Granite State Employment Project Newsletter Vol. II, May 2009

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Granite State Employment Project
Employment News Volume II
May 2009
There has been much activity within the Granite State Important
Employment Project since our last newsletter in March that Facts:
will no doubt contribute to building a stronger comprehensive
employment system for people with disabilities in New ODEP - Disability
Hampshire. While we are very proud of all the activities that Employment
the MIG (Medicaid Infrastructure Grant) has supported, there Statistics
is a lot of work that still needs to be done. It is time to
raise the expectations for employment and make sure that
we create a sustainable and accessible employment support APRIL 2009
system that turns intention into reality. If we can Percentage of people
wholeheartedly embrace this expectation, then the steps to with disabilities in
follow would be the alignment of our policies, practices, the labor force:
resources, outreach and education that effectively make 22.8%
employment possible for all.
Percentage of people
The MIG is committed to raising the bar on employment and without disabilities in
leaving a legacy of a comprehensive employment system that the labor force:
effectively supports people in obtaining and maintaining 70.9%
employment. Please read on to learn about how
the marketing campaign, employment indicator data Unemployment rate
system, the employment staff certification, and our of persons with a
commitment to developing a Work Incentives Resource disability:
Center will contribute to achieving improved employment 12.9%
outcomes for people with disabilities.
Unemployment rate
Don't forget to check out the links to the right for up to date of persons without a
information on Employment Statistics, training and cutting disability:
edge reports from ODEP, SSA, ICI and more. 8.4%
For our next newsletter, we would like to feature stories
about:
FOR
1) Individuals who are self-employed. This is a great BUSINESSES
opportunity to share your story.
Can Hiring One
2) An employer you would like to recognize for their Employee with a
commitment to hiring people with disabilities. Disability Make a
Difference?
Please consider sharing your experience. It just may be the
inspiration someone needs to reach their dream. Contact
Denise Sleeper to share your story at Business Case for
denise.sleeper@dhhs.state.nh.us Hiring People with
Disabilities
In This Issue
I AM SUCCESS - LET'S WORK TOGETHER - Launching in July NBC's Disability
Awareness
EMPLOYMENT INDICATOR DATA SYSTEM - Under Contract Campaign - The More
You Know
EMPLOYMENT STAFF CERTIFICATION - LAUNCHED

2. WORK INCENTIVES RESOURCE CENTER - Strategic Visioning
ABLE &
Planned
WILLING: An
MEDICAID FOR EMPLOYED ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES (MEAD) -
Latest News
Untapped Pool
of Talent
I AM SUCCESS - Let's work together
Business Tax
Employment is something most of us take for granted, but for
Credits Fact
some individuals with disabilities, finding an employer who can
see the gifts you have to offer their organization can be a Sheet
challenge. To assist in highlighting abilities, The Monadnock
Center for Successful Transitions (MCST) is pleased to
announce a new marketing campaign that shows
individuals with disabilities working and thriving in the
workforce. The campaign is called quot;I Am Success - Let's
Work Together.quot; This is a part of MCST's work under the
Medicaid Infrastructure Grant to improve employment
outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The campaign aims
to change perceptions that people may have about the types
of work individuals with disabilities can do.
Working with the firm Church & Main, materials have been
created that show individuals with a variety of disabilities
succeeding at their jobs. Different types of jobs are
depicted including business ownership, professional and
technical experts, customer service, administrative and
advocacy positions. The marketing materials include posters, Links
tent cards, hand outs and other advertisements that illustrate
successful individuals at work. Granite State
Employment Project
The goal of the MCST marketing campaign is to raise
awareness for everyone in the community, from business National
owners to individuals and their families, that people with Employment
disabilities can, indeed, go to work and be successful in the Resources & Topics
community. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
quot;In January 2009, the unemployment rate of persons with a Workforce Strategies
disability was 13.2%, compared with 8.3 percent for persons Initiatives
with no disability (not seasonally adjusted). It is important to
note that the unemployment figure does not include people NH Labor Market
who are not actively looking for work, the case with many Information
people with disabilities.quot; Often times, individuals with
disabilities reach barriers that don't allow them to demonstrate
their abilities and the ways that they can contribute to a SELF-EMPLOYMENT
workplace. And these barriers may lead people with disabilities
to believe that they are not able to work. The theme of the Micro-Credit
materials is that every individual brings value to the
workplace. Now, let's work together. NH SBDC
Although the campaign was developed in the Monadnock E-Learning for
Region, it was designed for local use statewide. All agencies Entrepreneurs
who support people with disabilities can receive a copy of
the campaign on a portable flash drive that allows each START-UP USA
agency to insert their organizations contact information.
To receive your free copy of the campaign along with a
marketing plan that provides detailed information on how to
effectively use the campaign, please plan on attending WORK
the marketing campaign launch in July. This campaign is one
INCENTIVES
way that we can unify our message around the importance of
employment in the lives of people with disabilities just as it is PLANNING
important in the lives of people without disabilities. It is
important that we remain diligent in our efforts to raise GSIL
awareness, change perceptions and work together on

3. this common goal. Social Security
Administration
Regions can request MIG funds to pay for the printing
costs for local dissemination.
MAKING FINANCIAL
Please CONNECTIONS
SAVE THE DATE AGENCIES &
July 9th, 2009 POLICY
MAKERS
9am-11am
Q & A's on State
Launching Statewide Campaign Employment First
Policies March 2008
The Maine
Place to be Announced
Employment
Curriculum: Delivering
Best Practices for
MCST is a project of Monadnock Developmental Services, and
Employment Support
is made possible under an Agreement with the State of New
Professionals
Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services,
Bureau of Developmental Services, with Medicaid
Infrastructure Grant funds provided by the federal
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under CFDA REPORT from ICI:
93.768 Postsecondary
Education and
Employment Outcomes
for Youth with
Employment Indicator Data System Intellectual Disabilities
One of the strategic priorities and outcomes of the US Department of
Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is to create an easily Labor Announces
accessible data system to track employment outcomes Funding for
Employment and
across service systems. The intent is for this data system Training Programs
to influence decision-making, policy, and the management of Under American
resources so that our systems can create improved Recovery and
employment outcomes for people with disabilities. It is an Reinvestment Act
important tool in helping us to measure our overall
effectiveness in supporting people to obtain and maintain
VCU: Fact Sheets
employment as well as creating the opportunity to see the link
between various services, resources and programs that & Case Studies for
contribute to employment. Workplace
Supports
The Employment Indicator System will allow for the
collection of data across Area Agencies, Community
Mental Health Centers and Vocational Rehabilitation
offices. Currently, each disability system collects data, but it JOB SEEKERS
only provides a snapshot of the overall services provided to an
CAREER VOYAGES
individual. Individuals with disabilities often receive supports
from more than one agency, but until now there has not been
a way to capture that data to better understand the types of
GettingHired
supports and services that truly benefit individuals with
disabilities in their search for employment or the supports that
assist them in maintaining that employment. By developing this
data base, local agencies will be able to better monitor the
employment services they provide and as a State, we will be
able to analyze the supports and services using de-identified
data. Upcoming
Events
The data project is being headed by Tobey Davies from
Southern New Hampshire University in conjunction with

4. representatives from the Monadnock Center for Successful
Transitions, LinkAbilities and the MIG State Project team with WORK INCENTIVES
members from the Bureau of Developmental Services, the RESOURCE CENTER
Bureau of Behavioral Health, Vocational Rehabilitation and STRATEGIC
Department of Education. Additional support is provided by VISIONING
Ray Giroux, the Community Support Network, Inc (CSNI) and JUNE 17TH
Keene State College. After a lengthy selection process
involving Vocational Rehabilitation, Mental Health and Area
Agencies from 3 regions, a vendor has been selected to MARKETING
develop the system. Social Strength will provide a web CAMPAIGN
based, HIPAA compliant, secure data system that will STATEWIDE LAUNCH
allow for community agencies to track and monitor JULY 9TH
employment services. Social Strength was chosen after a
comprehensive search for its ease of use and security systems
that ensure all data is kept confidential and secure. Agencies
will only be able to view the information on the individuals they EMPLOYMENT
serve, but will have access to de-identified data from other SUMMIT
systems to compare the supports and services they provide to FALL 2009
other areas.
The Employment Indicator System is currently being developed
and will be piloted in the Monadnock region, greater Nashua Statewide Job Fair
and two other areas of the State. The goal is to take the Thursday
system Statewide within the course of the next two years. August 27, 2009
For more information, contact Tobey Partch-Davies at location to be
t.partch-davies@snhu.edu or Denise Sleeper at 271-5161 or determined
via e-mail at denise.sleeper@dhhs.state.nh.us.
Employment Specialist Certification SUGGESTIONS?
launched at WWW.CEPNH.ORG
Another Strategic Priority identified under the Granite
State Employment Project, is the need for employment
staff who are well trained and oriented to assist Send Us Your
individuals with disabilities to achieve better employment
outcomes and who understand employer/business needs Newsletter Ideas
and expectations. and Feedback
As one of the Lead Agencies under the MIG, LinkAbilities and
the UNH Institute of Disability partnered with representatives
from Alvirne High School, Gateways Community Services,
Granite State Independent Living, Harbor Homes, Nashua
Community College, the Nashua Vocational Rehabilitation office
and The PLUS Company, Inc. to create the Professional
Development Workgroup. The goal of the Professional
Development Workgroup was to develop a certification process
that recognizes the necessary skills for employment specialists
and identifies areas of essential training that would be
beneficial for consumers and job developers.
The result of two years of planning by the Professional
Development Workgroup, CEPNH.org supports evidence-
based practices and enhances professional standing for
employment staff through a certification process.
quot;Certification fosters growth and accountability. CEPNH.org
helps consumers identify certified employment professionals
and encourages professionals to stay educated and dedicated
to improvement,quot; says Emily Manire, Director of LinkAbilities.
Thanks to CEPNH.org, consumers, families and funding sources
will have access to a public list of individuals who have been
certified. The website also features a member-only section for
up-to-date information and research results important to their

5. field, peer discussion forums and online chats on issues of
importance.
For more information about the certification process, to
download the necessary forms, or to participate in an on-
line chat, please visit www.CEPNH.org. For more
information about LinkAbilities, please visit linkabilities.org.
LinkAbilities is a project of Gateways Community Services and
is made possible under an agreement with the State of New
Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau
of Developmental Services, with Medicaid Infrastructure Grant
funds provided by the federal Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services under CFDA 93.768.
WORK INCENTIVES RESOURCE CENTER
*MIG/GSEP Making the Commitment*
quot;Yes, you can work without jeopardizing your
health and financial stabilityquot;
Understanding Work Incentives is going to be the theme for
the next two years. What are they you ask? Simply put, SSA
created Special rules to make it possible for people with
disabilities receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments and
maintain Medicare or Medicaid. Social Security calls these
rules quot;work incentives.quot;
Unfortunately, very few people are accessing these incentives
which can have a profound impact on people's finances, health
and independence. They have been avoided and dismissed by
individuals and professionals who support them because they
are difficult to understand and navigate. However, when we
make the choice to NOT understand Work Incentives, we
consciously contribute to people remaining in poverty.
We can no longer close our eyes and our minds to these
resources that are designed to assist people navigate
through the barriers to employment.
In an effort to address the underutilization of work incentives,
the GSEP is making a commitment to supporting the evolution
of a Work Incentives Resource Center. Ideally, it will be a
virtual center supported by on-going training and print
materials that will help individuals, families, schools and agency
staff to understand the information and their impact in a user
friendly and accessible format. While the actual benefit
analysis will still need to be done by trained professionals, the
message that quot;You can work without jeopardizing your
health and financial stabilityquot; will be understood. Our goal is
to help people thrive in life not restrict their dreams and goals
by the limitations of a poorly understood system.
If you would like to be a part of shaping the Vision for a
Work Incentives Resource Center, we invite you to join us
for a strategic planning session on
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
9AM-3PM

6. Bureau of Developmental Services, 105 Pleasant St,
Conncord, NH. Call 271-5161
For more information or to RSVP e-mail
denise.sleeper@dhhs.state.nh.us
This session will be facilitated by our Federal Technical
Assistance provider, the National Consortium for Health
Systems Development.
Medicaid For Employed Adults with
Disabilities (MEAD)
Latest News
MEAD is a Medicaid eligibility coverage group that allows
qualified adults with disabilities who work to enroll in the
Medicaid program or continue their Medicaid coverage.
To request the latest brochure, please contact Denise St.
Onge, MEAD Program Manager at
Denise.StOnge@dhhs.state.nh.us or call 271-7224.
To view this information electronically, please visit:
http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/MEDICAIDPROGRAM/mead.htm
COMING SOON!
MEAD HOTLINE
GRANITE STATE EMPLOYMENT PROJECT
This employment initiative is financed under the Medicaid
Infrastructure Grant, which is awarded to the State of New
Hampshire, Dept.of Health & Human Services, Bureau of
Developmental Services by the U.S. Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services under CFDA No. 93.768
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