DISABILITY PROGRAM NAVIGATOR

Navigator Demonstration:The DOL and SSA Vision

Jim Downing, Senior Policy Specialist

Division of DisAbility and Workforce ProgramsEmployment and Training AdministrationDepartment of Labor

August 12, 2004

Disability Program Navigator

The Disability Program Navigator(Navigator) Initiative is: A multi year demonstration project.

Jointly funded by DOL and SSA.

Includes training of Navigators.

Evaluation of Navigator initiative.

Purpose

The Navigator initiative is designed to: Provide seamless and comprehensive

services to persons with disabilities in One-Stop Career Centers.

Increase employment and self-sufficiency for Social Security beneficiaries and others with disabilities.

Facilitate access to programs and services. Facilitate linkage to the employer

community.

Navigator States

Arizona California Colorado Delaware Florida Illinois Iowa Maryland Massachusetts

Mississippi New York New Mexico Oklahoma Oregon South Carolina Vermont Wisconsin

DOL has entered into grant agreements with 17 workforce agencies at the state level where SSA has employment support initiatives. The 17 states include:

Navigator Grant Administration

The DOL’s Employment and TrainingAdministration is responsible for administrationwith:

Office of Grants and Contract Management – Grant Officer

Regional Office Federal Project Officer for each grant

Division of Disability and Workforce Programs (DDWP) for policy, programmatic guidance and support

And on-going partnership with SSA

RRTC

DOL has contracted with theRehabilitation Research and Training

Center (RRTC) on Workforce Investmentand Employment Policy for Persons withDisabilities at the Law, Health Policy &Disability Center of the University of

Iowa College of Law.

Building System Capacity

The RRTC will provide…

Training

Technical Assistance and Information

Evaluation

Navigators will be trained on:

SSA employment support programs

One-Stop partner funded programs

Other programs that impact successful employment

WHAT A NAVIGATOR IS…

A resource A facilitator A problem solver A systems change agent A relationship builder

Navigator Functions:

Coordination Cooperation Facilitation Collaboration

WHAT A NAVIGATOR IS NOT…

Not a case manager

Not a front-line staff person in a workforce center

Not a Benefits Planning and Outreach Specialist

Not a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

The Navigator will… Assist people with disabilities to access

and navigate the complex provisions of various programs that impact their ability to gain, return to, or retain employment.

Develop linkages and collaborate on an ongoing basis with employers to facilitate job placements for persons with disabilities.

The Navigator will…

Facilitate the transition of in- or out-of-school youth with disabilities to secure employment and economic self-sufficiency.

Conduct outreach to agencies and organizations that serve people with disabilities.

The Navigator will…

Serve as a resource on SSA’s work incentive and employment support programs and the provision of services through Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach organizations (BPAOs); Protection and Advocacy systems (P&As); and SSA’s employment-related demonstration projects.

The Navigator will…

Serve as a resource to the workforce investment community to ensure the availability of comprehensive knowledge of Federal, State, local and private programs that impact the ability of persons with disabilities to enter and remain in the workforce.

The Navigator will…

DOL and SSA intend that many Navigators will be a person with a disability, a family member with a disability or a known advocate and, therefore, know the disability system and can provide peer to peer support.

Navigator Core Competencies:Knowledge

Social Security Administration

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Planning for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) Property Essential to Self-Support (PESS) Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) Ticket to Work

Navigator Core Competencies: Knowledge Department of Labor

Mandated partner employment and training programs including: Adult, dislocated worker and youth WIA Title I programs Job Corps Apprenticeship Older Worker Pell Grants Vocational Training Trade and NAFTA programs Others training and employment resources

Training Services

Individual Training Accounts

Youth Services

Navigator Core Competencies:Knowledge Department of Education:

OSEP/RSA Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

Transition Plan

Individual Plan of Employment (IPE)

Independent Living Services

Navigator Core Competencies:Knowledge Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

Independence Plus Template

Individual Budget

Medicaid Waivers

Medicaid Buy-In

Navigator Core Competencies:Knowledge

Department of Treasury Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

ADA-Related Tax Incentives

Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC)

Navigator Core Competencies:Knowledge

Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Choice Vouchers

Fair Housing Requirements

Navigator Core Competencies:Knowledge

Department of Agriculture Food Stamps

Rural Economic Development Activities

Navigator Core Competencies:Knowledge

Department of Transportation Flex Routes

Travel Training

Public and Paratransit

Job Access -- Reverse Commute

Navigator Core Competencies:Knowledge

Technology Title III Loan Programs

Telework Fund

Community Technology Centers

State Assistive Technology Projects

Navigator Core Competencies:Knowledge FDIC / SBA / HHS

Financial Education

Microenterprise Development and Loan Programs

Small Business Development Centers

Individual Development Accounts

Navigator Core Competencies:Knowledge

Civil Rights Section 188

Section 504

ADA

Navigator Core Competencies:Leadership – Types of Skills Communication

Negotiation

Analytical

Problem-Solving

Facilitation

Sensitivity

Capacity Building

Listening

Evaluation

Navigator

Organization

Management

Navigator Core Competencies:Experience Policy Development Service Delivery Systems Individual and Family Support Training Team Leader Problem Solving Leadership Systems Change

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes

1. Access to WIA Services: Core Services

Intensive Services

Training Services

Individual Training Accounts (ITAs)

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes

2. Increase Employment: Wages Hours Worked Per Week Retention

3. Increase customer satisfaction with workforce system for persons with disabilities.

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes

Mental Health Programs

Mental Retardation / Developmental Disability Programs

Independent Living Centers

Medicaid

BPAO Housing Transportation Vocational

Rehabilitation Other Mandated One-

Stop Partners

4. Expanded partner relationships (public):

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes

5. Expanded relationships with employers: Internships On-the-Job Training Customized Job Development Employment Opportunities Accommodations Assistance

6. Facilitate Social Security beneficiaries use of Ticket

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes

7. Increase One-Stop becoming and linking with Employment Networks

8. Utilization of Work Incentives

9. Utilization of Benefits Counselors

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes10. Utilization of Medicaid Buy In

11. Asset Development

12. Access to Technology

13. Self Employment

Navigator Anticipated Outcomes

14. Blended funding support for individual jobseekers with disabilities.

15. Improved service, system and funder collaboration.