Conducting a Successful WISE

1. Conducting a Successful WISE

2. Susan O’Mara Virginia Commonwealth Univ WIPA National Training Center

3. WIPA is a NEW Service! WIPA is NOT just the same old service with a new name – WIPA services represent an important paradigm shift! The new WIPA initiative is focused on 3 things: Promoting paid employment Enhancing self-sufficiency Collaborating with key stakeholders to accomplish 1 and 2 above

4. CWIC Role in Promoting Employment Helping beneficiaries identify, select and/or clarify their career goals; Helping beneficiaries determine what services, supports or accommodations may be necessary to achieve the desired career goal; Explaining SSA’s Ticket to Work program and the array of vocational services & supports available to individuals with disabilities in the local service area;

5. CWIC Role in Promoting Employment Connecting beneficiaries with the specific services and supports needed to obtain and/or maintain paid employment; and Assisting beneficiaries with disabilities to resolve problems related to work efforts, higher education, occupational skills training and work attainment or continuation of work.

6. WIPA is all about Partnerships! To support the work efforts of beneficiaries, the WIPA initiative must be fully integrated with employment and support services in the community CWIC's must be familiar with the employment services and resources in the community, and should partner and maintain strong working relationships with these agencies

7. Outreach Obligations of WIPA Programs WIPA programs are required to target their outreach activities toward beneficiaries who desire to work. WIPA programs work closely with the PMRO in the delivery of outreach services. WIPA programs should devote no more than 10% of their resources to outreach activities

8. Outreach Considerations for WIPA Projects Outreach is an ongoing, never-ending activity WIPAs must carefully budget staff time to perform outreach Work smart by doing research and developing a written outreach plan Stay focused – outreach should result in appropriate referrals!

9. WIPA Outreach & WISE WISE events are the primary method for directly marketing WIPA services to beneficiaries WISE events are key to jumpstarting and growing collaborative partnerships over time.

10. Conducting a Successful WISE Mary Ridgely, M.S. CESSI Consultant

11. Purpose of the WISE • Outreach to beneficiaries who want to learn about: • service and supports available through the Ticket To Work Program • Other Work Incentives • More than a work incentives education session • Forum where beneficiaries can explore the possibilities, connect with people, learn about resources

12. WISE host • WIPA are expected to host the WISE • Other partners can assist the day of the event, e.g. AWIC, DPN, VR Ticket Coordinator • Greet attendees • Help with presentation, answer questions • Secure a room in their agency

13. WISE Host • Coordinate logistics with the PMRO • Tools available to help with preparations • Checklist • Website - Toolkit • Procedure Guide - detailed instructions • Orientation phone call • Ongoing coordination

14. Separate or Combined? • First decision - separate events for SSI and Title II or combined event • WIPA choice • Base on what works best for your community/customers • Pros and Cons

15. Separate or Combined? • Separate sessions: • Requires partners to commit to an entire day if separate events on same day • Concurrent beneficiaries must choose one or the other and miss half the information they need • Beneficiary attends “wrong” event

16. Separate or Combined? • Combined sessions: • Allow for event to be half-day; easier for partners to schedule • More information on work incentives will be presented, some will not apply to all • Require a larger room to accommodate more people; affect intimacy • Have more frequent events and limit the number of participants

17. Getting Started - what you need • Beneficiaries wanting to work • Comfortable, accessible location • Coordinate with PMRO • Community Partners • Presentation with clear message about work/work incentives/supports • Experienced presenter

18. Who is your audience? • WISE targets beneficiaries between 21 and 45 years • Receiving Title II and/or SSI • Interested in going to work, increasing work activity, and plan to work at a substantial level • Needs resources available through TTW

19. Location/Site Selection • Variety of locations to cover service area • Large enough to accommodate at least 25-30 people • Must be accessible - easy to get to AND physically accessible • Use the site selection questionnaire

20. Location/Site Selection • If geographic area is small but number of beneficiaries large - use same space • Hold events at different times of the day or evening • Consider One-Stops as first option • Other locations: WIPA office, Libraries, Community Centers, schools, churches, businesses, other partner facilities

21. Logistics/Invitations • Coordinate with PMRO - contact assigned • Select your venue; verify your date • Invitations sent by PMRO - WIPA supplies zip code(s) 60 days prior to event • PMRO will run the data to get names/addresses of beneficiaries • Invitations customized for each WISE - sent 4 weeks before event

22. Logistics/Invitations • PMRO will invite ENs • WIPA host should contact ENs planning to attend - discuss their brief presentation • “Point of Contact” list is created by PMRO for each WISE

23. Advertising the WISE • In addition to invitations, flyers announcing the WISE are provided by PMRO • Sent to community partners - WIPA should identify others • Flyers encourage people to register - to reduce “walk-ins”

24. Registration • Participants register via website or toll-free telephone number • PMRO handles registration - if callers have specific questions, will refer to WIPA • WIPA can download the list of registrants for use at the event

25. Materials • Download from the Website: Powerpoint presentation/handouts, evaluation forms, sample agenda, Fact Sheets • www.cessi.net/wise/presentations.html • Provided by PMRO: Point of contact list, anything unique to your WISE • Day of event, use agenda, presentation handouts, Point of Contact list, Fact sheets • Other materials: Red Book, Brochures from SSA and other partners

26. Materials • Alternate format: 3 copies in Braille and large print provided by PMRO • Fact Sheets • Point of Contact list • If you use customize the materials, e.g. presentation, you are responsible for alternate formats

27. BPQY • Work with your AWIC or WIL to have BPQYs available for beneficiaries who want to schedule a work incentives analysis • Must have a dedicated phone line and a printer

28. Materials • Evaluations are important • Use feedback from beneficiaries, EN, WIPA to improve WISE • Responses are compiled by the PMRO

29. Presentation • Standard Powerpoint presentation for separate SSI/Title II events • Standard presentation for combined events • Customized presentation using specific slides developed by PMRO • Alternate presentation format

30. Presentation • WIPA host expected to do the presentation • Use the resources you have, e.g. other partners, to assist with presentation content or questions • Engage the audience

31. Special Accommodations • Responsibility of the PMRO • Attendees must request accommodation in advance • Sign language interpreters, listening devices, large print materials, braille copy • WIPA provide PMRO with local sources

32. Post event Tasks • WIPA will submit to the PMRO: • Completed evaluation • Sign-in sheet with all names of attendees • Beneficiary outcomes, e.g. connections made with EN, WIPA, DPN, AWIC, appointments made • Feedback and suggestions

33. Follow-up Tracking • WIPA must track beneficiaries that attend a WISE • Report the following: • # of people assigning their Ticket to EN • # who get a work incentives plan • # who begin working • # who earn above the SGA level • # who leave the rolls due to work

34. Summary/Review • Pre-event activities • Coordinate with PMRO contact to develop a plan • Select a site • Decide on separate or combined • Contact partners you want to attend • Contact ENs • Get familiar with the Powerpoint and materials • Participate in orientation teleconference

35. Summary/Review • Post-event • Submit sign-in sheet, evaluations to PMRO • Update registration system • Provide feedback to PMRO • Track beneficiary outcomes and report to PMRO

36. Other considerations • Conflict of interest • EN presentations • Be a host - make sure the beneficiary gets the most out of the experience • A lot of information is overwhelming • Many need help but won’t ask

37. www.cessi.net/wise/presentations.html

38. WISE Planning Jennifer Eckel New Editions

39. WIPA Checklist • Record WISE Coordinator contact information • 703-356-8035 x 116 • mbui@neweditions.net

40. WIPA Checklist • 8 weeks prior to event – provide the following information to WISE Coordinator • Location of event (address) • Confirmed date and time of event(s) • Driving directions • Public transportation information • Phone # and p.o.c for meeting location • Any special instructions for getting to mtg.

41. WIPA Checklist • 7 weeks prior to event • Submit site selection form (assuring accessibility of site) • Submit signage requirements • Provide zip codes for invitations • Provide local interpreter recommendations

42. WIPA Checklist • 6 weeks prior to event • Participate in WISE teleconference training to cover • Goal of WISE and importance of success • Logistics • On-Line registration system • Materials • Review presentation • Post-event activities

43. WIPA Checklist • 4 weeks prior to event • Invite P&A, AWICs, One-Stops, State Vocational Rehabilitation, others as appropriate • Distribute WISE flyer to community organizations, agencies, partners • Download materials from website: • Presentation with speakers notes • Agenda • Handouts • Evaluation forms ( beneficiaries, ENs, WIPA)

44. WIPA Checklist • 1 week prior to event • Conduct introductory call with EN’s • Update attendance count from on-line registration • Print nametags for presenters • Copy handouts, evaluations

45. WIPA Checklist Day of Event • Post sign in prominent location • Have greeters welcome and direct guests • Have registration available for walk-ins • Have name tags for all presenters (optional for guests) • Provide location for ENs and other partners to be available after presentation

46. WIPA Checklist • Post WISE • Collect evaluation forms and send to WISE Coordinator • FAX or mail a copy of the event registration form • Update the event report on the WISE registration site • Who attended, no-shows, walk-ins • Who requested BPQY or follow-up appts. • What were outcomes from meeting?

47. WIPA Checklist • Finally, whatever feedback you can provide about the event will be helpful in planning future events for you or other WIPAs!

48. WISE Coordinator Checklist • WISE Coordinator will contact WIPA who has indicated interest and readiness to host event. They will determine: • WIPA staff contact person • Contact information including • Address • Phone • E-mail • FAX

49. WISE Coordinator Checklist • 8 weeks prior to event • Coordinator will obtain: • Location of event (address) • Date • Time of session(s) • Driving directions • Public transportation information • Phone number and p.o.c. at meeting location • Any special instructions for getting to meeting location

50. WISE Coordinator Checklist • 7 Weeks prior to event • Request completed site selection questionnaire (accessibility survey) • Request signage requirements • Order invitation cards and envelopes • Pull beneficiary lists based on WIPA identified zip codes • Generate mailing labels