed as accurately as physical illnesses • Many peers think that mental illness is a poor excuse for bad behavior • 38% unwilling to be friends with a person having a mental health problem • 64% unwilling to have a person with schizophrenia as a co-worker

15. Myths • People with mental illnesses can’t hold jobs • Media often ridicules mental illnesses and portrays them as depressed and dangerous • Horrific events are covered by the media, whereas, stories of hope and recovery are not

16. So How Does EmploymentRelate to All This?

17. Employment Brings… • A sense of purpose • A sense of pride • A sense of belonging • Valuable social interaction • Role Recovery work is so integral to one’s self-worth, finding and belonging to a mental health-friendly workplace is of great significance to people who have experienced mental illnesses

18. New EEOC Rules on Criminal Histories May Affect Small-Business Hiring Many small businesses had no idea there was anything wrong with a blanket ban on hiring anybody with a criminal record In April, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) signaled a crackdown on employers that use criminal histories to discriminate against job applicants illegally. But to judge from conversations with business owners, labor lawyers, and human resources consultants, many small businesses had no idea there was anything wrong with practices like a blanket ban on hiring anybody with a criminal record. The notion that using criminal records in employment decisions could constitute discrimination has been government policy since at least the 1970s. The EEOC has in the past issued policy statements about how employers may use criminal records without running afoul of the Civil Rights Act, but in April the agency published new enforcement guidance. Though the underlying theory appears unchanged, labor lawyers say the new policy requires companies to establish procedures to show they are not using criminal records to discriminate by race or national origin

24. Purpose of the Ticket to Work & Self-Sufficiency Program To expand the employment opportunities for most individuals receiving SSDI and/or SSI benefits. • Reduce their dependency on SSA

25. The Need for Ticket to Work • Less than 1% of SSDI and SSI beneficiaries attain paid employment enabling them to be self-sufficient • One-third of the people who leave the rolls return in 3 years • If one half of one percent of those individuals were to attain self-supporting employment, savings would total $3.5 billion

26. Mission and Objectives • Address barriers that beneficiaries encounter when obtaining/returning to work • Expand availability of health care services and medical coverage • Eliminate work disincentives • Provide enhanced benefits planning and assistance from service providers

27. Goals of Ticket to Work • To expand the number of service providers who are available to serve beneficiaries. • Increase the number of beneficiaries entering the work force. • Reduce dependency on cash benefits.

28. Key Program Players • Social Security Administration (SSA) • Beneficiaries • MAXIMUS • Employment Networks (ENs) • State VR Agencies • Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) • Disability Rights Florida

29. Social Security Administration (SSA) • Designated by Congress to oversee the implementation of the Ticket to Work Program • Responsible for writing the Regulations for the TTWP • Monitoring the success/short-comings of the TTWP • Determining which beneficiaries will receive tickets • Has final say on all decisions

30. Employment Networks (EN) • Organizations or groups of organizations that have come together to provide necessary services to a beneficiary in support of an employment goal • Recruited by MAXIMUS; approved by SSA

31. MAXIMUS • Responsible for overseeing the administration/day-to-day functions of the TTWP • Maintain list of available ENs • Ensure all information is in accessible format to beneficiaries • Resolve payment issues • Monitor ENs to ensure adequate choices are available to beneficiaries • Ensure EN services are available to beneficiaries in all geographical areas

32. Disability Rights Florida(Formerly known as Protection and Advocacy Center (P & A) • SSA funds P & A services, an advocacy and protection program dedicated to beneficiaries of Social Security. • Ticket beneficiaries must contact this program for rights and remedies under the Ticket Program.

33. Who is Eligible to Participate? • * Between Ages 18 to 64 • * Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits (SSI or SSDI) • * Completed a Medical Review by SSA

34. What is a Ticket?

35. Ticket to Work Brochure

36. How Does The Program Work? • * Once you are eligible, contact MAXIMUS for information regarding the Program • * Select an Employment Network with which to receive services • * Activate your Ticket by signing a Plan of Employment • * Once you are working take advantage of Ongoing Support Services to help you stabilize in employment

37. WORK INCENTIVES PLANNING AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES

38. WIPA SERVICES • Preliminary Consultation (Information & Referral) • Benefits Summary and Analysis • Work Incentives Analysis and Plan • Optional Services as required

39. WIPA Services Preliminary Consultation (Information and Referral) This service is offered to eligible DVR consumers early in the rehabilitation process and may be provided to consumers at Referral orApplication Statuses. DVR Orientations and Initial Interviews will be revised to include basic information concerning the impact of working on SSA benefits and a general review of the Work Incentives available to Ticket-holders.

40. WIPA Services (continued) Benefits Summary & Analysis (BS&A) This service is for consumers in Plan Development to Service statuses or beyond and includes verification of benefits through the Benefits Planning Query (BPQY), gathering information about benefits from all relevant sources, such as SSA, Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, subsidized housing, etc., and conducting a detailed, in-person intake interview with the consumer to begin to analyze which work incentives could apply to their situation and the impact considering various scenarios (i.e., not working, working part-time and working full-time).

41. WIPA Services (continued) Work Incentives Analysis & Plan (WIAP) This service is for individuals in Plan Development to Service statuses and beyond and have an offer of employment in a specific job or are working already, and will be working more than 10 hours a week. It includes verification of benefits (BPQY), gathering information about benefits from all relevant sources, such as SSA, Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, subsidized housing, etc., and conducting a detailed, in person intake interview with the consumer to begin to analyze which work incentives could apply to their situation.

42. OPTIONAL WIPA SERVICES •  Assisting a consumer with establishing an IRWE (Impairment Related Work Expense) • Assisting a consumer with establishing an Employer Subsidy. • Assisting a consumer with resolution of a specific benefits issue, e.g., overpayment • Assisting with the development of a Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS)

47. A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION “PARTNERSHIP PLUS”

48. TICKET TO WORK PROVIDESMORE OPTIONS FOR THE TICKET-HOLDER • If VR provides services, helps the Ticket-holder get a job and closes the case, the Ticket-holder’s Ticket still has value! • Even if the Ticket-holder is working, the Ticket-holder can be referred to an EN for additional services.

49. PARTNERSHIP PLUS • Provide Beneficiaries with Other Service Provider Options • Ensure Seamless Sequential Services from VR and EN • Address the Need for a System of Ongoing Support

50. JOINING THE PARTNERSHIP • Must be an Employment Network as approved by SSA • Must be certified by DVR as a Vendor of EN Services • DVR will execute a Memorandum of Agreement with EN to initiate the partnership. Call DVR for more information and assistance – (850) 245-3341 or via website – www.rehabworks.org