3/5/08
Resource Guide for FY 2007-08 Waiting List Initiatives
Young Adults Leaving School to Adult Life
ODP Consulting Website: http://www.odpconsulting.org
Contents
1. Planning Guidelines for FY 2007-08 PFDS Waiver Services for Youth and Young Adults Leaving School
2. ODP Regulation and Policy
a. Office of Mental Retardation Policy on Employment
b. Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities in the Community Mental Retardation Program
c. Coordination of Vocational Training and Supported Employment Under the 2176 Waiver
d. Everyday Lives Bulletin
3. Employment Manual for SC Toolkit 2005 Edition
4. Current Service Definitions and Procedure Codes
5. Waiver-related Requirements
6. Employment Related ISP Practices
7. Strategic Planning for Employment
8. Customized Employment Stories
- A Fish Story
- Food for Thought
- Olive’s Story
- Peter’s Pool
9. Employment Network Contacts
10. Resources
a. Customized Employment: Practical Solutions for Employment Success
b. Customized Employment: Applying Practical Solutions for employment Success
c. Supports Coordination Electronic Resource Guide
d. Griffin-Hammis: Creating Communities of Economic Cooperation
11. Glossary
a. Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network (PA BLN)
b. Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE)
c. Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD)
d. National Industries for the Blind (NISH)
e. Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
f. Pennsylvania Industries for Blind and Handicapped (PIBH).
g. Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA)
h. Definition of Terms
Attachment: Employment Supplement to Individual Service Plan
1. 2007-08 Initiative Guidelines
Statewide Parameters
· 800 youth and young adults leaving the education system
· Underlying premise: by providing access to employment and related daytime activities, the need for expensive, lengthy, residential and day services will be reduced over time.
Eligibility Criteria
· Person meets all PFDS waiver requirements, including ICF/MR level of care
· Person graduated or left high school/secondary education in or after December 2006.
· Person is on PUNS. People with emergency need priority should be served first.
· Once the most recent graduates in all PUNS categories have been served, funding can be authorized for less recent graduates, age 27 and below.
ODP Monitored Expectations
· AE authorizes PFDS services for the total number of persons included under this initiative in their 2007-08 Allocation.
· All recipients undergo ODP directed registration and ISP practices that ensure employment services are considered before PFDS services are authorized.
· ISPs for community habilitation services consider and address person’s post-school employment and community living Individual Education Plan (IEP) outcomes
· Unless contraindicated by an ISP assessment, community habilitation authorized in a 2380 or 2390 facility includes or is supplemented by a minimum of 5 hours a week, or 20 hours a month, of:
o Supported employment or a community job
o Non-facility based community habilitation as defined in the PFDS waiver or volunteer work
· Persons receiving less than the minimum hours of non-facility based services/employment/volunteer work have an ISP assessment that documents the health, welfare and personal/family circumstances that prevent this level of support from being provided, together with ISP outcomes for making these services available.
· AEs promote employment services through strategic planning with stakeholders, including support coordination entities, providers, self-advocates and families, OVR, school officials, area employers and employment support agencies including Career Link and County Assistance Offices (CAOs).
· People exercise choice and have the opportunity to visit more than one qualified and willing community habilitation program and service provider before services are authorized.
2. ODP Regulations and Policy
a. Office of Mental Retardation Policy on Employment Bulletin Number: 00-05-07
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/PubsFormsReports/NewslettersBulletins/003673169.aspx
b. Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities in the Community Mental Retardation Program
Bulletin Number: 00-03-11
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/PubsFormsReports/NewslettersBulletins/003673169.aspx
c. Coordination of Vocational Training and Supported Employment Under the 2176 Waiver
Bulletin Number: 00-95-23
d. Every Day Lives Bulletin
Principles for the Mental Retardation System Bulletin Number: 00-03-05
http://www.odpconsulting.org/images/stories/00-03-05_principals_for_the_mr_syst.pdf
3. ODP Employment Manual for the AE Program, SC Edition
Employment Manual for SC Toolkit - Intended for the use of Supports Coordinators in their efforts to promote employment, this manual subscribes to the common values and missions of the numerous state and local education, consumer, and adult service agencies that offer employment supports for people with mental retardation and other disabilities. http://www.odpconsulting.org/images/stories/sc_employment_manual_11.05.doc
Copies of this Supports Coordinator Toolkit Edition and the larger general Employment Manual are also available by contacting the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs, a County or Regional ODP Employment Point Person or the ODP Customer Service Line at 1-888-565-9435.
4. Current Service Definitions
Revised Units for Service Definitions and Procedure Codes for Healthcare and Non-Healthcare
Waiver and Base Services Bulletin Number 00-07-03
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/PubsFormsReports/NewslettersBulletins/003673169.aspx
Attachment 1 - http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/PubsFormsReports/NewslettersBulletins/003673169.aspx
42
3/5/08
42
3/5/08
5. Waiver-related Requirements
6. Employment related ISP Practices
Summary of Employment Outcome Practices
The following table summarizes the individual and systemic practices that Administrative Entities have been expected to implement since fiscal year 2005-06. A more detailed explanation of these practices, including copies of the Employment Supplement to the ISP, is provided in the Employment Manual, FY 2005-06 Edition, which is available on request of ODP.
SUMMARY OF EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES INTRODUCED FOR FY2005-06
Affected Group>Practices Beginning Jan. 2006 / People Moving to Community From Center / Youth and Young Adults < age 26 in Transition / Adults (18+) receiving vocational services leading to employment / Employed adults receiving other ODP services / Statewide or Pilot
Counties
County designee introduces Employment during Person’s Registration/Intake / Not Applicable / Yes / No / No / Statewide
Support Coordinator (SC) discusses Employment support options with person/family and provides opportunity to discuss with practitioners / Yes / Yes / Yes / Not applicable / Statewide
SC Ensures Completion of Supplement to ISP / Yes. / Yes / Yes / No / Statewide
SC populates HCSIS with person’s employment goal and OVR information / Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes / Statewide
County develops Interagency Employment Practices for Youth in Transition with area Coalition / No / Yes / Yes, if <26yrs old / Yes, if < 26 yrs. old / 10 Pilot Counties
County charts employment outcomes and meets with provider network and stakeholders to establish employment outcome goals in FY 2006-07 / Yes / Yes / Yes / Yes / Statewide
Detail on Practices for People in a Vocational Facility Interested in Employment
Since regularly scheduled annual ISP meetings in 1/06, the Supports Coordinator (SC) in consultation with the ISP Team have been expected to identify whether persons receiving services in vocational (2390) facilities have an interest in pursuing an employment outcome. This expectation applies to all persons funded by the AE program for training, sheltered employment or work activities as defined in 55 PA Code 2390.5, including all persons funded under the waiver for habilitation services in a vocational facility licensed under 55 PA Code 2390. Individual written program plans and vocational evaluations, as defined in the Adult Services Manual for Vocational Facilities, along with vocational evaluations provided by OVR and school districts, can be used to help the ISP team determine the person’s work skills, career goals, interests, and abilities.
Based on this ISP review, the SC ensures that each individual with an interest in an employment outcome:
- Is introduced to employment service options in the ISP process, including the opportunity to visit an employment service provider, WIPA and/or adult employed in the community
- Completes an ISP Employment Supplement or similar assessment, which is entered into the person’s ISP record
- Has their ISP in HCSIS reflect whether the person has an employment goal and OVR contact
- Has employment services authorized in their ISP when funding is available and the ISP team approves, or has unmet need for employment services documented in PUNS when funding is not available
- Has authorized employment services located, coordinated and monitored.
Detail on Practices for People in Non-Vocational Services Interested in Employment
Since regularly scheduled annual ISP meetings in 1/06, the Support Coordinator, in consultation with the ISP Team, has been expected to identify whether persons receiving non-vocational services have an interest in pursuing a vocational training and/or an employment outcome. This practice applies to all persons funded by the Administrative Entities in an adult training center licensed under 55 PA Code Chapter 2380, and persons funded under a HCBS Medicaid waiver whose major non-residential community habilitation service consists of community coaching/integration services that have no direct employment outcome. Written non-residential program plans and reports can be used to support a person’s interest and the type of vocational/employment services the individual may choose.
Based on this ISP review, the Support Coordinator ensures that each person with an interest in vocational services or employment:
- Is introduced to vocational/employment service options in the ISP process, including the opportunity to visit an employment service provider, WIPA and/or adult employed in the community
- Completes an Employment Supplement when the person has an employment goal, which is entered into the person’s ISP record
- Has the ISP in HCSIS modified to reflect whether the person has an employment goal, and/or OVR contact
- Has the ISP authorized by the AE when funding is available and the ISP Team approves, or has unmet need for vocational or employment services documented in PUNS when funding is not available
- Has authorized vocational/employment services located, coordinated and monitored when employment services are authorized on the ISP.
A. Employment Supplement to ISP
The purpose of the Employment Supplement is to obtain current information for determining a person’s employment goals, needs and outcomes as part of a person’s Individual Service Planning (ISP) process. A copy of the Supplement is attached. This Employment Supplement is intended to be completed by the person who is considering employment and his/her family or advocate, or providers of service. The Employment Supplement is to be completed before service decisions are made and after the person/family is informed about employment options available within the community mental retardation program. The employment supplement should be completed for all:
· Youth and young adults with employment or vocational training as a post-school outcome in their IEP
· Youth and young adults under age 27 with an employment goal in their ISP
· Persons receiving vocational services with a goal for community employment
· All persons entering the community program from an ICF/MR, public or private
In some instances, the person’s completion of the Employment Supplement will be preceded by a discussion about employment options with a provider of service or person with a disability who is employed. No decision on community based adult training or facility based vocational services should be made before the Employment Supplement is completed and reviewed as part of the ISP Team process with the support coordinator and person/family. In instances where people are not able to communicate information for completing the Employment Supplement,the Supplement should be completed by appropriate ISP Team members who know the person best, like family members, a teacher for students, or the person’s advocate.
7. Strategic Planning for Employment
In order to achieve employment outcomes, ODP expects each AE in coordination with its network of adult service agencies and partners, including the District Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and area school districts and Intermediate Units (IUs), to begin setting annual employment goals for its community mental retardation program. ODP expected this annual goal setting process to begin in fiscal year 2006-07 and continue in the years thereafter.
Each AE is encouraged to establish goals affecting transitioning youth and young adults, as well as adults receiving vocational services, and adults moving into vocational and supported employment services from non-vocational programs.
Strategic Planning PowerPoint – Organizational Change and Intentionality
8. Customized Employment Stories
A Fish Story
Fred is a 30 year old young man who was diagnosed with MR as a child. He has TBI, is legally blind, and has diabetes.Fred lives in a supported living arrangement. He did not graduate from school and most of his family is served by the human service system or the criminal justice system.Fred has had a number of unsuccessful part time jobs and currently works through a contract cleaning at a federal court house.
Fred was selected for the CE grant.He loves tropical fish, hanging with friends and family, computers, music, and mountain bikes.
Key discoveries about Fred that led to finding a job were:
- Fred was really into tropical fish.
- Fred wanted to be his own boss.
- Fred has a strong work ethic and interested in making more money.
- Fred is very self directed and did not have any family members or system people that interfered with his goals.
- Fred liked the idea of self-employment since it leads him to be able to maintain greater resources and autonomy.
Fred was in discovery for about 5 hours a day, once a week for 2.5 months (50 hours). He was very interested in Mountain bikes, computers, wood working, and tropical fish. Fred worked exclusively with the CE grant coordinator on discovery. We met with his supports coordinator and supervisor from the County MH/MR Program to explain self-employment and how it might be funded. Along the way a mentor was discovered who has become a business partner in some ways as well. Another mentor was discovered by asking people at pet stores: “Who is the person in the area who knows the most about tropical fish?”
Key persons/agencies involved with Fred in the discovery process:
1. Ralph - The XYZ Agency employment specialist
2. Bill - The grant funding contact
3. Don - Technical assistance on customized employment and Plans for Achieving Self Support
4. Christine - Supported Employment Director
Ideal Conditions of Employment Identified During the Discovery Process:
1.Getting to spend the day working with fish
2. Becoming his own boss
3. Working on a business with flexible hours that he can work around his wage job
4. Having the ability to make more money and keep it in his business account
5. Having his business close to his home and wage job.
Job Development/Negotiation
Fred and Ralph spent a lot of time at fish stores learning all that they could. Once they met Mentor Bob everything became about fish. Mentor Bob and Fred had previously known each other and really hit it off. Mentor Bob has been a great mentor and taught Fred everything about fish and a lot about small business.