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Presentation (PDF) Open in new window Indiana’s Disability Employment Initiative (IN-DEI) Background Information - DEI • Collaborative effort between the US Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). – Improve effective and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in the workforce system. – Improve coordination and collaboration among employment and training and asset development programs. – Build effective community partnerships that leverage public and private resources to better serve individuals with disabilities and improve employment outcomes. – Adult or youth-focused. Round 1 DEI Projects (Funded in 2010) • Alaska • Arkansas • Delaware • Illinois • Kansas • Maine • New Jersey • New York • Virginia Round 2 DEI Projects (Funded in 2011) • California • Ohio • South Dakota • Tennessee • Washington • Wisconsin Round 3 DEI Projects (Funded in 2012) • Florida • Indiana • Iowa • Louisiana • Massachusetts • Minnesota www.dei-ideas.org Timeframe for IN-DEI • Three year grant - October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2015 • Year One focused on training of staff and building relationships within the business and disability community • October 1, 2013 – Years Two and Three focus on “live” implementation of IN-DEI within the WorkOne offices Participating IN-DEI Regions Pilot Sites • 1, 2, 4, 7, 9 Control Sites • 5, 6, 11, Marion Co. Pilot Site versus Control Site – Pilot sites will: • Implement the grant • Operate as an Employment Network and participate in Social Security’s Administration Ticket to Work (TtW) Program • Receive funding to hire a full-time staff person – Disability Resource Coordinator (DRC) • Participate in the evaluation process – Control sites will: • Serve as the comparison group, attend business as usual, and participate in the evaluation process Focus of IN-DEI • DEI will serve adult Hoosiers (ages 18-64) with disabilities, be it: • Physical; • Developmental; • Psychiatric or other non-visible disabilities, • Persons who have or are eligible for Ticket to Work; • Disabled Veterans or eligible spouses, and • Individuals with disabilities who have additional barriers to education, training, or employment success. Outreach Efforts • Lack a high school diploma or GED • Basic skills deficient • Criminal record • Homeless and/or receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits • Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) • Provide enhanced services to individuals with behavioral health concerns, a sub-group of persons with disabilities facing extreme levels of unemployment and poverty. Overall Scope of DEI • DEI is not a program/service; the grant is meant to blend in with current operations. • Increase access to the public workforce system – Equal Access (Program and Structural) • Increase education and career pathways, leading to employment and economic self-sufficiency. – Examples include, but are not limited to On-The-Job Training, Apprenticeships, and post-secondary education. – Federal Funding will provide for some training and services –other training will be explored, such as PELL grants and financial aid. • Participate in Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program (TtW) as an active Employment Network (EN) – Individuals (beneficiaries) receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can assign their “ticket” for assistance in achieving their desired vocational goal. – The goal is to decrease the individual’s dependence on their cash benefits (SSI/SSDI) by increasing their work effort to sustain gainful activity and achieve self-sufficiency. – Provides payment to participating ENs for assisting the individual in becoming self-sufficient through employment. Available Resources within a WorkOne Office • Access to free accessible online career interest, skills, and work values assessments – IndianaCareerExplorer.org • Access to Mind Leaders e-training, WIN career readiness training, and WorkKeys assessments • Individuals will have their basic skills assessed utilizing the Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE) and those who are basic skills deficient or who lack a high school diploma or GED will be referred to Adult Basic Education for educational enrichment • Education and Training Acquire skills needed to earn a GED, go to college, or enter an entry-level occupational certification program. WorkINdiana: GED and industry-resognized credential concurrently IN-DEI Service Delivery Components • Partnerships and Collaboration • Integrated Resource Teams • Leveraging Resources, Braiding & Blending Funds • Asset Development Integrated Resource Teams (IRT) • IRTs will have a minimum of three members (in addition to the individual with a disability) 1. DRC 2. Individual’s primary case manager (can not be the Disability Resource Coordinator) 3. One other partner – If the individual with a disability is a veteran, a veteran’s services representative must also serve on the IRT • An IRT may consist of members from a wide variety of community programs and service providers, including: • The Workforce Investment System (WorkOne staff) • Mental Health • Vocational Rehabilitation • Independent Living Center • Programs for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing • Commission for the Blind • Community Work Incentives Coordinator • Supported Employment Specialist • Housing Provider • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) • Advocates / Friends of Job Seeker DRC Contact Info Martina Tovar Region 1 Center of Workforce Innovations 2804 Boilermaker Court, Ste. E, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 219-462-2940, ext. 40 mtovar@innovativeworkforce.com Amanda Nelson Region 2 WorkOne Northern Indiana 851 S. Marietta Street(Monroe Industrial Park), South Bend, IN 46601 574.237.9675 ANelson@GoToWorkOne.com Susie Perkins Region 4 Region 4 Workforce Board 2350 Shadowbrook Dr.Peru, IN 46970 765-252-9455 sperkins@tap.lafayette.in.us Julie McBride Region 7 WorkOne Western Indiana 630 Wabash Avenue, Suite 205, Terre Haute, IN 47807 812-238-5616 j.mcbride@workforcenet.org Stephanie Frondorf Region 9 Indiana Region 9 Workforce Board, Inc. 9 East High Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 513-335-4868 sfrondorf@indianaregion9.org Kelly Brown, IN-DEI State Lead 317-233-8279 KLBrown@dwd.IN.gov