PARTNERSHIPS
Training for ADEN Members
American Dream Employment Network (ADEN)
American Dream Employment Network, a division of National Disability Institute, is an authorized Social
Security Ticket to Work service provider.
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AGENDA
• Tips for a successful partnership
• ADEN Employer Partners
• Two best strategies promote partnerships
• Integrated Resource Team
• Partnership Plus with State VR agencies
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ADEN’S VIEW OF PARTNERSHIPS
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The strength of partnerships provides greater opportunity
for systematic delivery of excellence
Sole purpose is the benefit of our customer – the ADEN
Participant
Remember the Goal:
• Ticket to Work: “Employment support for the Beneficiary to increase
self- sufficiency and reduce dependency on benefits”
• ADEN’s goal: “Building a better economic future for Americans with
disabilities”
• Your Agency Mission
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Trust is absolutely necessary
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EXPANDING PARTNERS
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INVESTMENT BY ALL PARTNERS
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Each party must:
• Be willing to invest in the time necessary to work as a team and
make a difference.
• Believe in the power of integrating efforts for the purpose of
supporting a person and not building an agency.
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What’s in it for me? Need to be aware of:
• What motivates an agency to be a partner (shared mission)
• Perceived fears related to partnering (draw on staff time)
• Potential benefits (shared employment outcomes)
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ADEN EMPLOYER PARTNERS
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THE ROLE OF EMPLOYER PARTNERS
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Timing is right for Employer Partners
• Employers are recognizing a diverse workforce can be a strength
• Section 503 of Rehab Act applies to federal contractors > $10,000 contracts
“….. prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of disability by Federal government
contractors and subcontractors. Section 503 also requires that covered contractors take
affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with
disabilities.”
If the federal government contracts are > $50,000 and have 50+ employees, contractors are also
required to have evidence of recruitment efforts to candidates with disabilities.
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Memorandum of Agreement
• Spells out details of partnering arrangement
• Not a guarantee of employment for Participants
• Assists with S503 compliance
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TWO BEST EN STRATEGIES:
INTEGRATED RESOURCE TEAMS AND
PARTNERSHIP PLUS
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INTEGRATED RESOURCE TEAMS (IRT)
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An IRT is initiated on behalf of an individual with a
disability who is experiencing multiple challenges in
reaching an employment goal
An IRT is an approach used for an INDIVIDUAL job
seeker
◦ An IRT is NOT an interagency committee consisting of various
disability/community agencies that focus on systems collaboration.
◦ The main purpose of an IRT is NOT resource mapping or to assist
an individual to learn about various agency resources.
◦ Instead the purpose is to identify needed resources and appropriate
and prioritized action steps to address specific, targeted barriers to
employment
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IRT MEMBERS
An IRT consist of members from a wide variety of community
programs and service providers, including but not limited to:
• Case Manager (Medicaid, Public Workforce System, TANF)
• Behavioral Health provider
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Independent Living Center
◦ Programs for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing or Commission for the Blind
◦ Community Work Incentives Coordinator
◦ Supported Employment Specialist
◦ Housing Provider
◦ Advocates /Friends of Job Seeker
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INTENT OF IRT MEETING
• Whenever possible, a face-to-face meeting should be
arranged with the job seeker and the IRT members
• Reach consensus around key parameters:
1. A common employment goal
2. Exchange what each supports shared customer
3. Identify gaps and solutions needed to address
barriers for employment
4. Assure a plan for continue communication to
track progress and avoid delay
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PARTNERSHIP PLUS: THE PROCESS
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CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE DRIVING
FORCE
• The focus needs to remain on the customer and not the money
• There are more individuals with Tickets than what either agency can
serve at one time, therefore no competition
• Appropriate and readily available services is the goal with employment
being the desired outcome
• The delivery system needs both State VR services and ENs
• Offering Partnership Plus to customers provides continuum of support
and potential reduce recidivism, which is a wise investment for federallyfunded programs
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KEY COMPONENTS OF PARTNERSHIP
PLUS
Everyone needs to gain an understanding and
appreciation of which services are provided by
both agencies
• Foremost, it is the individual’s choice and he/she owns
the Ticket and voluntarily uses it as he/she decides on
services
• Understanding the funding for state VR agencies is
important (cost reimbursement)
• Understanding what ADEN brings to the table
• Value the services provided by each other
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FULL USE OF TICKET
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If a Ticket holder is on the VR waiting list, he/she can
assign their Ticket to ADEN
If the Ticket holder comes to top of VR waiting list and is
offered services and accepts VR services, the Ticket will
be unassigned by ADEN, and placed “in use” by VR
If the Ticket holder has successful VR case closure, then
can assign Ticket to ADEN again or for the first time
Advantages during Ticket assignment and in use
• Supported by employment staff
• Ongoing protection of CDR while making progress
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ADEN PostEmployment Flyer
• Serves as the ADEN flyer for
VR partners
• Found on ADEN Site under
Resources
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COMPARISON OF ADEN PRE AND POSTEMPLOYMENT SERVICES
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PARTNERSHIP PLUS LOGISTICS
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ADEN Administration will:
• Pursue a Partnership Plus agreement with all states in which ADEN
Member is located
• Be responsible to negotiate and establish the agreement
• Once PP Agreement is in place, inform Members from the
respective state and review the agreement
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ADEN Members will:
• With ADEN Administration, implement Partnership Plus agreement
• Record in the ADEN portal case notes if a Ticket assignment is a
result of PP agreement
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PP CASE EXAMPLE
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Today:
• VR client gets an office job at medical clinic; Ticket is in use
• Mid-way through her employment, the VR counselor discusses with the client closing case
after 90 days on the job, and explains value of moving her Ticket to an EN and provides
choices of EN with a PP agreement
• The VR Client chooses ADEN and meets with the ADEN Member to develop IWP and
assigns her Ticket immediately after VR case closure
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One Year Later:
The Participant wants to take advantage of employer tuition assistance
and go school to become a trainer for the clinic
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OUTCOMES….
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The ADEN Member:
• Explores options to help finance purchasing books, including work incentives and other
sources (tuition is covered by employer)
• Continues to provide receive benefits planning and work incentives advisement
• Assists Participant in updating her resume to apply for the trainer position, suggests she
attends a workshop to refresh her interviewing skills, and together examine labor market
information regarding wage negotiation
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Participant offered new trainer position and moves up the career ladder
Successful Outcome for Everyone!
• The Participant is employed, supported and has moved up the career ladder
• VR is in position to receive Cost Reimbursement funding from SSA allowing agency to
serve more people
• ADEN accepts a Ticket holder who is already placed on the job and receives Ticket
payments for months the Participant is working over SGA
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ADEN Co-Directors of
American Dream Employment Network (ADEN)
Mary Lynn ReVoir
mlrevoir@ndi-inc.org
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Kevin Nickerson
knickerson@ndi-inc.org
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