Employment First Programs and Initiatives - Final

AT-A-GLANCE SUMMARY Employment First Status # State States with Employment First legislation as of June 2010 4 California, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania States with state agency refe

EMPLOYMENT FIRST PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES IN OTHER

STATES

Compiled June 2010

This report provides information on states with Employment First initiatives, as identified through an on-line search It should be noted that many of those states listed as NOT having an explicit Employment First policy DO have really impressive agendas in place to increase employment for people with disabilities; however, their web site does not specifically mention that policy or use similar language A lot of the state websites are outdated and lack important information

AT-A-GLANCE SUMMARY

Employment First

Status

# State

States with Employment

First legislation (as of

June 2010)

4 California, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania

States with state agency

references to Employment

First (as of June 2010)

19 Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,

Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee*, Texas, Washington

States with non-state

agency references to

Employment First (as of

June 2010)

3 North Carolina, Vermont, Wisconsin

States without references

to Employment First (as of

June 2010)

25 Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,

Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah,

Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming

* Description of programs not included in this list

State Information

California:

Introduced bill in Feb ’08 to CA General Assembly

http://www.scdd.ca.gov/Employment_First_Policy_(AB_2424).htm

AB 2424 (Beall) – FACT SHEET Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act Reform:

The IPP Process & Employment First Policy

AB 2424 is based on the priorities of people with developmental disabilities, family members, advocates and other stakeholders, obtained through extensive

community input

Employment First Policy (Has since been renamed the Employment Opportunity Initiative)

Create a statewide Employment First Policy to increase the number of Californians with developmental disabilities who are productive, pay taxes, and are more self-sufficient and take part in their communities, to the extent that funds are available

• Transition aged youth, 16 to 22 years of age, and working aged adults, 22 to

64 years of age, with developmental disabilities have services and supports

to achieve and maintain gainful employment at or above minimum wage in integrated community settings

• People who directly support employment options are to be well trained and make a living wage with benefits

• The State will measure progress in moving towards more gainful employment for people with developmental disabilities

• Regional centers will have expertise in benefits planning

• Methods will be created to identify best practices and funding sources, and to recommend steps to improve the Employment First Policy

Bill status: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm

LAST AMENDED DATE : 08/04/2008

LAST HIST ACT DATE: 11/30/2008

LAST HIST ACTION : From Senate committee without further action

COMM LOCATION: SEN APPROPRIATIONS

Colorado:

SELN report 2008:

Goal of Increasing Employment by 5% Per Year: Colorado’s Division for

Developmental Disabilities (DDD) has a goal to increase the number of Colorado

citizens with developmental disabilities who attain successful integrated

employment by at least 5% per year To that end, a number of policy rules have been put in place

Note: Web site provides no information more recent than 2008

Delaware:

Delaware’s Division of Developmental Disabilities position on Employment First:

"Employment First” Statement:

The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services affirms that employment and participation in their communities is an important part of the lives of the individuals

it serves Further, the Division believes that employment in the community should

be the first service option considered for individuals In support of this belief, the Division has set a goal of increasing community employment for individuals

receiving Center Based Day Program services

To that end, Day Program service plans shall be required to address the

advancement of individuals towards meaningful participation and employment in their communities It is the responsibility of the Day Programs funded by the

Division to work in collaboration with the relevant Residential Programs and

families, to develop these support plans

http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/ddds/emp_first.html

Note: Newsletter from July 2009 stated that it was the state’s goal to incorporate

“Employment First” into support plans for each individual’s ELP by July 1, 2009; however, there is no information that indicates whether this was accomplished

Florida:

SELN report 2008:

Specific Numerical Goals for Employment: Florida’s Agency for Persons with

Disabilities (APD) launched its five-year Employment Initiative on July 1, 2004 The primary goal of the initiative is to have 50% of adults with developmental

disabilities (ages 18-55) who are receiving APD-funded adult day services engaged

in community employment by July 1, 2009 This policy includes individuals in adult day training (ADT), supported employment, and non-residential supports and

services In addition, as subordinate objectives to this main goal, APD aims to have: (a) 25% of ADT recipients employed by July 1, 2009; and (b) 50% of all individuals receiving DD waiver services who indicate a desire to work employed by July 1, 2009

Mandated Redirection of Individuals from ADT to Employment: To reach

these goals, each district in the state received a mandate to redirect a minimum of five percent of the people from Adult Day Training (ADT) services to employment in the competitive work force each year from 2004 to 2009 Districts developed

specific performance targets and resource strategies for the achievement of this

objective Performance measures and reporting on employment outcomes were modified to accomplish redirection of people from ADT services to employment outcomes and associated funding shifts

While this initiative was a directive from the state director of APD, unlike in other states, there is no specific APD policy language that mandates that employment be the first option for adults with disabilities

Update (as of Jan 2009): - 5 year plan 2004-2009:

http://www.apd.myflorida.com/employment/5-year-employment-initiative.htm

• FL APD had almost met their goal of employing 50% of adults with DD who are receiving APD-funded adult day services

o 5032 were employed

o 5842 would have been the 50% goal

• FL APD was fairly far away from their goal of redirecting at least 25% of

people in Adult Day Training Services in 2004 to employment by June 2009 - 25% would have been 2,254 and as of Jan ’09 only 948 individuals had found employment from ADT

Georgia:

“Employment First Georgia is housed under the Georgia Advocacy Office and

supported by a collaborative of state and federal agencies, including start-up funds from the U.S Department of Labor/Office of Disability Employment Policy.”

From their website – 2007 - a bit outdated - summary from “About Us” section:

“The four Best Practice Centers described below [Administration and

Management Center, Leadership Center on Access and Participation in

Employment, Youth and Transition Service Center, and Resource, Analysis,

Research and Development Center] represent the priority areas for advancing an Employment First agenda over the next year Although some technical

assistance is currently available through the continuation of a Workforce Action Grant supported by the SILC and IHDD, January 1, 2007 is the target for a more fully operational Employment First Georgia Resource Center.”

www.employmentfirstgeorgia.org

Indiana:

Employment First Coalition:

http://www.inapse.org/styles/inapse/defiles/Indiana%20Employment%20First

%20Coalition%20-%20Summit%20Report%20-%20A%20Strategy%20for

%20Action.pdf

Note: Information has not been updated since 2006 and includes just a proposal and strategic plan Neither a legislative measure nor an official policy was found

From SELN Report 2008:

“Indiana has a cross-section of 12 different organizations, including public disability agencies, advocacy groups, and external entities, working together to move forward

on a Work First Agenda Organizations involved include: Indiana APSE, INARF, The Arc of Indiana, Social Security Administration, Office of Medicaid Policy and

Planning, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, BehaviorCorp, Mental Health

Association in Indiana, Indiana Protection & Advocacy, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Supported Employment Consultation & Training (S.E.C.T.) Center, Governor's Council for People with Disabilities An Employment First Summit was held in September 2005 The purpose of the summit was to develop a strategic plan for ensuring that competitive employment is the first outcome all residents of

Indiana with disabilities A comprehensive strategic plan was created as a result of the summit, available at http://www.inapse.org

5 themes of plan:

• Business leadership

• School to work transition

• Alignment of state policies

• Develop quality employment services

• Becoming self-sufficient”

Iowa:

Employment First Summit summary from fall 2009:

http://www.wrightcounty.org/wccs/Board/Documents/emp_1st_10282009.pdf

Iowa's Employment First Initiative: A Call for Change of Historical Proportion

Partners: IA Chapter of APSE: The Employment Network, The Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG), Iowa's Developmental Disabilities Council, Iowa Vocational

Rehabilitation Services (IVRS), Iowa's Disability Navigator Program (DPN)

“The goal of the Iowa Employment First Initiative is that competitive employment will be the first priority and the expected and preferred Iowans with disabilities.” Themes and trends were identified, analyzed and then summarized using the same format From the statewide information five strategic outcomes emerged:

• Policies and funding dollars are aligned with Employment First

• -Individuals with disabilities and family members advocate for Employment First and participate in the design of employment services and supports

• -Businesses influence businesses to create employment opportunities

• -Strong partnerships remove barriers to employment outcomes

• -Best practice models drive successful post high school outcomes for working, learning, and living

These outcomes will be the focus of the Summit Groups will develop a plan to achieve the

particular outcome they are passionate about Plans will include action steps,

timelines and

responsibilities

Iowa APSE: Rationale for Employment First:

http://www.iowa-apse.org/EmploymentFirst.html

Note: No updated news or policy developments since fall 2009

Kansas:

House Bill No 2669 – Employment First

http://ntarseedingchange.blogspot.com/2010/03/employment-first.html (3/30/2010 blog):

“Kansas has recently submitted an Employment First Bill, H.R 2669, which has passed the House and is currently in the Senate for vote This landmark piece of legislation establishes that “…competitive and integrated employment of

persons with disabilities in communities of Kansas shall be the first priority in the state…” and creates an oversight commission for monitoring and accountability The Employment First Bill introduced in Kansas represents the culmination of a series of major activities and multiple peoples’ involvement The original impetus was the result of contract negations between the state funding agencies and provider organizations including self-advocates in which “employment first” language was added A task force of key stakeholders was appointed and the outcome of their work was an Initial Report and Recommendations The concept was rolled out for the legislature at a reception conducted at the beginning of their session with presentations from several individuals with disabilities who talked about their employment experiences, an employer, and a researcher who discussed employment outcomes in Kansas Information sharing and networking for professionals, families, and individuals with disabilities is proposed at a two-day Kansas Employment First Summit to be held in the near future with an

impressive line-up of national speakers and ending with a Conversation with the Governor’s Cabinet Secretaries and Directors.”

Link to Kansas legislation:

http://www.kslegislature.org/supplemental/2010/SN2669.pdf

As of March 2010, the bill had passed in the Kansas House and was currently in the Senate and had been revised - the link above is the revised bill

Maryland:

Position/Mission Statement for Developmental Disabilities Administration:

http://www.ddamaryland.org//Training/DDA91809.pdf

“In 2008, the Developmental Disabilities Administration’s (DDA) engaged stakeholders in an intensive strategic planning process, including planning to improve employment outcomes for people with developmental disabilities in

Maryland The following position statement is in support of the DDA’s broader values, mission and vision and is a product of the strategic planning process.”

Position Statement

Employment will be the “first” option considered for all people of working age who receive DDA services.

Note: There does not appear to be any official initiative to make this state policy or advertise this change in DDA policy No additional information about Employment First in Maryland could be located

Massachusetts:

Work Without Limits / Massachusetts Disability Employment Initiative:

www.workwithoutlimits.org

Report Feb 2009:

http://www.mi-ceo.org/uploadedFiles/mi-ceo/Landing_Pages/MADEI%20Strategic

%20Plan%20with%20Appendices%20FINAL%204%2015%2009.pdf

The plan that resulted from this process proposes the creation of the

Massachusetts Disability Employment Initiative (MA-DEI) The MA-DEI will be

a public/private partnership, bringing together state policy makers across

Secretariats, employment service providers, employers, and people with disabilities

to create an environment that maximizes work opportunities for people with

disabilities, addresses the needs of employers and strengthens the MA workforce Funding:

The Work Without Limits initiative is funded by the Centers for Medicare and

Medicaid Services through the Massachusetts Medicaid Infrastructure and

Comprehensive Employment Opportunities (MI-CEO) grant awarded to the UMass Medical School (CFDA No 93.768)

Partnership:

• The Commonwealth Medicine Center for Health Policy and Research at

University of Massachusetts

• The Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston

• The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Minnesota:

Minnesota APSE: www.mnapse.org

Spring 2010 newsletter from MN APSE:

http://www.mnapse.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/apsenewsletterspring2010.pdf

An Annual Employment First Summit was held in May 2010

From SELN Report 2008:

“The Minnesota Employment First Coalition includes entities internal and external to state government, including Pathways to Employment (the state’s Medicaid

Infrastructure Grant which itself is a partnership of the Department of Human

Services, Department of Employment and Economic Development, and State

Council on Disability), the MN Department of Education, MN APSE, PACER Center, Consumer Survivor Network, and Ramsey County Human Services.”

Missouri:

State website for MO Dept of Mental Health, Division of DD - summary of

philosophy, links to partners, etc

http://dmh.mo.gov/mrdd/employteam/employment.htm

“In October 2008 the Division of Developmental Disabilities began a statewide employment initiative The driving forces behind this initiative are those individuals receiving DD services, people are saying they want to work Our vision is to increase the number of people working in integrated employment As part of our restructure process we have hired a Director of Employment & Training and appointed

Employment Coordinators in each of the 11 regional offices This creates a

concentrated effort around employment and moving the vision forward We strongly believe in an employment first philosophy, where employment is the priority option provided prior to any other day service option Our expectation is if someone is of working age they are expected to explore work options, build on career planning and engage in work that makes sense to them.”

Link to strategic plan: http://dmh.mo.gov/mrdd/employteam/Workplan6-09.doc

Nebraska:

Alliance for Full Participation update on states, March 2010:

“This newly formed team is very pleased with the group of people who have

committed to serve on their team Good representation comes from various

stakeholder groups, including some key decision-makers who might be able to help impact systems-level change They are also focusing on creating a group where the discussion will not be IF this should be done but HOW this can be done In January

2010, the team is conducting several conference calls to discuss AFP's mission and next steps.”

Note: No information about the AFP team or the Employment First initiative on state’s DDD website Updates relating to the above-mentioned Jan 2010 actions could not be obtained through a web site search

New Mexico:

A link on NM Developmental Disabilities Supports’ website states “Making

Employment First a Reality in New Mexico” - but at this time, link does not lead anywhere meaningful

http://www.health.state.nm.us/DDSD/meaningfullife/EmployFirstRsrcs.htm#Sec3 Note: No other sources of information about Employment First in this state could be found

New York:

Minor mention was found of adopting an Employment First policy in NY’s 5 year strategic plan for 2009-2013 Specific information about execution of this

plan/policy could not be located on the web site

http://www.omr.state.ny.us/507plan/images/hp_507plan_stategicframework.pdf

North Carolina:

North Carolina APSE White Paper on Employment First:

http://www.ncapse.org/WhitePaperEmploymentFirst.pdf

Note: There is no information on state’s DDD site, only the above APSE white paper urging the state to adopt the policy

Ohio:

Employment First Initiative: The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities’ Future’s Committee recommended increasing meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities be a statewide priority The Employment First Initiative will provide 6 interested service providers, county boards or private, the opportunity

to work with two national consultants on identifying and assisting individuals who are interested in transitioning to community employment

http://dodd.ohio.gov/training/documents/EmploymentFirstInitiative.pdf

Note: Additional information about efforts being made to implement this policy was not available

Oklahoma:

From SELN Report 2008:

Goal of Full-Time Employment: Oklahoma has incorporated specific language

within their regulations that establishes employment expectations for people with developmental disabilities The Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) states that the goal of service delivery for employment services funded by Developmental

Disabilities Service Division (DDSD) is full-time employment, and details a tier of service expectations

OAC 317:40-7-1 Overview of Waiver Employment Services

(a) There are many employment service options available The options given in (1) through (4) of this subsection are not a continuum, but are prioritized as most desirable by people with and without disabilities Provider agencies assess each service recipient in maximizing employment options

(1) The optimum goal is full-time employment at prevailing wage in business

or industry at an occupation of the service recipient's choice with natural supports If prevailing wage is not available, then employment is at minimum wage with or without paid supports

(2) If a service recipient cannot secure enough work hours through a single job of the service recipient's choice, then two part-time jobs or a job that is not the service recipient's first preference may need to be sought to equal a full time job

(3) If a fully integrated placement is not currently available, employment of the service recipient's choice in an enclave in a business or industry, with or without paid supports, is an option

(4) If there are no paid jobs to be found, temporary unpaid training or

volunteer service in accordance with Department of Labor regulations, with

or without paid supports, may be an option for the purpose of resume

building or job exploration, or temporary participation in real work in a

center-based setting can be obtained

(b) There may be instances resulting from a variety of factors when people served have not achieved the goal of full employment The provider agency makes

available those supports needed for the service recipient to achieve full

employment

(c) Employment services are prescribed in accordance with OAC 340:100-17, Part 1, and OAC 340:100-3-33.1

(d) People receiving services may choose retirement to pursue activities according

to each person's interests, including employment or integrated community

activities for senior citizens If the service recipient is age 62 or older, an exception

as described in OAC 317:40-7-21 is not required.

Current News from Alliance for Full Participation, March 2010:

“The State Team's current objective is to hold several "parent education" nights around the state to better inform parents on the benefits of employment for their family member We will be holding either a dinner or reception and provide respite care for the family member during the presentations Representatives from the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Human Services' Developmental Disabilities Services Division provided the presentations

Oregon:

From the Alliance for Full Participation website, March 2010:

“The DD Employment Task Force has been meeting since 2004 and has been the main driving force for the State of Oregon to adopt an Employment First Policy The

DD Council was also the driving force in legislative change for students with DD