CESSI/Employment Network Training Slides

TASC and Partnership Plus January 2011 Joel Middleton & Mike Yozzi

EN TASC
The EN TASC was established to address technical assistance needs identified by ENs to provide regional and functional services to deliver improved training , enhance internal procedures , increase Ticket assignments and payments , and help ensure more Ticket Holders access and retain employment . The EN TASC will assist ENs in attaining new competencies and in meeting performance objectives.

TASC Services
Technical Assistance Services
Call Center: Inbound & Outbound
Recruitment Outreach and Support
Activation Services
Orientation Teleconference
Basics Training
Payments Training
Weekly Calls, Email Updates
Technical Assistance Bulletins
Business Support Services
Ticket Assignment Status Checks
In-Depth Payment Technical Assistance
IWP Review Team
Performance Monitoring
Oversight of Competencies Profiles
Annual Performance and Outcome Report (APOR)
Web-based Resources
www.yourtickettowork.com
Recruitment tools (Estimator, Toolkit)
EN Portal
Training tools
Training Resources
Understanding Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
How to Become an EN
EN Operational Basics
Payments
EN Core Competencies
Best Practices (Based on 2010 Experiences)
Supplemental Offerings
Service Systems: Workforce, VR/Partnership Plus, Goodwill, Mental Health, Native American, Employers
Disability Employment Sessions (guests)

TASC Competencies Model
State Research and Profile Creation
EN Competency Continuum
Recruitment: organizations that have done similar work
Activation: organizations seeking ground floor success
Payments: organizations seeking second tier success
Oversight: rewarding quality organizations
Optimization: attain benchmark performance levels
<--------------------------------------------------------Training -------------------------------------------------------  Recruitment Activation Payments Oversight Optimization <----------------------------------- Performance Monitoring --------------------------------------- 

Partnership Plus: - Factors Contributing to the Success of Partnership Plus - Benefits of Partnership Plus

What Is Partnership Plus?
Partnership Plus is a service delivery model under which SSA will compensate a State VR agency and an EN for successfully serving the same beneficiary under the same Ticket in certain circumstances
Only applies to situations where VR chooses to serve a beneficiary under the CR program
The service provision must be sequential, not concurrent
> VR provides the up-front services leading to job placement and EN secures Ticket assignment after VR case closure
> Ticket regulations only allow a Ticket to be with one service provider at a time

Successful Implementation of Partnership Plus
Three factors contribute significantly to the successful implementation of Partnership Plus
Having a pool of qualified ENs serving the state
Ensuring that beneficiaries understand their options under the Ticket program after VR case closure
Having VR counselors who understand the opportunities offered by the Ticket program and Partnership Plus

There Is a Delay
A number of factors create an inherent delay in moving a beneficiary’s Ticket in and out of the “in-use SVR” status
VR cases are closed throughout the month
There are 80 State VR agencies - Some submit electronic files once a month, some quarterly, and some less often
MAXIMUS uploads data into their system once a month - Takes a couple of weeks to complete this process

ENs Serving the State
ENs need to understand both the benefits of participating in the Ticket program and the benefits of taking Ticket assignments after VR case closure
Some ENs are hesitant to take to take Ticket assignments from successful VR consumers because of the loss of Phase 1 milestone payments
> ENs have opportunity to serve beneficiaries who are already employed and have been stabilized in employment for at least 90 days
> In the case of a beneficiary who was successfully closed by VR and later lost his/her job, the EN has the opportunity to work with a beneficiary who has received services from VR and has some work history
> Phase 1 milestones are still available if EN operates under outcome only payment system

Beneficiaries Need to Understand Their Options
As a beneficiary is completing VR services, she/he needs to know several things
The Ticket still has value after VR case closure
The Ticket can be assigned to an EN to secure ongoing support services, job retention services, and other services and supports to maintain and advance in employment
How to locate ENs serving the area
Benefits planning services are available
> Work Incentives Information and Referral Center
> WIPAs

Importance of VR Counselor Training
VR agencies experience significant turnover in staff
Tight state budgets have resulted in VR counselors being furloughed
VR counselors have large caseloads and significant responsibilities associated with their law and regulations
The Ticket and Partnership Plus have created additional work for VR staff
> Need staff to manage electronic reporting of CR cases
> VR counselors need to be trained to be able to give beneficiaries accurate information on their options

Benefits of Partnership Plus

Benefits of Partnership Plus
Provides beneficiaries access to VR for upfront services & ENs for ongoing support services after job placement
Provides a new option for assisting beneficiaries to maintain and advance in employment after VR closes the case
> An alternative to State VR agency providing post- employment services
Many beneficiaries will achieve 9 months of earnings above SGA with assistance from an EN
> VR is not designed to provide long-term supports after job placement
> Most VR agencies close cases when consumers are employed for 90 days

Benefits to VR Counselors (Continued)
Provides an alternative for beneficiaries who are being wait-listed based on an Order of Selection
Reduces the need for re-opening cases when beneficiaries need additional assistance after case closure
Provides another option for beneficiaries whose VR cases are closed unsuccessfully

Partnership Plus: Benefits to the Beneficiary
Access to services that are individualized and sequential
Access to a wider scope of services
Facilitates a coordinated system of services
Expands access to job retention services and other types of ongoing supports and post-employment services that beneficiaries often need to retain, regain, and advance in employment

Benefits to ENs and VR Agencies
Promotes increased communication between and among service providers (e.g., information on Ticket program, work incentives, VR services, etc.)
Increases and improves collaboration among service providers by encouraging partnerships, instead of competition over Ticket assignments
Provides a source of unrestricted funds that can be used to
> Support and expand the infrastructure of service providers serving the state
> Provide bridge funding for service providers experiencing cuts in funding during hard economic times
> Fill gaps in services

Benefits to Both VR and ENs
Potential to strengthen all partners in the system
> Increases CR payments to VR agency
> Increases milestone and outcome payments to ENs
Potential to minimize/share administrative tasks associated with tracking work and earnings, and submitting for payments from SSA
> Usually done based on a written agreement

Partnership Plus: Benefits to ENs
In addition to all of the benefits an EN may get from participating in the Ticket program
Opportunity to service beneficiaries who are already working or have some work history
Does not interfere with EN providing services under a vendor agreement while the VR case is open and later functioning as an EN for the same Ticket Holder

Partnership Plus: Benefits to VR
Reduction in paperwork – Submission of SSA 1365 no longer needed for CR cases
Increases choices for consumers to access services and supports necessary to maintain, regain, and advance in employment, i.e., an alternative to VR providing post-employment services
Enhances VR’s ability to focus on long-term “competitive” employment

Benefits to VR Counselors (Continued)
Reduces the need for re-opening cases when beneficiaries need additional assistance after case closure
Provides another option for beneficiaries whose VR cases are closed unsuccessful
The Ticket program also provides an alternative for beneficiaries who are being wait-listed based on a State’s Order of Selection

Benefits to SSA and Taxpayers
More beneficiaries going to work and reducing/eliminating reliance on disability benefits results in increased savings to the Social Security Trust Fund and the General Revenue Fund

You Can Help!
We are updating the Partnership Plus online Toolkit ( http://PartnershipPlus.cessi.net )
Your thoughts and ideas are welcome
Help us identify examples of useful tools, forms and agreements

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CESSI/Employment Network Training Slides

by DiscoverAbility NJ on Apr 19, 2011

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CESSI/Employment Network Training Slides — Presentation Transcript