DISABILITY RESOURCE COORDINATOR/TICKET TO WORK REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Serving Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties Program Year 2011-2012 Questions regarding the RFP should be directed to:
In Albany: Daniel Gentile Executive Director Capital Region WIB 175 Central Avenue Albany, NY 12206 Email: dang@capreg.org PROPOSALS DUE NO LATER THAN 5:00 PM, TUESDAY, February 15, 2011 Via e-mail at dang@capreg.org A printed copy with signed Summary Page should be mailed or delivered to: Capital Region Workforce Investment Board 175 Central Avenue, 3 rd Floor Albany, New York 12206 Issued: January 14, 2011 Page 2
CAPITAL REGION WORKFORCE INVESTMENT AREA (WIA) Summary of Request For Proposal (RFP) Application Name of Applicant Organization: Address Phone Contact Person Tax ID S.S. # (if not incorporated) License/Accreditation Entity: Effective Date (If Applicable): Are you currently a provider in the Employment Network? Yes No Provide any Details related to your EN status: Number of years operating in the Capital Region WIA area: Elsewhere Primary County(ies) of Service Page 3
Brief Overview of Agency: (Please detail experience in working with persons with disabilities who are collecting SSI Benefits) (Describe how you can improve employment outcomes with the target population) Signature of Executive Director Date: Page 4
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE The Initation of DISABILITY RESOURCE COORDINATOR (DRC) in the One Stop Centers I. Introduction The Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) has the overall objective of improving the educational, training, employment opportunities and outcomes of adults with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving SSI or SSDI benefits. The DEI will help adults with disabilities find a path into the middle class through the utilization of various Best Practice Service Delivery models that will be implemented throughout the life of the grant. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is providing Federal funds for this initiative, and intends to operate the DEI with a No Wrong Door to Employment policy where no disabled group will be overlooked. The DRC will be expected to gain the staff capacity and knowledge to provide services to any disabled population group and all DRCs will be encouraged to serve highneeds niche populations. However, this policy will not preclude NYSDOL from providing specialized services to a particular segment of people with disabilities in the community. A major component of the job duties associated with DRCs will be to promote and operate the Ticket to Work Program in each designated One-Stop Career Center in an effort to serve SSI/SSDI beneficiaries. The USDOL goal of this grant is to increase services to Ticket to Work recipients and to increase the number of Employment Network members. Additional information from the NYSDOL federal application is available upon request at dang@capreg.org. Purpose The Capital Region Workforce Investment Board (WIB) is seeking a single organization/agency to provide DRC services in its three (3) One Stop Centers which are located in Albany, Troy and Schenectady. These funds are to be used to provide three (3) full-time DRCs (Disability Resource Coordinators) for the time period covering March 2011 through February 2012. Contracts will be written on an annual basis with renewal base on satisfactory performance for two additional years through February 2014. The DRCs will provide customer service in the three (3) One Stop Centers listed above. The DRC must possess and demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and skills to assist individuals with disabilities to navigate through available programs and services, including Social Security work incentives, Ticket to Work and employment support programs. The DRCs will serve as a disability resource specialist to the Centers and will leverage the Centers resources and relationships in the local labor market to facilitate outreach, effective employment linkages, and seamless service delivery for individuals with disabilities utilizing the Ticket to Work program. DRCs will be supervised by the selected applicant agency in coordination with the One-Stop operators. See Attachment A for a detailed description of the DRC position. Page 5
II. Eligible Applicants Applicants eligible to receive funding under this RFP are agencies that have at least five (5) years experience in the Service Delivery Components listed on page 8 of this RFP, preferably in the Capital Region. All staff employed as DRCs will be required to be a part of the mandatory background checks for individuals serving as staff who served persons with disabilities. Applicants are asked to submit a proposal no later than 5:00 p.m., February 15, 2011. Proposals should be submitted via email to Daniel Gentile, Executive Director of the Capital Region WIB, at dang@capreg.org. A printed copy with a signed Summary sheet should be mailed to the Capital Region addressed listed on page 2. A Bidder s Conference is scheduled for Thursday, January 27 th at 10:00 AM in the 3 rd floor conference room of 175 Central Avenue, Albany. Please confirm your attendance via email at dang@capreg.org. The initial year of the program will run from March 1, 2011 to February 29, 2012 As previously mentioned, the initial contract will be for the first 12 month period and renewable annually for two more years based on performance and the continued availability of funds. A sum of $210,000 is available to cover the costs of 3 full-time DRC staff, fringe (including health insurance) and travel. Additionally, $5,500 is available for travel expenses and up to $4,000 for adaptive technologies that may be required at the One Stop Centers. The selected sub-contract will receive 5% of the budgeted amount in administrative funds as part of the contract. A share of additional funds generated by the DRCs earning Ticket to Work milestones will be discussed during the contracting process. III. Narrative Proposals must be typewritten, double spaced on 8 ½" x 11" papers in a 12 point font; the narrative should be no more than 2 pages. A separate Budget page should include information on the salary and fringe of the DRCs. The staff salary cost is not to exceed $210,000 annually. The $210,000 for staff and fringe cannot be used for any other purpose. The Budget page is not counted as part of the 2 pages. Office space at the One Stop Centers will be provided. The Narrative should include: Information about the applicant agency. Include a brief history and mission of the agency, years in operation, the geographic area of coverage, and experience in providing Service Coordination and Supported Work programs. Qualifications of the individual(s) proposed to fill the position(s) of DRC. Provide resumes if available. Note the following minimum qualifications have been established for these positions: Bachelor s Degree in a human services field and at least 2 years experience working for an agency that meets the Eligible Application criteria stated in item II, or, Page 6
An Associates Degree in a human services field and at least 6 years experience working for an agency that meets the Eligible Application criteria stated in item II. Staff must be able to pass Social Security Administration security standards ( background check). Willingness to participate in the required national training and complete Workforce Incentive Information Network (WIIN) certification. Describe how you envision the work of the 3 Disability Resource Coordinators will roll out. Estimate numbers of Ticket to Work holders who will be served, goals for placement and length of job retention for a 12 month period. See Attachment B for detailed proposal evaluation criteria. Page 7
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE (DEI) Attachment A DISABILITY RESOURCE COORDINATOR SUMMARY JOB DESCRIPTION DEI funds will improve the accessibility and accountability of the public workforce development system for individuals with disabilities and continue the promising practices implemented under the Disability Program Navigator initiative. This includes effective deployment of Disability Resource Coordinators (DRC) to improve coordination and collaboration among employment and training programs carried out at a state and local level, as well as to expand the use of Employment Networks under the Ticket to Work program. DRCs will work to build effective community partnerships that leverage public and private resources to better serve and improve employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. IDEAL CHARACTERISTICS: Ability to work independently; self-initiate and prioritize duties; self-monitor performance. Abilities to manage, foster and facilitate relationships; ability to apply tact and diplomacy to facilitate resolution to potential problems or barriers. Natural resourcefulness and desire to help build a better system and promote change. Ability to facilitate discussion and positive interactions between partners and other community agencies and service providers. Abilities in problem solving, networking, group-leading, goal setting and follow through. Ability to build bridges and be a team player. Flexibility and adaptability to change. Strong skills in time management. Strengths in multi-tasking; good memory for detailed information. Strengths in written communication and presentation skills. IDEAL SKILL-SETS: A combination of education and/or proven work experience in delivering services to individuals with disabilities. Personal experience with and/or knowledge of disability issues. An understanding of the public workforce investment system and disability employment. General knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, policy and procedures relating to employment of people with disabilities, work incentives and resources. Level I Work Incentives Information Network (WINN) credentialed practitioner or the ability to become WIIN certified. Familiarity with the local community and agencies; ability to communicate with a diversity of people including businesses, customers, and Workforce Investment staff. Page 8
Knowledge of ADA issues; the ability to advise/refer and work effectively with youth and adults with disabilities. Ability to travel in local communities, participate in local community, statewide and/or national coalitions, trainings and conferences. Ability to maneuver complex bureaucracies, programs and services to find solutions for persons with disabilities. Strengths in written communication and presentation skills. Computer literate. GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE DRC POSITION: Work in cooperation with the NYS state-level DEI Project Lead to carry out the goals of the NYS DEI proposal which identified the following Service Delivery Components for each area: 1. Integrated Resource Teams 2. Blending, Braiding & Leveraging Resources, Funds & Services 3. Asset Development 4. Partnerships & Collaboration Please note: A brief overview of the Service Delivery Components is attached. Conduct outreach to the disability community and the organizations that serve individuals with disabilities to market workforce services and promote interagency collaboration; Assist job seekers with disabilities, including SSA beneficiaries, to navigate and use the One- Stop Career Center system and other mandated/non-mandated partners that provide services and supports needed to obtain/maintain employment (e.g. housing, transportation, health care, etc); Effectively present information to the public (business groups, disability groups, other community-based agencies, local government) on employment services, work incentives, job accommodations, and benefits of employment of persons with disabilities; Serve as a point of expertise on programs and services that impact the employment or employability of people with disabilities such as health care options, transportation and housing supports; Serve as a resource to One-Stop Career Center staff and the business sector on issues and programs related to people with disabilities such as universal design and accessibility, availability of assistive technologies, tax incentives and reasonable accommodations; Work to build the capacity of One-Stop Career Centers to more effectively serve job seekers with disabilities. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Knowledge of applicable local and regional agencies and programs; knowledge of community resources and systems. Knowledge and ability to access information about applicable agencies, programs and community resources (i.e., internet use). The ability to create and manage a broad network of professional contacts. The ability to navigate various systems simultaneously. Skills in advocacy for persons with disabilities. Skills in developing/fostering empowerment skills with/among people with disabilities. Ability and willingness to develop trust and interpersonal relationships with clients. Page 9
Knowledge of/ability to model appropriate interaction skills for others working with people with disabilities. Familiarity with and application of person-centered planning models. Experience with one-on-one interaction, individualized attention and personal coaching. Ability to access Workforce staff to both facilitate collaboration and remain in the loop regarding policy and program changes. Ability to function as a disability resource person within the One-Stop Career Centers, assisting workforce staff in developing their proficiencies in working with individuals with disabilities. Knowledge of One-Stop Career Center s services and programs. SERVICE DELIVERY COMPONENTS The success of the DEI will greatly depend on the abilities of the DRC to execute and/or participate in the Service Delivery Components of the program described below. A. Integrated Resource Team (IRT): The Integrated Resource Team (IRT) is a promising practice that was identified by the DPN Initiative. A team of representatives from different agencies and service systems (both generic and disability-specific) coordinate services and leverage funding to meet the employment needs of an individual job seeker with a disability. B. Blending and Braiding Funds: Blending and braiding funds is an integral strategy that is incorporated into the IRT model, leveraging different federal and state program funds and involving two or more agencies contributing to the individual job seeker's education, training and employment goals. C. Asset Development Strategies: Asset development strategies include various approaches to enhance long-term economic selfsufficiency, including use of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), implementation of financial literacy training for adults, incorporation of SSA s Plan for Attaining Self Support (PASS) and other work incentives. Asset Development Strategies also include utilization of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other tax provisions and self-directed benefit and resource accounts. D. Partnerships & Collaboration: Coordination across multiple agencies includes outreach to the partner s clients/consumers, colocation and integration in One-Stop Career Centers, and leveraging available funds, resources and organizational expertise. Partnering across multiple systems/programs is often a pre-requisite to providing employment-related supports that are needed to successfully address multiple challenges to employment. Page 10
Attachment B DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE (DEI) EVALUATION CRITERIA Proposals will be evaluated in the following categories: Relevant Experience in Serving the Employment Needs of the SSI and SSDI Population; and Persons With Disabilities - 40 points This category will evaluate the experience of the applicant in serving the needs of the targeted population with particular emphasis on experience in improving the employability of the participant and maintaining the participant in employment. Additionally, this rating will be based on the applicants understanding of required services that will be helpful, how services will be provided, and experience in services integration with other local programs and providers, and knowledge of the employer community. Readiness to Begin Services on a Timely Basis - 25 points This program is part of a National Demonstration Project and will require the subcontractor to beginning services as early as March 1, 2011. Points will be awarded based on the ability of the subcontractor to begin provision of services starting March 1 st and up to a full capacity of 3 DRCs no later than April, 2011. Employment Network (EN) Experience - 25 Points Points will be awarded based on the applicant s knowledge and experience with the Ticket to Work and understanding of the requirements and responsibilities of a member of the Employment Network and the achieving for incentive milestones. Existing ENs can earn the full 25 points in this category (10 of the 25 points for status as an EN). Budget - 10 points This category will evaluate the ability of the applicant to work within the guidelines of the budget and to provide the required fringe benefits to the DRCs. Page 11