Implementing Oregon’s Employment First Policy

Expectations of Executive Order 13-04:

Presented:YTP Statewide Conference

February 20, 2014

Mike Maley, Department of Human Services (DHS)Mitch Kruska, Department of Education (ODE)

Stephaine Taylor, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

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Overview

• The Employment First Movement

• Executive Order (EO) 13-04 & the Youth Transition Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

• Partner agencies

• Mutual and agency responsibilities

• What each agency will do

• What you can do

• Questions and discussion

The Employment First Movement

• All people with disabilities can work:

– At integrated jobs;

– For at least minimum wage or industry standard pay;

– And participate in community

• Systems-change to promote integrated employment as a priority of day services by:

– Aligning policies with real job outcomes

– Creating guidance for service coordinators

– Updating rate setting methods and structures4

Employment For People With Disabilities in Oregon

• Oregon’s Employment First policy (2008)

• Office of Disability & Employment Policy (ODEP) grant (2012-2014)

• Lane v. Kitzhaber lawsuit (filed in 2012 and ongoing)

• SB22B (2013)

• The Executive Order 13-04 (April 16, 2013)

• Transition Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (May 16, 2013)

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DHS (VR and ODDS) and ODE shall work:

• “…to further improve Oregon’s systems of designing and delivering employment services to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities …”

• Work “toward fulfillment of Oregon’s Employment First Policy,” including

– Reduced state support of sheltered work over time

– Increased investment in employment services

Executive Order 13-04

6(April 16, 2013)

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EO Target populations

• Working age individuals with Intellectual and other Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in sheltered workshops

• School age children and transition age youth with IDD who are found eligible for Developmental Disability and/or Vocational Rehabilitation services

• School age children and transition age youth in public schools eligible for Special Education and related services

“Youth with disabilities will leave school with a post-secondary education plan or integrated inclusive employment

at minimum wage or greater.”

The Office of Developmental Disability ServicesVocational Rehabilitation

Oregon Department of EducationOregon Council on Developmental Disabilities

Youth Transition MOU

8Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), ¶4.1 (May 16, 2013)

• Provides community-based supports and services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Eligible individuals and their families can access service coordination and a variety of other services, including appropriate employment supports.

Office of Developmental Disability Services

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Vocational Rehabilitation

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• Mission: Assist Oregonians with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and independence.

• Eligible individuals can access a wide range of employment services and supports including:

– Job search assistance,

– On the job training, and

– Assistive technology.

Special Education is governed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):

• Ensures that all children with disabilities have available to them a free and appropriate public education that:

• Requires special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and

• Prepares them for further education, employment, and independent living choices.

20 USC 1400(d)(1)(A)(emphasis added)

OR Department of Education

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Authorized under the DD Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 to:

• Assure that individuals and families have a voice in systems change

• “Engage in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities that …

• Promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life”

OR Council on Developmental Disabilities

42 USC 15001(b)(1)

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Mutual Responsibilities

• Work with Policy Group to design and implement multiple strategies to accomplish full implementation of this order

• Allocate responsibility, funding commitments and authority to ensure agency performance

• Explore ways to leverage or co-invest resources

• Coordinate outreach efforts to target populations

• Collaborate with brokerages, county DD programs and service providers to achieve goals

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Employment Services

ODDS and VR will:

• Create policies that require evidence-based and individualized employment services

• Base employment services on each person’s capabilities, choices and strengths

• Provide such employment services to at least 2,000 people over the next nine years beginning July 1, 2014 Executive Order 13-04, Sec. IV

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Career Development Planning ODDS and VR Actions

• Focus career planning on strengths, abilities, choices and the greatest number of work hours

• Focus vocational assessments on interests, strengths and abilities for a good job match

• Develop career plans for people in sheltered workshops who will receive employment services and for youth before they leave school

• Policies will “include presumption that all individuals in the ODDS/VR target populations are capable of working in an integrated employment setting”

Executive Order 13-04, Sec. VI

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Training

ODDS and VR will:

• By July 1, 2014, establish competency-based training standards for all specified employment services

• By July 1, 2016 only purchase employment services from agencies or providers qualified to provide such services under the new standards

Executive Order 13-04; Sec. VI

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Outreach and Awareness

ODDS and VR will:

• Develop an outreach and education program by January 1, 2014 to:

– Explain benefits of employment

– Address concerns of families

– Address perceived obstacles to participating in employment services

– Encourage individuals and families to ask for employment services Executive Order 13-04, Sec. VII

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Provider Capacity

ODDS and VR will:

• Make efforts to ensure there are enough qualified employment service providers to deliver services and supports

• Make the best use available resources in their budgets to do so

Executive Order 13-04, Sec. VIII

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ODE will:

• Appoint staff to focus on system-change in schools and communities

• Establish Statewide Transition Technical Assistance Network to assist transition services in schools

• Support legislative or rule changes to prohibit local education agencies from contracting for assessments in sheltered workshops

• Educate self-advocates, families and others about high expectations for employment

• Engage self-advocates and families in the Employment First movement

• Invest in strategies to achieve integrated employment outcomes

– Oregon Family Networks

– Person Centered Plan Facilitator Training

OCDD will:

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Successful Transition Through Collaboration

Student &

Family

ODE

OCDD

ODDS

VR

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What to expect

• No more funding or buying assessments in sheltered workshops by 7/1/14

• No more funding or buying sheltered workshop placements for:

– Transition age youth with I/DD by 7/1/15

– Adults who are newly eligible for services by 7/1/15

– Adults who have services but not in sheltered workshops by 7/1/15

• Employment Services rule changes Executive Order 13-04, Sec. III and IX

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What to expect

• Provider, case manager and agency training

• DHS “Integrated Employment Plan” by 11/1/13

• New quality improvement initiative by 7/1/14:

– Promote Employment Services

– Evaluate quality of Employment Services

• Twice a year progress analysis with data analysis and quality improvement activities

Executive Order 13-04, Sec. IX, XII, XIII

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What to expect

• Policies for Career Development Planning

• Core competency requirements for Employment Service providers by 1/1/14

• Between 7/1/14 and 7/1/22, DHS will provide employment services to at least 2,000 people

• Joint trainings and best practices outreach between ODE, ODDS, VR and OCDD

Executive Order 13-04, Sec. V, VI, IVMOU, ¶5 (May 16, 2013)

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What you can do

• VR Counselors:

– Attend skill development trainings

– Encourage providers to attend trainings

– Participate in IEP meetings as soon as possible

• Teachers and Special Education Directors:

– Help IEP teams build strong transition plans

– Collaborate with partners, pilot projects and families

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What this means for you

• DD Case Managers and Personal Agents:

– Attend skill building trainings

– Participate in IEP meetings

– Manage DD employment supports for students who find paid jobs while still in school

• Families and Students:

– Invite VR Counselor and DD Case to IEP meetings

– Request services that will lead to a job or post-secondary education, including meaningful work experiences.

Questions?

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Michael J. MaleyOregon Department of Human Services

mike.j.maley@state.or.us

Sally SimichOregon Department of Education

Sally.Simich@state.or.us

Keith OzolsVocational Rehabilitation Keith.s.ozols@state.or.us

Jaime DaignaultOregon Council on Developmental Disabilities

jdaignaultocdd@gmail.com

Contact information

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