Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Career Services - PowerPoint Presentation

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Career Services Draft for Policy Development Purposes Only Disability Employment Initiative Grants DEI III / DEI V / DEI VII

MA DEI Grants Overview The goal of the Disability Employment Initiative grant is to improve the education, training and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities Massachusetts approach is to use the local Career Center to meet the DEI goals by hiring a Disability Resource Coordinator (DRC ) to assist individual with disabilities to navigate the state’s Workforce Development system The DRC is the cornerstone of the program The Commonwealth received the DEI III, DEI V and DEI VII grants for a total of $9,899,600 DEI III was implemented in October 1, 2012 and DEI VII will run until March 31, 2020

MA DEI Grants at a Glance DEI III DEI V DEI VII Awarded $4,899,606 Awarded $2,500,000 Awarded $2,500,000 Oct 1, 2012 – Mar 31, 2016 Oct 1, 2014 – Mar 31, 2018 Oct 1, 2016 – Mar 31, 2020 4 Workforce Areas: Hampden County Franklin/Hampshire Greater Lowell North Shore 3 Workforce Areas: Central MA North Central Metro North 2 Workforce Areas: Hampden County Greater Lowell To improve opportunities & outcomes for adults who may be unemployed, under employed and/or receiving SSI/SSDI benefits. To improve job placement outcomes through expanded access to credential-based education and training pathways offered through the community college system. Expand access to short-term subsidized work through work-based learning (WBL) internships & OJT. To improve job placement outcomes for young adults (14–24) through career pathways strategies that prepare/support them for employment success that includes access to credential-based education and training pathways. Expand access to short-term subsidized work through WBL internships & OJT.

MA DEI Grants – Goals DEI III DEI V DEI VII To serve: 320 adults To serve: 165 adults To serve: 285 youth 670 participants served! 130 received training 140 to be enrolled in a Career Pathways Program 123 to attain credentials in 3 major industry areas: Healthcare, Manufacturing or Hospitality 196 to enroll in a Career Pathway Program 122 to complete training 85 to attain credentials in major in-demand industry 164 to be placed in integrated employment All OSCC’s became Employment Networks for the Ticket to Work Program All OSCC’s became Employment Networks for the Ticket to Work Program All OSCC’s are active Employment Networks Assigned 312 tickets – earning $77,706 To assign 60 tickets – earning approximately $283,000 in revenue To assign 104 tickets – earning approximately $190,000 in revenue

MA DEI Grants – Strategy DEI III DEI V DEI VII Disability Resource Coordinators (DRCs) hired in each center to help navigate individuals with disabilities through the state workforce development system. Strategies included implementation of Individual Resource Teams to create a holistic plan. Developed an across agency Committee, partnerships, and braiding and leveraging resources. Each center hired a DRC – Program uses Integrated Resource Teams, blending and braiding of resources, developed partnerships and collaborated with other agencies and created local Disability Resource Committees. Each center hired a DRC – Program uses Integrated Resource Teams, blending and braiding of resources, collaboration and partnerships and local Disability Resource Committees.

MA DEI Grants – Partners DEI III DEI V DEI VII State partnered with: Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) to provide technical assistance to the Career Centers and the University of MA/Medical Center – Work Without Limits to provide benefits counseling State partnered with: ICI to provide technical assistance to the Career Centers and the University of MA/Medical Center – Work Without Limits to provide business engagement services State partnered with: • ICI • University of MA /Medical Center – Work Without Limits to provide business engagement services • The Commonwealth Corporation - the use of the Signal Success: ACCESS Confidence & Resiliency Career Readiness Curriculum

MA DEI Grants Outcomes DEI III and DEI V have been very successful surpassing their original goals (DEI III goal was to serve 320 adults the program enrolled 670 adults ) (DEI V goal was to serve 165 adults the program has enrolled 218 with 163 enrolled in Career Pathways) DEI is client focused collaborating with other state agencies, blending and braiding resources and by implementing the Integrated Resource Team DEI cannot operate in silo – the program needs to collaborate with others to be successful