2018 Pennsylvania Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association Conference

Transcription

1 2018 Pennsylvania Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association Conference Employment Services Office of Long-Term Living, Department of Human Services Edward M. Butler, Employment Specialist - OLTL 1

2 Executive Order On June 19, 2018, Governor Tom Wolf signed and codified the Employment First Law and established Employment First Law for people with disabilities. On March 10, 2016, Governor Tom Wolf signed Executive Order establishing the Employment First Policy. Under that Employment First Law, the first consideration and preferred outcome of publicly funded long-term services and supports for Pennsylvanians with a disability, among other things, shall be competitive integrated employment. 2

3 OLTL s Employment Initiative A focus on employment is a priority across the Department of Human Services. Consistent with the Employment First Law, OLTL is committed to increasing employment opportunities and outcomes for participants interested in competitive, integrated employment. The Employment First Law applies to all Home and Community-Based Service Waivers, Community HealthChoices and Act

4 OLTL Bulletin Employment and Employment Related Services Bulletin The purpose of this bulletin is to communicate the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania s recently established Employment First Policy to Service Coordination Entities Identify both the obligations of and the resources available to the Service Coordination Entities under this policy. 4

5 OLTL Goals To assist OLTL participants, who have identified an interest in competitive integrated employment, in pursuing their goal in the competitive open labor market. To ensure competitive integrated employment is discussed with all OLTL participants. 5

6 Competitive Integrated Employment A job is defined as earning minimum wage or better, and working in a setting where the majority of the workers don t have a disability. The individual is paid directly by the employer and not by the service provider. Transitional work or pre-vocational work where the individual is paid minimum wage or above minimum wage, is not considered competitive, integrated employment. 6

7 Employment and Employment Related Services Job Finding - Identifies and/or develops potential jobs and assists the participant in securing a job that fits the participants skills and preferences an employer needs in competitive integrated employment. Job Coaching - Individualized services providing support to a participant, who needs ongoing support to learn a new job and maintain a job that meets the definition of competitive, integrated employment. (Replaces Supported Employment) 7

8 Employment and Employment Related Services Employment Skills Development - Services that provide learning and work experience including volunteer work, where the participant can develop strength and skills that contribute to employability in paid employment in integrated community settings. Services are aimed at furthering habilitation goals that will lead to greater opportunities for competitive and integrated employment and career advancement at or above minimum wage. (Replaces Prevocational Services) 8

9 Employment and Employment Related Services Career Assessment - an individualized assessment used to assist in the identification of potential career options based on the interest of participant. Benefits Counseling - a service designed to inform and answer questions from a participant about competitive, integrated employment and how and whether it will result in increased economic self-sufficiency and/or meet financial benefit through the use of various work incentives. This service provides information to the individual regarding the full array of available work incentives for essential benefits programs. 9

10 Training and Resources OLTL Bulletin provides procedures, and tools the Guidance on Conversations about Employment, HCSIS and the Participant Review Tool. It identified, non-waiver funded resources such as OVR, Work Incentive Planning and Assistance- Certified Work Incentive Counselors, and Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD). Basic Service Coordination Entity Training and the Comprehensive Employment Training Module

11 Training and Resources Available OLTL Webinars: o OVR 101, OVR Online Application o Benefits Counseling o Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities o PA ABLE o Transportation, Housing o Increasing Employment Opportunities o Employment Services o Hiram G Andrews Center/Commonwealth Technical Institute and Lending Library o Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation - Cents and Sensibility o Basic Opioid Education o Aging- Senior Community Service Employment Program. o Certified Employment Support Credentialing Process/Exam 11

12 Training and Resources, Cont OLTL Training Webpage: OVR: Services/ovr/Pages/OVR-Office-Directory.aspx Online Application: HCBS Waivers: portserviceswaivers/ HCBS Rates (Effective 2/1/2017) ent/c_ pdf Community HealthChoices 12

13 CMS Final Rule Home and Community-Based Setting Requirements, OLTL Bulletin The setting is integrated in and supports full access of individuals receiving Medicaid Home and Community- Based Services to the greater community, including opportunities to seek employment and work in competitive, integrated settings, engage in community life, control personal resources and receive services in the community to the same degree of access as individuals not receiving Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services. OLTL started monitoring on January 2, OLTL is in compliance with the CMS Final Rule. 13

14 Providers Employment and Employment Related Services Providers Presently, OLTL has 44 Providers. 14

15 Credentials/Certification Pennsylvania leads in the number of CESP certified individuals nationwide 476, and has had 28 exam sites. 135 individuals applied since January 2018, 127 individuals were certified. There was a 92.5% pass rate. Presently the CESP examination is assessed 6 times per year (every other month) nationwide. Information can be obtained by contacting the National Association of People Supporting Employment. 15

16 Initiatives Employment Champion Pilot Project Focus Group PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Collaboration Outreach to individuals years of age (Transition/Employment) Outreach and collaboration with other Commonwealth Agencies and Departments Survey of Service Coordination Entities, Direct Service Providers and Managed Care Organizations Development of an OLTL Employment Webpage Pennsylvania Disability Employment and Empowerment Summit Ongoing support by OLTL regarding employment. 16

17 Conclusion Other Summation Questions 17

18 Thank You 18