work matters. joined state employment leadership network in december 2007 with support from the md...
TRANSCRIPT
Work Matters
Joined State Employment Leadership Network in December 2007 with support from the MD Medicaid Infrastructure Grant.
DDA conducted self assessment of strengths and weaknesses of current employment service system and held several focus groups to gather input from key stakeholders
Committed to becoming an Employment First state and created an Advisory Committee and larger Stakeholder Planning group.
Since then, Maryland has:
Developed a 10 year timeline Implemented new Waiver services:
Employment Discovery and Customization (time limited) and Community Services and Learning
Created Medicaid Buy In and amended DDA waivers
Created Organizational Change Peer to Peer Network
Staffing/turnover Lag time in achieving outcomes/results and
maintaining engagement of stakeholders Lack of individual and parent representation Disconnect from other DDA systems change
activities Effort is being driven by individuals and
programs already committed to employment Trying to do too much Power of Urban Legend
Frank Kirkland, new DDA Director, strongly committed to employment.
Development of recommended changes to all DDA Regulations to support Employment First
Implementation of DORS/DDA changes to eliminate need for separate DORS application
Hiring Employment staff person at DDA Continuation of Organizational System Change
Peer to Peer Network, funded by DDC Develop recommendations/strategies for
transition age youth employment first policy
Early Intervention/Retention/Advancement
Employer Satisfaction/Partnership—Project Search, Natural Supports
Develop business competencies of key staff which are different from human services competencies
Consider messages conveyed when fundraising about the skills and abilities of individuals with disabilities
Risk Management
Customized Employment Principles
Outreach to parents of elementary school highlighting successes and raising expectations
Increase Parent Mentoring Offer Pre-benefits counseling Develop and share networks more broadly
for job development Ensure both parents and individuals are
actively engaged and outspoken in support of Employment First
Identify and market successes
Does everyone in the system believe in/support employment outcomes?
How to blend funding that ensures services and rewards outcomes?
What data do we need to pay the most attention to?
What other system transformations can we learn from? I.e. deinstitutionalization.
Are we effectively linking to resources outside the DD system, i.e. One Stops, DORS?
What data can we stop collecting and what do we need to start collecting and analyzing?
What opportunities are readily available for change?
What can we learn from the past? Ie. Supported Employment Systems Change grant, deinstitutionalization.
Are we effectively linking to resources outside the DD system, ie One Stops, DORS?
We WANT you to be part of Maryland’s Employment First planning efforts!!
Contact to get involved:Jade GingerichDirector of Employment PolicyMaryland Department of [email protected] Job Seekerswww.mdworkmatters.org Employers410-767-3660