Philadelphia’s Mini Grants Through the Years!

A Project of Networks for Training and Development, Inc. and

Philadelphia Intellectual disAbility Services

Co-Presenters

Andrea Consigny, SPIN

Carol Frangicetto, PFCS

Joel Goldberg, Quality Progressions

Shauna Roman, Networks

Susan Schonfeld, CIS

With a little bit of extra cash, what could we do?

WHAT?

  • Small $$ awards
  • Stimulate a friendly competition
  • Try out a strategy to increase employment outcomes

WHO?

  • Employment outcomes are important
  • It’s a difficult service to provide – many barriers
  • Didn’t want $$ to be a factor for small things that needed to change

Who?

  • Networks coordinates project with support from Phila. IDS
  • Employment providers, SCO’s, other providers could apply. (Must be 501C3)

How?

  • Make the process simple
  • Diverse selection committee conducts “blind” reviews
  • Include training & TA if needed
  • Share outcomes & celebrate successes!

QUICK STATS ABOUT THE MINI GRANT

  • Total of 27 awards given over 8 years
  • Total of 12 agencies awarded
  • Awards varied from $2,000 - $10,000
  • Funding supported additional staffing, technology, consultants, incentives, and more

Overview of Awarded Activities

We broke bread!

  • Employer Luncheons
  • Breakfasts
  • Banquets
  • Appreciation Events

We rewarded!

  • Job Lead Incentives
  • Supporters’ Incentives

Overview of Awarded Activities

We innovated!

  • Customized employment efforts
  • Developed videos
  • Improved social media presence

We connected!

  • Developed marketing tools
  • Employer outreach efforts
  • Chamber of Commerce outreach

Overview of Awarded Activities

We learned!

  • Customized training & TA
  • Intensive staff development
  • Team-based career planning

We stretched ourselves!

  • Developed community action teams
  • Strategic planning
  • Organizational transformation

The Impact of Seed Money:

CIS Community Integrated Services - 7 Projects, $40,000
Accomplishments:

Employer Appreciation Breakfast

Internet Based Employer Alliance and Newsletter

‘The List’

Ticket to Work Employment Network

Customized Employment Training

Enhance Employer Outreach Efforts

Business Card Exchanges

Art/Entrepreneurial Development

Community Action Team

Enhanced Transition Team Planning & Implementation

Through the Years - 2008

Employer Appreciation Breakfast to Launch an Internet Based Employer Alliance - ‘The List’

Through the Years - 2009

  1. Ticket to work: Accessing SSA Employment Network Funding to Increase Community Employment Outcomes for People with Disabilities

Current impact:

  • Employment Network
  • Benefits Counseling
  • Administrative EN
  • Funding
  1. Job Development Enhancement

Through the Years - 2010

Customized Employment – Engaged Job Squad in West Virginia for TA

Employer Outreach – Lunch and Learns– 65 new employers engaged.

Current Impact: Customized Employment an integral part of services delivery

Business Exchanges held several times/year

Through the Years - 2011

  • Art/Entrepreneurial Ventures – Leveraging Personal Genius
  • Employer Outreach – Business Card Exchanges

Through the Years – 2012/2013

  • Community Action Team Development
  • The Power of Social Capital

Through the Years – 2012/2013
“Hear the Singing – Stop the Ringing”

Through the Years - 2014

  • Enhanced Transition Planning
  • 3 students identified –
  • Bayat
  • George
  • Luke

Meet Bayat and GeorgeThe Power of Good Transition Planning

George: Loves Music!! Loves Cars – good interpersonal skills

Job: The Fillmore – parking lot attendant moving to a guest service associate

Bayat: Music Lover, Creative

Job: World Café Live as a ticket taker then Thrive Yoga Studio

Bayat

(Photo of Bayat cleaning mirror at yoga studio)

Organizational and Participant Impact

Enhanced Staff Development:

Business Developers

Customized Employment

Diversified Funding

New Creative Ideas

Extra Money to Try New Things

Quality Progressions

Quality Progressions was awarded a $5,000 mini grant in 2008 to develop a forum for Supports Coordinators, individuals, and families to learn about the value and importance of community integrated employment (CIE), access community resources, and to forge collaboration among stakeholders.

Quality Progressions

On February 29, 2009 more than 150 individuals attended the event, which was held at the City Avenue Hilton Hotel. This day-long event included:

  • A CIE Provider Resource Fair
  • Overview of the Employment 1st! Initiative
  • Q&A with employed individuals
  • Presentations from key stakeholders

Quality Progressions

This day-long event also included the following speakers:

  • Joel Goldberg & Adrienne Hill, Quality Progressions
  • Kathy Sykes, Philadelphia IDS
  • Michael McAllister, Networks for Training and Development
  • Robin Hayles, Social Security Administration
  • Rose Higby, PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

Outcomes

  • Increased number of consumers who attended expressed an interest in employment in their post event survey.
  • The students, their families and Quality Progressions’ SC’s had a better understanding of employment and benefits.
  • Attendees obtained resources from 18 CIE providers.

Additional Outcomes

  • A dialogue between all stakeholders – the County, State, CIE Providers, SC’s, individuals and families – was had.
  • An increase in attendees for Quality Progressions’ Advisory Committee, as attendees were given information about the group and encouraged to attend.
  • Everyone left with a Quality Progressions Piggy Bank

Partnership for Community Supports

Partnership for Community Supports was given a grant of $5000 in 2007 for the purpose of providing families and caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities with practical information about how to successfully support an individual to gain and retain employment in the community and to decrease their anxiety about employment.

Partnership for Community Supports

In order to increase the number of individuals employed in the community and to further create a culture of employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities, it is important for families to take an active role in supporting employment goals.

Partnership for Community Supports

Activities:

  • Recruitment, preparation, and filming of a video of parents telling their personal stories of employment and community involvement for their family member
  • Preparation of a folder with training materials to help families support employment

Partnership for Community Supports

Additional Activities:

Development of a program with speakers explaining the benefits and work incentives available, transition planning for families, Employment Vision 2010, and how Employment fits into the Individual Supports Plan (ISP).

Partnership for Community Supports

Outcomes:

  • 23 Partnership staff attended the event and developed increased sensitivity to the struggles that families can encounter when considering employment
  • A 32 minute DVD entitled, “Employment: Parents Coping with Fear and Anxiety” with 3 parents discussing their feelings and experiences with their sons who had full lives which included competitive employment, shown at the event and continues to be used for training

Partnership for Community Supports

Additional Outcomes:

  • 3 Speakers presented on employment, benefits and work incentives, transition planning, the ISP and how parents can support an individual in the household to maintain a job
  • The DVD demonstrated the central role of the job coach in not only successful employment for the individual, but in decreasing parent anxiety regarding employment

Partnership for Community Supports

Additional Outcomes:

  • The parents featured in the DVD were present and informally encouraged other families to consider employment
  • Supports Coordinators had a folder of training materials to share with families when discussing employment
  • 204 people attended and more families were interested in employment for their family member

SPIN

2009 Theme: Improving Employer Relationships

  • Outstanding SPIN business partners and individuals who were natural supports to receive a gift card and basket
  • SPIN Employment Specialists were acknowledged for developing creative job opportunities with a $25 gift card
  • Complimentary tickets were provided to 61 individuals who were either natural supports or employers to attend the Annual SPIN Employment Banquet.
  • Gift certificates of $100 were awarded to one exceptional employer, one natural support, as well as the Employment Specialist with the most jobs developed in a six month period.

SPIN

2010 Theme: Moving Employment Forward: Building Employer Relationships

  • Designed and purchased new marketing materials to enhance job development and attract new business partners
  • Items included revised “branding” with a new logo for the service line
  • Purchased a tablecloth, a retractable sign, and developed new brochures

SPIN

2011 Theme: Employment 1st Philadelphia!

  • Two interns were hired to create a social media presence
  • A SPIN Employment Services Facebook page was created to connect with local businesses and community members.
  • 32 success stories were written highlighting individuals who are employed or are looking for employment, highlighting the “business case” for a diverse workforce and including answers to some frequently asked questions.
  • Video resumes were created for seven individuals
  • A commercial was filmed and edited featuring three people SPIN supports on the job and their business partners, highlighting both the benefits of hiring someone with a disability and the expertise of SPIN’s Employment Services team.

SPIN

2014 Theme: Impact: Employment 1st!

  • SPIN’s Goal: Implement a Project that would bridge the gap between high school and adult services for two students
  • Grant action items included:
  • Partner with local charter school to support students in transition
  • Hold two Parent Information Meetings
  • Support students and their families in Transition Planning Project to create goals and plan for their futures
  • Identify two Students to work with SPIN Employment Specialist to find employment in their community
  • Integrate technology into job support and job development

SPIN

Meet “Jane”

  • 21 years old, preparing for graduation
  • Very excited about graduating and starting to work,
  • Friendly and personable, however, raises voice when excited
  • Wanted to work but did not have clear vision for employment goals
  • Integrated interest in college sports into her job development
  • Did work assessment with local high school Athletic trainer
  • Explored employment opportunities at local colleges athletic training office
  • Had informational interviews with physical therapists

SPIN

“Jane” found a job at a local café!

  • Job tasks: Portion and prepare ingredients for recipes, package bakery items for sale, restock café, maintain dining and kitchen area, set up table and chairs in outside dining area
  • Enjoys the variety of work tasks; helps Jane explore interests and better define long term career goals
  • Café is located by many local colleges and universities, Jane is able to meet college athletes who come in for lunch
  • Jane is a friendly and enthusiastic employee and provides an exceptional customer experience to each guest
  • Jane is becoming more independent with her job tasks and is learning new tasks every day!

SPIN

Technology in the Workplace

  • “Jane” and Employment Specialist tried different Apple products and selected the iPad mini
  • “Jane” and her Employment Specialist continue to integrate the iPad into Jane’s job tasks to increase her independence:
  • Task lists- helps Jane move from task to task independently
  • Photos of stocked shelf to help Jane match products
  • Alarms for breaks and clock out
  • Entering schedule into calendar
  • Interesting Finding: Use of pictures in the workplace has helped Jane to feel more confident about herself

SPIN

Lessons Learned

Outcomes varied between the two students in part due to several factors:

  • Strength of partnership with educational provider is critical
  • Ability to establish a “working alliance” with the parents is critical
  • Understanding responsibilities that were provider vs. parent is critical to the outcome and follow-through on those responsibilities
  • Proactive planning for services after graduation improved the outcome and is also critical

ANY QUESTIONS??

From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow. – Aeschylus (photo of large, sprawling tree)