The Benefits of Partnership Plus Kentucky SGA Project

The Benefits of Partnership Plus Kentucky SGA Project | March 15, 2017

Presenters § David Leon Ticket to Work Coordinator, Grants & Special Programs Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) § Donna Osburn SSA/VR Coordinator Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) § Roger Naoroji EN Development Consultant Ticket Program Manager (TPM) 2

Objectives Ø Functional Definition of Partnership Plus Ø Virginia Model Ø Ticket to Work and Cost Reimbursement in Kentucky Ø Impact of Order of Selection (OOS) Ø Best Practices Ø Resources and Examples 3

Why is this Important? § Utilizing the Ticket to Work and Partnership Plus creates additional resources for OVR clients and service providers. § People with disabilities are considerably more likely to experience poverty relative to those without disabilities. § The Ticket to Work program is a path out of poverty! § Additional resources for VR and the EN. 4

Poverty and Disability 2017 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia Persons in Family/Household Poverty Guideline (For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4, 180 for each additional person) 1 $12, 060 2 $16, 240 3 $20, 420 4 $24, 600 5 $28, 780 6 $32, 960 7 $37, 140 8 $41, 320 * Reference: Department of Health and Human Services (January 2017) | https: //aspe. hhs. gov/poverty-guidelines 5

What is Partnership Plus § A mechanism for sequential provision of services § Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) > Employment Network (EN) § EN > OVR > EN 6

How Partnership Plus Works 7

National Cost Reimbursement (CR) Data for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 16 § VR Submitted 17, 832 Claims § SSA Processed 17, 763 Claims § SSA Allowed 11, 932 Claims (67%) § SSA Paid $181 M – Average Claim - $15, 203

Virginia Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) Cost Reimbursement (CR) Data Fiscal Year Number of Claims Paid Amount 2011 155 $2, 279, 648. 24 2012 174 $2, 448, 804. 70 2013 397 $5, 751, 393. 92 2014 291 $5, 685, 105. 37 2015 442 $8, 296, 529. 20 2016 385 $7, 069, 389. 71 9

Virginia Model § Partnership Plus and Administrative EN Models § Fee for Service Work Incentive Services § Work Incentive Specialist Advocates (WISA) § Work. WORLD for the Web § Benchmark Retention Payments § Work Incentive Specialist Position and Manual § National Employment Network Association (NENA) and National Association of Benefits and Work Incentives Specialists (NABWIS) membership and participation 10

Ticket to Work in Virginia § Partnership Plus agreement § Benchmark Retention payments § 21 current agreements § 12 Administrative EN agreements § FFY 2015: Over $930, 000 to our partners around the state though Ticket to Work funding 11

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Who Participates in the Ticket to Work program in Virginia? § Workforce Development Boards § Centers for Independent Living § Employment Service Organizations § Community Service Boards § Private nonprofit and for-profit Organizations § Community Rehabilitation Programs

Ticket to Work Strategies § Cross train Ticket to Work/WISA staff on DARS policies/Cost Reimbursement (CR) process § Co-present at specialty meetings, staff meetings, district meetings, statewide and national conferences. § Conduct quarterly meetings with Partnership Plus stakeholders

Current Initiatives to make the Ticket program Stronger § Work Incentive Manual – contract added § State Specific trainings developed § Work. WORLD Enhancements § Financial Literacy § Motivational Interviewing

Ticket to Work Data for Kentucky § 321, 249* Eligible Beneficiaries § 4, 166* Tickets in use with OVR * Reference: Social Security Ticket Tracker October 2016 Summary | https: //www. ssa. gov/work/tickettracker. html 17

Cost Reimbursement in Kentucky Fiscal Year Number of Successful Claims 2016 233 $2, 498, 778. 51 AVG $10, 724. 37 per claim 2015 238 $2, 613, 770. 84 AVG $10, 982. 23 per claim 2014 318 $3, 717, 461. 94 AVG $11, 690. 13 per claim 2013 280 $2, 990, 654. 29 AVG $10, 680. 91 per claim Figures 18

OVR CR and Ticket to Work: Potential Revenue Fiscal Year Number of Successful Claims 2016 233 $4, 398, 108 2015 238 $4, 492, 488 2014 318 $6, 002, 568 2013 280 $5, 280 2012 144 $2, 718, 144 Revenue 19

OVR Partnership Plus Employment Networks § Career Opportunities Unlimited § Connect-abilities http: //connect-abilities. org/index. html § Employment Solutions http: //www. employmentsolutionsinc. org/ § Opportunity for Work & Learning https: //www. owlinc. net/ § Options Unlimited http: //www. optionsunlimitedinc. org/ § Path Forward of Kentucky http: //www. pathforwardky. com/ 20

Order of Selection § As of July 1, 2016, Kentucky OVR went on Order of Selection. We are currently only serving Priority Category One (Individuals with Most Significant Disabilities). • Everyone else is added to a wait list • Some of these may be Ticket holders § Potential opportunity for referrals to our partnering Employment Networks. If no prior VR service, Phase I payments are available. 21

Potential Ongoing Support Services § Career Planning and Advancement § Advocacy Assistance § Understanding and accessing Social Security Incentives § Budgeting & Financial wellness coaching § Help arranging for support services such as transportation or medication § Other services that will help maintain job 22

Case Study § A consumer was referred for OVR services while attending high school. § He was referred to Options Unlimited for supported employment services. § With their support, he was hired on full-time with Best Buy. § His case with OVR was closed successfully and his Ticket to Work was assigned to Options Unlimited for long -term supports. 23

Case Study Continued § Ongoing services were provided in learning tasks, maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, and mandatory online training, among others. § Consumer receives a full benefit package and has proven to be an asset to his company. He has maintained the job for almost six years and has succeeded in gaining financial independence. He no longer needs or receives Social Security benefits. § Options Unlimited has received all possible Ticket to Work payments. 24

Partnership Plus Best Practices: VR § Who is a good Ticket Candidate? § When to look? § SSA Status? 25

Partnership Plus Best Practices: EN § How do you follow up with VR Counselors § Dual Referral Sources § Ticket Outreach § Understanding VR Structure 26

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Contact Information § Donna Osburn Donna. B. Osburn@ky. gov § David Leon David. Leon@dars. virginia. gov § Roger Naoroji Roger. Naoroji@maximus. com 29