Putting Faith to Work Exploring New Possibilities within Old Traditions Bill Gaventa Erik Carter And...
-
Upload
elijah-hutchinson -
Category
Documents
-
view
252 -
download
2
Transcript of Putting Faith to Work Exploring New Possibilities within Old Traditions Bill Gaventa Erik Carter And...
Putting Faith to WorkExploring New Possibilities within Old Traditions
Bill GaventaErik CarterAnd many, many others…
https://statedata.info/statedatabook/bluebook2012_final.pdf
75%are
unemployed
5%integratedsettings
19%participate in
the labor force
29%poverty
rate
Critical Need for New Approaches
Critical Need for New Approaches
• Persistent and pervasive problems of unemployment • Lack of other valued avenues for community contribution • Service systems beyond their capacities to meet deep needs• Natural support systems regularly overlooked
All Americans Americans with Disabilities
Employed
Employed
Equipping Natural Supports
More Than 335,000
CongregationsNationally
Average of186 Attenders
(200 million people of
faith)
The Need for Innovation
Formal Expertise, Resources,
and Services
Natural Supports,
Connections, and Personal Commitment
Meaningful Employment
The Call and Opportunity
The Goals of the PFTW Project
1. Extend the field’s understanding of the possibilities and potential challenges of engaging congregations in supporting employment for people with disabilities
2. Replicate and refine a practical and flexible model for congregations to address the employment needs of people with disabilities
3. Recruit, equip, and coach congregations to support up to 60 individuals with a disability to secure and/or maintain employment across 4 states
4. Evaluate the PFTW model’s impact, feasibility, and accessibility
5. Ensure project findings penetrate practice by disseminating broadly through prominent national disability and faith networks
Collaborators
www.faithanddisability.org
Putting Faith to Work Model
Invitations and EncouragementSupport and Guidance
Linkages to Services & ResourcesConnections to Other Congregations
Community Groups
Businesses & Employer Networks
Civic Groups Non-Profits
Other Churches
Synagogues Mosques
Schools and Colleges
Friends & Relatives
Other Associa-
tions
CongregationMembers
Access to Meaningful WorkFor People with Disabilities
Hmmmm...I should probably
ask
Operatesa day care
Is a frontline supervisor
Works at the university
Owns a landscaping
business
Is a vocationalrehab counselor
Works ina law firm
Coordinates a non-profit network
Does odd jobs around town
Works at the municipal offices Owns a nursery
Runs a local bank
Leads her HR department
Works at a restaurant
Is a construction contractor
Works ata grocery store
Runs a temp agency
From a prominent family in town
Volunteers with Habitat
Garden club member
In a book club (Jane Eyre)
Serves on thecity councilRotary club
member
Involved in a running club
Is a Chamber member
Golfs with the VP of Big CompanyAlways “knows a
guy” who...
Knows the mayor
Is a regular at the local
coffeehouse
Is the “real”mayor of Atlanta
Is a incredible “asker”
Interviews people everyday
Can keep just about anyone encouraged
Knows what itslike to be out of work
Has connections to disability agenciesWrites beautiful resumes
Loves helping people find their calling
Great at making introductions
Knows every doctor in town
Will mentor someone interested in her field
Could hire someone at the church
Would be great at leading a “job club”
Could hire someone at their business
Could drive someone to an interview
Willingness to Ask?
How likely would you be to draw upon the support of your faith community for help connecting to employment?
Inviting Faith Communities• Building an initiative project around one
person• Person with disability and/or family member
asking• Word of mouth among disability networks• Helping a young adult with transition• Beginning a new ministry in line with mission• Expanding scope of current employment
ministry or Job Club• Expanding scope of inclusive or “special”
ministries• Tapping gifts of members in a new way• Agency invitation for collaboration…start with
one.• And ways yet to be found…..
Congregations and Faith Networks
Disability Organizations
Individuals with
Disabilities and Families
Employment Providers
Inviting Faith Communities• General
announcements• To congregations with
disability ministry initiatives• To families impacted
by disability• To agencies providing
disability services• To faith-based
networks
Inviting Congregation Members• Bulletin inserts• PowerPoint
announcements• Social media• Newsletters• Personal invitations• Other approaches
Conversations About WorkQuestions to Answer• Which strengths, gifts, and passions
should we consider when thinking about a meaningful job?
• Which prior experiences should we remember when considering possible jobs?
• What types of job responsibilities might be a really great fit?
• What are possible businesses and organizations in our community where these types of jobs exist?
• Who should we talk to in our congregation (or beyond) who may have connections to such employers?
• What supports do we think will be needed to promote success?
• What are our next steps as a group?
Conversations about Work
A Glimpse into this Work
One Page Profiles
Reverse Job Ads
80070FamilyMembers
Friends andClose Companions
Acquaintances(Coworkers, Neighbors)
People Paidto Be There
Anticipated Project Outcomes• A flexible, step-by-step model is available for use by virtually any
congregation• Multiple, diverse exemplars of congregational supports will be
compiled and disseminated• Congregations, service systems, and employers increase their
capacity, confidence, and commitment to work in concert• Individuals with disabilities gain access to a broader range of
natural supports to draw upon to find and maintain employment• 67 UCEDDs in every state have access to guidance on how to
engage new partners in improving employment outcomes • Relationships between faith communities using the model and with
private and public sector employment resources are enhanced.• A model of ministry in this area is articulated to help congregations
catch a vision for this work
Some Clear Challenges
• New territory for some individuals, congregations, and service providers • Congregations often move at a
different pace• Developing a flexible model that works
for diverse communities is difficult• Sustaining efforts beyond the life of the
grant• Many others…
Working Committee on Employment:• Statement of Solidarity• Expanding Employment Opportunities for
People with Disabilities: Suggested Steps for Congregations• Bulletin Insert:
Expanding Employment Opportunitiesfor People with Disabilities
http://www.aapd.com/idac-statement-of-solidarity.pdf
ArizonaTemple Emanuel of Tempe, AZCaliforniaCongregation Beth AM - Los Altos Hills, CAKalsman Institute on Judaism and Health, HUC-JIR - Los Angeles, CANational Council of Jewish Women, California State Public Affairs Committee - San Diego, CATemple Beth Hillel - Valley Village, CATemple Ramat Zion - Northridge, CA Temple Sinai of Oakland, CAZiegler School of Rabbinic Studies - Los Angeles, CAConnecticutAll Abilities Ministry, Inc. - New Haven, CTCongregation B'nai - Bridgeport, CTCongregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek - Chester, CTGishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation - Southington, CTFloridaPresentation Brothers - Kissimmee, FLGeorgiaCentenary Unitied Methodist Church - Macon, GAJewish Family and Career Services of Atlanta, GATemple Beth Tikvah - Roswell, GATemple Sinai of Sandy Springs, GAThe Amit Program - Atlanta, GAIllinoisLutheran Social Services of Illinois - Des Plaines, ILNational Council of Jewish Women, Illinois State Public Affairs Committee - Chicago, ILTemple Jeremiah - Northfield, ILIndianaAnabaptist Disabilities Network - Goshen, INFirst Baptist Church of South Bend, INTemple Beth-El - South Bend, INMassachusettsAndover Newton Theological School - Newton Centre, MAFalmouth Jewish Congregation - East Falmouth, MAJewish Vocational Service - Boston, MATemple Emunah - Lexington, MAMaineHenderson Memorial Baptist Church - Farmington, MEMarylandBrown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church - Baltimore, MDJewish Social Services Agency - Rockville, MDShaare Tefila Congregation - Olney, MDUniversity Baptist Church - College Park, MDMichiganChristian Reformed Church in North America - Grand Rapids, MIMinnesotaJewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis, MNLutheran Social Service of Minnesota -
Saint Paul, MNNorth CarolinaBeth Meyer Synagogue - Raleigh, NCNew JerseyAmerican Baptist Churches of New Jersey - Trenton, NJCongregation Beth Mordecai - Perth Amboy, NJJewish Vocational Service of MetroWest - East Orange, NJLiving Word Baptist Church - Toms River, NJNational Council of Jewish Women, New Jersey State Public Affairs Committee - Elizabeth, NJOr Chadash - Flemington, NJState Association of Jewish Federations - Union, NJTemple Beth-El - Hillsborough, NJTemple Emanu-El - Westfield, NJTemple Ner Tamid - Bloomfield, NJNew YorkCapital Regional Ecumenical Organization - Malta, NYCentral Conference of American Rabbis - New York, NYCongregation Rodeph Sholom - New York, NYCongregation Sons of Israel - Upper Nyack, NYJewish Labor Committee - New York, NYTemple Israel of South Merrick - Merrick, NYTemple Sinai of Roslyn - Roslyn Heights, NYOhioJewish Family Service Association of Cleveland, OH Jewish Family Services of Columbus, OHOhio Jewish Communities - Columbus, OHPennsylvaniaCongregation Dor Hadash - Pittsburgh, PADevelopmental Programs Division of Catholic Social Services, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, PAInternational Association of Jewish Vocational Services - Philadelphia, PAJEVS Human Services - Philadelphia, PAJewish Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, PA Jewish Family Service - Wilkes-Barre, PALinks of Love Disability Ministry - Lansdale, PAOffice for Ministry with Persons with Disabilities Diocese of Allentown, PA Paul's Run Retirement Community - Philadelphia, PATexasCongregation Agudas Achim - Austin, TXCongregation Beth El - Missouri City, TXCongregation Emanu El - Houston, TXJewish Family Service - Houston, TXNational Council of Jewish Women, Texas State Public Affairs Committee - Austin, TXVermontFirst Baptist Church of Bellows Falls, VTVirginiaTemple House of Israel - Staunton, VA Temple Israel of Norfolk - Norfolk, VAWashington, DCChurch of the Pilgrims - Washington, DC
Georgetown Presbyterian Church - Washington, DCTemple Micah - Washington, DCWest VirginiaNational Volunteer Caregiving Network - Wheeling, WVWisconsinBethesda Lutheran Communities - Watertown, WI Wisconsin Jewish Conference - Madison, WI
Putting Faith to Work Partners
• Opportunity to start and work with four state project before the funded project ends• Use own funds and/or staff resources• Access to resources, materials and lessons learned thus
far through technical assistance by phone and web• Willingness to provide feedback and learning into the
wider project• Willingness to sign Partnership Agreement related to
mutual responsibilities
Contact Person: Bill Gaventa, [email protected]
Partners to Date
•Elim Christian Services•Christian Horizons, Ontario
To Learn More
www.puttingfaithtowork.org
www.faithanddisability.org
Team Contact Information• Bill Gaventa
[email protected] • Erik Carter
[email protected]• Courtney Taylor
[email protected]• Milton Tyree
[email protected]• Harold Kleinert
[email protected]• Derek Nord
[email protected]• Joe Timmons
[email protected] • Penny Seay