Mecklenburg Disability Action Collaborative (MDAC)

1. Mecklenburg Disability Action Collaborative (MDAC) Employment First Initiative Alliance for Full Participation Presentation March 15, 2011 Ron Reeve – MDAC RR77777@carolina.rr.com

2. Mecklenburg Disability Action Collaborative (MDAC) Employment First Initiative Agenda • What is MDAC? • Collaboration on Disability Issues • Employment is Key • What Must Change? • The Employment First Initiative 2011 Plan • Steering Committee • Transformation Committee • Transition Committee • NC Business Leadership Network • The Need and Role of a Collaboration Center

3. Mecklenburg Disability Action Collaborative (MDAC) Mission To collaborate on actions that support individuals with disabilities to become fully integrated into our community through recovery and self-determination best practices and community awareness and acceptance. • Originating Advocacy Organizations in 2008 Included: • Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (CFAC) for Area Mental Health • Arc of Mecklenburg County • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) • Mental Health Association (MHA) of Mecklenburg County • Autism Society • MeckPromise • Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) • Council for Children’s Rights • Drug Free Coalition • Disability Rights & Resources • Down Syndrome Association • Local Management Entity (LME) for Area Mental Health

4. The Need for Collaboration • Key Goals of People with Disabilities are: • Recovery • Self-Determination • Community Inclusion • These Goals Require: • Employment Opportunities • Housing Alternatives • Transportation • Community Acceptance • Social Networks These are Common Issues Across all Disability Groups • In Mecklenburg County: • Over 50,000 Individuals with Disabilities Receive Public Support for • Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse • Over $300 Million is Spent Each Year for Their Care • Up to 70% of These are Unemployed • Most have Limited Housing Alternatives • Many are in Segregated Environments • There are Few Opportunities for Socialization • There is No Coordinated Plan to Help Them • Advocacy and Support is Typically Focused on Smaller Target Populations • Result has been Limited Leverage and Poor Outcomes Collaboration is Vital

5. Health & Stability Residential Employment Or Daily Activity Social Life And Recreation Transportation Income & Financial Support • Physical Health • Mental Health • Crisis Mgmt • At Home • Supported • Independent • Education • Employment • Other Activities • Family & Friends • Hobbies • Travel & Networking • Faith Based • Special Transport • Public Transport • Family & Friends • Independent • SSI / SSDI • Other Public Funding • Family Support • Earnings Skills & Capabilities • ADL’s • Social • Financial Employment is Key The Elements of Recovery and Self-Determination Employment Because of it’s Potential Impact on the Other Elements Then…. Individuals With a Disability This is First! 9/11/2014 5

6. Employment is Key • Employment of People with Disabilities is Very Low and Poverty Rate High • Unemployment/Underemployment estimated to be between 60-70% (NOD, APSE) • US DOL estimates Unemployment Rate to be about 15% (DOL doesn’t count those not looking!) • ACS 2008 NC Employment Rate for People with Disabilities is 33.4% • NC Employment Rate for People without Disabilities is 80.1% • US DOL 2011 US Employment Rate for People with Disabilities is 20.6% • US Employment Rate for People without Disabilities is 69.5% • Poverty Rate twice as high as others • Primary Indicator of Community Inclusion • It’s measurable! • It provides a clear focus for services • It establishes positive expectations • Benefits the Individual • Common goal of most people • Provides self-esteem • Provides social opportunities • Increases income for housing, transportation, other expenses • Benefits the Employer • Increases potential skilled workforce • Provides highly motivated and reliable employees • Impacts perceptions and attitudes of other employees • Increases marketing opportunities • Benefits the Community • Increases diversity and inclusion • Changes perceptions and acceptance • Increases the tax base • Reduces future service costs to provide care ACS – American Community Survey DOL – US Dept of Labor

7. The Bad News: Facility-Based & Non-Work Services Keep Rising Source: ICI MR/DD Agency Survey

8. Participant Prefers employment outside of workshop Migliore (2006)

9. Employers Mecklenburg County Employment First What Must Change? Goal: Increase Employment for People with Disabilities • Benevolent Agnostics To: • Sympathetic Hiring • Lack of Knowledge • Randomly Solicited • Tolerant of Job Coaches • Cost / Risk Focus • Active Recruiters • Asset Based Hiring • Knowledgeable • Relationship Based Matching • Respect for Job Coaches • Cost / Benefit Focus Providers People with a Disability & Families • Service Definition Driven • Focus on Person’s Deficits • Legacy Services • Readiness Model • Little Collaboration • No Standard Training • No Certification • Outsider to Employers • Process Compliance Driven • Low Pay / Esteem • To: • Holistic Outcome Driven • Focus on Person’s Abilities • Best Practice Services • Trained / Certified • Part of Employer Team • Rewarded for Outcomes • Improved Pay / Stature • Limited Belief & Aspirations • Can’t • Not Ready • Passive • Perceived Safety of Segregation • Benefit Risk • Reliance on System • Unprepared for Transition to Work • To: • Full Belief & Desire • Yes I Can • Yes You Can • Active • Dignity of Risk & Integration • Benefit Management • Utilize System to Bolster • Natural Supports • Prepared for Transition to Work Future Employment Current Employment Support System • Fragmented, Agency Centric To: • Silo’s • Not my mission • Focus on Person’s Deficits • Measured on Process • Lack of Coordination • Funding Gaps • Policy Deterrents • Coordinated, Person Centric • Integrated • Common Goals • Focus on Person’s Abilities • Measured on Outcomes • Coordinated • Sufficient & Flexible Funding • Policy Enablers Area Mental Health Vocational Rehabilitation Dept of Social Services Workforce Development Board Housing Authority CMS CPCC UNCC Community Agencies Public 5/15/09

10. MDAC Employment First Initiative 2011 – Organization & Objectives Employment First Develop Employer Awareness & Leadership Promote System Transformation Prioritize Transition of Young Adults Create Sustainable Collaboration I. Transformation Comm. Transition Comm. Steering Comm. NC Business Leadership Network A. Establish a Leadership Collaborative and Strategic Plan B. Foster Collaboration with the Service Provider Agencies C. Foster Collaboration with Business Leadership Network D. Foster a Self-Advocate and Associate Leadership Network E. Establish an “Employment First” Collaboration Center A. Communicate Key Principles and Best Practices B. Promote Workforce Training and Certification & Peer Support C. Evaluate and Test New Business Models for Provider Agencies D. Promote Supportive Policies Practices and Funding E. Establish and Implement a Measurement System . A. Establish a Community Leadership Team B. Communicate with and Educate Stakeholders C. Analyze Community Transition Data and Paths D. Foster New Initiatives Such as Project Search & Inmate Programs E. Develop Community Transition Plan and Funding A. Incorporate & Become USBLN Affiliate B. Build Membership & Participation C. Develop Community Awareness D. Foster Young Adult Transition to Employment E. Promote “Accessible Charlotte”

11. How employment staff use their time ICI TA data

12. MeckLink Single Service IPRS Medicaid LME Value Options VR CMS • Case Mgmt • FPS • True Behavioral Health Care • Arc of NC • True Visions • First Choice • InReach • CABHA • 40* Providers UM UM Counselors Transition Plng Assessment Case Mgm’t & CABHA Providers Assessment/PCP’s CRP’s Natural Supports Job Link Centers Long Term FA SE Providers • Goodwill • LifeSpan • InReach • Easter Seals / UCP • UMAR • Carolinas Rehab • Career Mgm’t Group • Autism Services • RHA / Howell • Nevins • Goodwill • LifeSpan • InReach • Easter Seals / UCP • UMAR • Carolinas Rehab • Career Mgm’t Group • Autism Services • C&L Employment & Support • Circle of Life • Golden Rule of Charlotte • Primary Care Solutions • Disability • Program Navigators Mecklenburg Employment Services for Individuals with Disabilities Employers

13. The “Push” Process Voc. Rehab & CRP’s The key need Is here. Job Coaches & Job Developers Employer • Please - • Do you have a job? • Can you create a job? • Can you help? People with Disabilities CRP – Community Rehabilitation Programs

14. The “Pull” Process Voc. Rehab & CRP’s & CMS The key need Is here. Job Coaches & Job Developers Employer Workforce Alliance • I need a candidate for …. • I would like an intern with the • potential for employment • I need the following support …. People with Disabilities • Could be: • An alliance of CRP’s • A CRP partner chosen by the Employer • A community funded resource used by CRP’s • A specialized function within JobLink CRP – Community Rehabilitation Programs

15. Key Priority: Transition of Youth to Employment Unemployed Young Adults (18 - 23) with Disabilities (100%) CMS/Other Schools Jails Community General Ed OCS Autistic SAC SBS Center for Community Transitions System of Care Jacobs Ladder OnRamp Project Search Transition Fair Inmate Programs Job Fairs AMH Adult Services Vocational Rehabilitation Natural Supports Post Secondary Education Dept. of Social Services DD Best Practices Sub-Committee MeckPromise JobTraining Programs Communities in Schools (CIS) Q Foundation Employment (Est.: 30%) Notes: OCS – Occupational Course of Study, SBS – Specialized Behavioral Support, SAC – Specialized Academic Curriculum

16. Second Chance Act Technology Careers Training Demonstration Project for Incarcerated Adults and Juveniles Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office Proposal Incarceration Community Release 1 Year 6 Months Potential Voucher/Stipend Support 3 Months Employment Tech Training A & Support Computer Literacy Students Computer Aided Design Apprenticeship Target Inmate Population Screening & Assessment Tech Training B & Support Soft Skill Development Mecklenburg County Inmate Programs Futures Planning Entrepreneur Tech Training C & Support Jail Tech Support Center CPCC Training Agencies SCORE Employers Support Agencies Peer Mentors Research & Evaluation - UNCC Employer Awareness – Mecklenburg Business Community Community Collaboration – MDAC Employment First Initiative

17. Key Priority: The NC Business Leadership Network (NCBLN) • Started in January 2010 – “Right to Risk” Event • Affiliate of the US Business Leadership Network • National Organization of Employers • Over 60 Affiliates, representing 5000 employers • Chair 2009/2010, Beth Butler, Wells Fargo, Charlotte • Mission: Employ, Market to, Contract with People with Disabilities • Bottom Line Oriented – Not Charity • NC BLN • Meets Monthly • Bank of America – Lead Employer • Chair – Michael Shriver, Bank of America • Over 30 Participating Employers in Charlotte Region • Networking, Sponsoring Events • Current Focus • Transition Age Youth • “Accessible Charlotte” • Hiring/Retention Models

18. Key Priority: Employment First Collaboration Center • Employment First Implementation Concept • A Long-Term Community Organizational Change Initiative • Not a New Program or Service Collaborative Implementation Initiatives Member Resources Enhanced Outcomes Collaborative Members Change in Public Perceptions and Expectations Increased Employment of People with Disabilities Improved Transition of Youth from CMS Reduced Young Adult Incarceration Reduced Future Cost of Care for People with Disabilities Increased Workforce for Employers Establishment of a Common Vision Research and Evaluation Common Measurements Education Training Organizational Change Management Policy & Practice Advocacy Project Initiation Needs Analysis Current Volunteer Collaborative Leadership

19. Employment First Collaboration Center Director Commun- ications Project Initiation Research & Eval. Employment First Implementation – What’s Needed? Funding Sources Employment First Fiduciary Agent (TBD) Employment First Steering Committee Employment First MDAC Collaborative Collaborative Members Collaborative Implementation Initiatives • Objectives: • Professional Leadership for Sustainability • Funding & Fiduciary Responsibility • Improved Community Data & Analysis • Coordination with Related Community Initiatives

20. Employment First Implementation – What’s Needed? Employment First Collaboration Center Functions: Director Director • Collaborative Management • Goals & Objectives • Implementation Planning • Relationship Management • Funding/Resource Development • Financial Management • Staffing/Contracting • Sustainability Planning Commun- ications Project Initiation Research & Eval. Communications Research & Evaluation Project Initiation • Communications Planning • Community Presentations • Marketing Material • Collaborative Communications • Website & Social Marketing • Public Relations • Event Planning • Collaborative Metrics & Reports • Data Management • Evaluation of Transition Pathways • Pilot Evaluation • Quality Improvement • Impact Analysis • Publication of Results • New Project Identification • Pilot Planning & Initiation • Replication Planning & Initiation • Scaling & Sustainability Planning • Participant Agreements • Funding Attainment