Outcomes Networking for Employment Outcomes Vol. 1 No. 1 Region VI CRP-RCEP Summer 2002 Outcomes is a quarterly publication of the Region VI CRP-RCEP located at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Linda Holloway Editor Ashley Thomas WebMaster Marcy Haag Project Specialist Margaret J. Cortez Layout and Design For more information, story ideas or to request additional copies, contact: Linda Holloway University of North Texas Region VI CRP-RCEP PO Box 311456 Denton, TX 76203-1456 940/565-4000 Printer and braille-friendly versions of this and all Region VI CRP-RCEP publications available at our website: www.crp.unt.edu Welcome to the first issue of the newly formatted Outcomes Newsletter for Region VI. We at the University of North Texas are delighted to have this opportunity to promote your successes and bring you the latest news and information on supported employment issues and trends. We want to hear from you. Let us know what you think about Outcomes and what you would like to see in future issues. Region VI CRP-RCEP University of North Texas PO Box 311456 Denton, TX 76203-1456 940/565-4000 thomasa@scs.cmm.unt.edu In Memory Phil Stinebuck passed away on February 14, 2002 at his home in Hot Springs, AR. Phil was an organizational consultant for the Region 6 Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program at the University of Arkansas since 1991. He was well loved and respected throughout the national disability community as a professional, advocate, mentor, and Regional Representative for NICL. Phil is survived by his wife, Brenda Tweedle-Stinebuck and his parents. Memorials may be made to National Adapt, 1339 Lamar Square Drive #101, Austin, TX 78704. Also in this issue The Louisiana Business Leadership Network kicks off, Page 2 Arkansas Cadet Project picks up speed, Page 2 Supported Employment Pilot Project Launched in Texas, Page 3 Benefits & Employment Workshop, Page 3 Check the back page for a calendar of events you won’t want to miss Ticket Rolls Out in Oklahoma by Becky Cook February 5, 2002 marked the beginning of the long-awaited Ticket roll out in the first thirteen states. In Oklahoma, the only first-year roll out state in Region VI, the first 10,047 of a total 104,000 Tickets were issued to Social Security recipients. Prepared for many months for the expected onslaught of Ticket customers, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services has experienced a low response rate among potential Ticket customers. Fewer than 70 calls were made to the DRS Ticket hot line after the first wave of Tickets were issued. Oklahoma anticipates the next wave of 20,000 Tickets to be issued beginning April 12 will bring additional calls. Potential Employment Networks in Oklahoma have been slow to respond to the Social Security Administration’s less-than-attractive offers for reimbursement through either payment option. The Department of Rehabilitation Services’ milestones reimbursements to Community Rehabilitation Providers remains a more attractive option than those offered by the Social Security Administration. The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services has established a special Ticket Unit to handle support to VR field staff and the initial assistance to Ticket customers calling in on the Ticket Hot Line. The toll free Ticket Hot Line number is 866-882-4515. Welcome! After 21 years of diverse clinical, management, training and marketing experience in the Human Service Field, Jim Hanophy (that’s pronounced hano-fee) has joined the staff of the Region VI CRP-RCEP. Jim is the newest member of the Region VI CRP-RCEP team signing on as an organizational consultant. Like our other two trainers, Jim Humes and Christine Young, Jim will provide technical assistance and management consultation to CRPs and training to rehabilitation professionals in Region VI. Jim comes to us with impressive credentials: Director of Service Coordination for MHMR of Tarrant County, Executive Vice President for United Cerebral Palsy of Tarrant County and Director of Quality Development at the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, to name just a few. We think the job match between Jim and our staff is a good one and believe you will too! Louisiana Business Leadership Network Kicks Off The Louisiana Business Leadership Network (LBLN) has launched its program and is in full swing after a kickoff breakfast meeting was held at the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion. The LBLN is an established network of employers who not only provide education and support for employers to initially hire and retain employees, but also strive to strengthen customer service provided toward employees with disabilities. They are a business-led association of companies whose primary goal is to “assist businesses in utilizing the vast, untapped market of persons with disabilities, as employees and customers.” The organization achieves this goal by emphasizing education to employers. They provide technical support, recruitment, training, information on accommodation, and additional resources as well as incentives. The LBLN provides a network of companies who all share information about disability employment. The organization also recognizes employers for best disability employment practices. In a multi-pronged approach, the LBLN also provides training and work experience for job seekers with disabilities. The LBLN doesn’t focus only on their employees with disabilities, but also employees’ family members. In the last LBLN newsletter, the focus was on employees who have children with disabilities. It emphasized and supported that employees with children who have special needs, have extra needs of their own. For now the network board of the LBLN consists of employers throughout Louisiana including TERMINIX (who is the Lead Company), Bank One, and Earth Saver’s. Applications to become a network member, as well as complete information about the LBLN, are available online at www.LBLN.org. (This article contributed by Larry Dale, Executive Director, Pinnacle Employment) CADET Project Picks up Speed (Creative Alternative to Delta Area Transportation) by Thirland McKissic Arkansas Rehabilitation Services is now taking applications for its Delta CADET project, a program that will provide transportation services to people with disabilities in the Delta region of Arkansas to help them prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. The project is funded by a 5-year, $1,375,000 federal grant. Monies will also be used to enhance present transportation and expand the transit system in the future. “Dependable, affordable transportation is a critical factor in determining whether any citizen can go to school, seek employment and stay on the job,” said ARS Commissioner John C. Wyvill. “If you have a disability, the lack of accessible transportation is a major barrier to employment. Transportation problems for people with disabilities are pronounced in the Delta due to the rural nature of the communities and lack of public transportation”. The CADET Advisory Council consists of the office of the Governor and 13 state and local agencies. The CADET staff has identified all transportation resources and developed Delta Transportation Guides. A Ticket-to-Ride voucher program was developed to assist participants with their transportation needs. Transportation may be purchased through a Ticket-to-Ride if the person has a diagnosed disability and is (1) participating in a rehabilitation program with the goal of employment (e.g., post secondary training, on the job training, etc.); (2) seeking employment; or (3) going to and from employment. For more information, call 866-428-8379 (toll free). Lone Star APSE Texas’ Lone Star APSE made its public debut in Houston on March 7 at the Quality Employment Conference. Lone Star APSE is the state chapter in affiliation with the national Association for Persons in Supported Employment, an informational, training and technical assistance organization that advocates for the social and economic empowerment of people with disabilities. The Lone Star Chapter was officially recognized as a Chapter in Development by APSE in July 2001, but groundwork for the group had been developing since 1999. Norine Jaloway was elected as LSAPSE President, along with Lisa LaFrance as Vice President, Debbie Locke as Treasurer and Ronnie McKeown as Secretary. All offices are open for statewide elections set for November 2002. For more information, contact Norine at njaloway@imagineenterprises.com Supported Employment Pilot Project Launched in Texas Supported Employment has clearly been successful, leading to individualized competitive employment in integrated community settings for persons with the most severe disabilities. The problem with supported employment in Texas has been that each of the agencies involved has had a different primary purpose, target population, funding stream and accountability measures. Texas Rehabilitation Commission (TRC), Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas Commission for the Blind (TCB), and Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) recently began a pilot project focusing on an interagency approach to supported employment. The goal: to create a seamless system by coordinating existing funds resulting in increased accountability; improved service quality; as well as decreased service gaps and duplication of service. Providers of service will be paid on completion of indicated benchmarks. These include: development of the supported employment plan; job placement; 4-week retention; 8-week retention; closure; and ongoing support. The project, which began in 2002, is scheduled to be evaluated and the final report completed by 2005. Mark Your Calendar: Benefits & Employment in 2002 Social Security, SSI, Medicaid, Medicare When August 7 & 8, 2002 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Where Embassy Suites Austin Arboretum 9505 Stonelake Blvd Austin, TX 78759 512/372-8771 Registration Deadline July 26, 2002 What people are saying about this amazing workshop! “You made Social Security more understandable than it has ever been ...” Joyce M., Department of Rehabilitation, California “You really have the most complete and accurate information on disability insurance and income...” Jon G., Utah “...your seminar...has made a lasting impression on me and I have passed your literature on to countless individuals and families.” Olivia H., Arkansas Have your clients ever asked you how they can protect their medical benefits and still earn significant income? Have you ever wondered how the Ticket-To-Work program affects a person’s choice of employment services? Would you like to know how your clients can maintain eligibility for benefits by using work incentives? If your answer is YES to these questions, then you need to attend this workshop presented by Mike Walling! Mike is a nationally respected author and trainer renowned for his ability to clearly explain how the benefit programs operate. Since 1993, he has presented over 1,000 workshops on this subject throughout the United States, and now he is coming to Region VI. Here are just a few of the points Mike will cover in this two-day workshop: The relationship of medical benefits to Social Security and/or SSI benefits; The use of work incentives to maintain eligibility for benefits, maximize income and keep Medicaid; How a Social Security beneficiary can maximize earned income and use work incentives to properly protect Social Security benefits and Medicare; What happens to benefits during employment; SSI work incentives like impairment-related work expenses and plans for achieving self-support; and Recent changes in regulations. Mike Walling is the author of The Guide: To Social Security Benefits and Work Incentives, 10th Ed, 2002. He consults with a variety of state organizations and projects on benefits counseling and is highly regarded for his ability to explain subjects in “common English”. He began his career as a special education teacher and administrator then moved into managing an internationally recognized, highly successful vocational rehabilitation service for 13 years in Pennsylvania. Registration information for this workshop can be obtained at our website or by calling Marcy Haag at 940/565-4000. Schedule of Events - 2002 } July 24-25 - Louisiana AAMR, Alexandria, LA. Contact Kathy Blackmon, 318/445-4470 } July 24-27 - 2002 APSE Conference, Minneapolis, MN. www.apse.org for more information } August 7-8 - Benefits & Employment 2002: Social Security, SSI, Medicaid, Medicare, Austin, TX. Contact Marcy Haag, 940/565-4000 } August 19-21 National Employment Conference: Disability and Employment 2002, Washington, DC. www.gwu.edu/~rrcep for more information } August 22-24, 2002 - 20th Annual Texas Brain Injury State Conference, Austin, TX. For more information: www.biatx.org or call 1-800-392-0040 Next time in Outcomes: Transition from School to Work Emancipation Day in Palestine! Professionalism. What is a professional anyway? If you have news for Outcomes, e-mail Ashley Thomas at thomasa@scs.cmm.unt.edu This project is in part supported under a grant from the Department of Education. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education and endorsement by the Federal Government should not be assumed. Region VI CRP-RCEP Meeting the continuing education needs of community rehabilitation providers