Strategic investments in developing the capacity of front-line direct support professionals and in testing innovative tactics for supporting individuals in competitive integrated employment is critical to the success of state Employment First efforts. Both the Administration on Community Living and the Office on Disability Employment Policy have invested heavily in support state E1st systems change efforts in recent years. This pre-conference session will focus on reviewing the challenges that states are facing in building a first-rate direct support professional workforce within an E1st framework, and to highlight strategies and models that states have successfully implemented to build and sustain the capacity of their front-line employment support workforce to support individuals with disabilities achieve competitive, integrated employment.
Objectives:At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- To identify Federal and state resources that can be utilized to build the capacity of front line direct support professionals and providers to bring to scale effective practices that lead to competitive, integrated employment (CIE).
- To discuss the learnings from two Federally-funded state E1st systems change initiatives -- ODEP's Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program and ACL's Partnerships in Integrated Employment -- regarding strategies for bringing to scale effective practices that foster and promote CIE.
- To acquire and develop new strategies and approaches in four key areas (customized employment, individualized supported employment, using technology as an equalizer and employer engagement) to developing staff and programs that are focused on supporting individuals with disabilities achieve and sustain CIE.
Agenda
8:15-8:35 a.m. Welcome & Overview
- ODEP/ACL’s investments, collaboration, and unified commitment to Employment First systems change efforts.
- Objectives for the Day
- Expectations of Participants (ask the group, pick 2-3 participants to respond)
8:35-9:05 a.m. Person-Centered Planning and Personalized Service Delivery –
Strategies That Move People from Programs Into REAL LIFE!
Gail Fanjoy, KFI (Maine)
9:05-9:35 a.m. Creating a Successful Employment Team:
Dynamic Program and Staff Development
Rachel Pollock, Job Path, Inc. (New York)
9:35-10:15 a.m. Leveling the Playing Field thru Person-Centered Technology
Accommodations
Jennifer White, Able Opportunities (Washington State)
10:15-10:30 a.m. Applying Promising Practices to Our Realities Back Home:
Interactive Small Group Discussion
- Have you attempted to use any of these strategies in your professional/personal work in this field thus far? If not, what do you think would be the most feasible way to get started?
- Based on the concepts discussed in the morning, where do you see the greatest opportunities to adopt some of these practices into your ongoing work? What do you think might be the greatest barriers to overcome?
10:30-11:00 a.m. Field perspective: Employment First Systems Change in Action
Julie Christensen, Iowa’s University Center for Excellence on Disabilities
(Formerly NY State Lead on EFSLMP & PIE Partnerships)
11:00-11:30 a.m. Interactive Q&A and Wrap-Up
