Let’s Get to WorkA Community Approach to Improving Employment

Outcomes for Youth

Beth Swedeen and Lisa Pugh

CEC, April 2013San Antonio, TX

Learning Objectives• Use evidence-based and promising practices at the

local and systems level to measure employment outcomes

• Identify policy and practice challenges and strategies• Partner with policymakers to make policy change

Background• WI BPDD awarded a Partnerships in Employment grant

focused on policy changes that lead to better integrated employment outcomes for youth with significant I/DD

Combines what research/data shows are:

• Most significant barriers;• Strategies and practices that work; • Policies that act as both facilitators and barriers to

employment.

Project framework includes all stakeholders• School staff• Service agencies: voc rehab,

long-term care, state education

• Students• Families• Broader community

(including employers)

Four project components• Statewide consortium• Pilot schools• On-site coaches• Policy team

Consortium’s Role• Large: includes representation from all stakeholders,

60-70 people. • Provides input on what is and isn’t working, what

directions to pursue; what policies need to change or improve.

• Includes progress updates from schools and three state agencies on progress: practice and policy changes.

• Include youth and family tracks, particularly to build self-determination.

Pilot Schools• Did a statewide competitive application reviewed by

all six major partners (3 state agencies; 3 ADD partners)

• Looked for interest/ability to develop a broader stakeholder group in their school and community

• Had to commit to implement evidence-based or promising practices

• Focus local funds on sustainability

Practices:• Person-centered planning• School/community mapping of opportunities• Connection to general education and co-curricular activities• Summer paid/volunteer community-based jobs• Early connection to DVR• Engaging broader community through a Community

Conversation• School learning circle/

community of practice to learn from each other

Schools Also Developed Their own Creative Approaches to Engaging with their Communities

Grafton Holmen

http://youtu.be/M0rMo-uaQqIhttp://youtu.be/2ysq3AYANaA

Jobs First! of Manitowoc County

Coaches• On-site supporters/cheerleaders/practitioners who

show school staff how to try new practices• Provide resources and direct instruction training• Connect them to other professional development,

training and resources

Policy Team• Members• What it does

Policy Barriers: Vocational Rehabilitation• Some youth were receiving

assessments in facilities• Some provider networks

and staff did not have extensive experience with significant disabilities

• Confusion on appropriate age for youth referral

Voc Rehab Policy Solutions• DVR issued guidance to staff and the public from DVR

leadership on community-based assessments• DVR proposed extending their On the Job Training

(OJT) program to youth• Strengthening statewide training to new/existing DVR

staff on how to support individuals with the most complex disabilities

Vocational Rehabilitation: Future Ideas• 1-pager for families/schools describing

range of voc rehab services and clarifying age for application

• Discussion on presumptive eligibility with Long-Term Care eligibility

• Policy guiding schools to encourage early conversations with VR

• Strengthen assumption that all individuals will work: Expansion of motivational interviewing

State Education AgencyPolicy Questions• School districts question what

LRE looks like for youth in transition (ages 18-21)

• Few pre-service transition prep programs

• Indicator 13 compliance• Students with significant disabilities

don’t always have access to same career guidance as peers

State Education Policy Wins• OSEP guidance on LRE in community worksites• Inclusion of students with disabilities in new state

law requiring Academic Career Plans (ACPs) (or Individual Learning Plans)

• Guidance in new Indicator 13 electronic planning tool on how to count facility-based employment placements

State Education Agency: Current Discussions• Transition

endorsement/certification• Work with higher education

statewide to increase masters’ training in transition

• Results-driven accountability system for improving local

special education programs

Long-Term Care Policy Challenges• Lack of competitive employment

focus in long-term care system• Lack of understanding about the

impact of employment on public benefits

• Few discussions in children’s long-term care system with families about futures planning/employment

Long-Term Care Policy Solutions• Work with children’s long-term

care system to create “culture of expectations” around employment for families

• Identified vocational services as part of children’s long-term care waiver

• Include increased employment as part of state’s Medicaid long-term care sustainability effort.

Long-Term Care: Future Possibilities• Expansion of promising “pay

for performance” pilot in managed care

• Work with Department of Health Services and Governor’s office to increase work incentives benefits counseling

• Strengthen managed care contract language to incentivize employment

Long-Term Care: Future Possibilities• Work with legislators on

Employment First legislation• Pursue a pre-voc policy that would

prohibit/limit new entries to facility-based pre-voc

• Embed benefits counseling info into statewide long-term care system parent training

Practical Strategies for Engaging Policymakers• Make a solid case for change: using data,

research to create targeted asks, personal stories

• Focus on policy issues prominent in your state(e.g. workforce/employment initiatives)

• Look at what is happening in the general population regarding employment in your state

Practical Strategies for Engaging Policymakers• Put a face and story with the issue: have legislators

meet real youth and their families

• Don’t take “no” for answer: ask someone else

Practical Strategies for Engaging Employers• Outreached directly to largest employer lobbying organization

in the state• Connected businesses with legislators on the youth

employment issue• Connected schools to local chambers, business/service clubs

like Rotary, Lions• Connected with other

State Council employment initiatives: Take Your Legislator to Work

Beth Swedeen, WI-BPDDbeth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov

Lisa Pugh, WI AIDD Public Policy Coordinatorlisa.pugh@drwi.org

Let’s Get to Work Projecthttp://www.letsgettoworkwi.org/