strategies to support employment

Strategies to Support Employment HCBS Conference

Wednesday, September 2

10-11:15 am

Georgetown West

WELCOME & THANK YOU! Don Langer, CEO UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas

What is Project SEARCH J. Erin Riehle

Director of Disability Services and Project SEARCH

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Project|SEARCH

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What is Project SEARCH

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Proprietary Information of UnitedHealth Group. Do not distribute or reproduce without express permission of UnitedHealth Group.

Program Philosophy

People with disabilities have the right

to choose a path toward education

and employment. However, while

freedom of choice is given, the right to

work is earned. Earning the right to

work is dependent upon preparation.

Stephen Simon, ADA Quarterly,

Fall 1998

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Transition to Work

Project SEARCH is a one-year, transition-to-

work program for young adults with intellectual

and developmental disabilities.

Goal of competitive employment

Total workplace immersion

Internship rotations for career exploration

and job skills acquisition

Customized job-search assistance

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Young Person With Disability

Education

Developmental Disabilities

Family

Other :

WIB, Union, Advocacy

Group , etc.

Supported Employment

Agency

Vocational Rehabilitation

Project SEARCH Partners

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Young Person With Disability

Education

Developmental Disabilities

Family

Other :

WIB, Union, Advocacy

Group , etc.

Supported Employment

Agency

Vocational Rehabilitation

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Business Role

• Business

liaison

• Internships

• Classroom

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August June

1st Internship

10 weeks Graduate &

Begin Work at

Host Site or

in Community

2nd Internship

10 weeks

3rd Internship

10 weeks

3 week

Orientation

Transition

Week Transition

Week

Begin PS

Program

Annual Calendar

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Working Together

Interns

Individual

Internship

sites

Instructor

Job Coach

Instructor

Job Coach

Business Liaison

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Internship Progression

Retrieve and clean stretchers

Maintain

Changing

Area

Check

oxygen

tanks

Maintain

waiting

area

Deliver

contrast

Transport

patients Transporter

All tasks during

induction and

probation Transporter

First

internship

Second

Internship

Third

Internship

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Employment Outcomes

Class of 2013 – 2014:

• International Outcome average – 73%

• Increase of four points from last year

• Over 150 programs recognized for 60-100%

employment

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Outcomes

• Nearly 400 current programs in 45 states,

Canada, England, Ireland and Scotland.

• Working with Holland, Israel, India and South

Korea.

• 92% of sites entered data into the database.

• 33% were employed by the host site, 67%

were employed outside of the host site.

• Average hourly wage was $9.13.

• Average hours worked per week were 25.39.

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Industry Sectors

• Healthcare (NIH, Kaiser, Cleveland Clinic, VA)

• Finance and Insurance (UHC, 5/3, PayPal)

• Universities (U of Maryland, Kansas State, OSU)

• Government (DOI, Montgomery County Maryland)

• Manufacturing (Medtronic, GSK, Atlas Copco, Shaw)

• Distribution Centers (Core-Mark, Walmart, DSW)

• Zoos, Parks and Museums (Smithsonian, Zoo Miami)

• Retail (Wegmans, River Valley Mall)

• Hospitality (Embassy Suites, Sofitel, Marriott Europe)

• Military (McConnell Air Force Base)

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Unique Partnership with UHC

• First time PS has partnered with a group that

exists to design, improve and sustain systems

delivering home and community based services

for people with disabilities.

• Multiple tiers of engagement.

• Concerned with social determinants of health.

• Creative leaders who are not necessarily

“disability experts” – bring a fresh perspective.

• Flexible and non-traditional in delivery of

services.

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UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas Project SEARCH Host Angela Trahan

Texas Chief Operating Officer

The Beginning

• Texas added Employment Benefits- Supported Employment, Employment

Assistance to LTSS Medicaid

• Health plan engaged national team for assistance in implementing

• Research identified Project SEARCH as a best practice

• Toured existing site – Seton hospital in Austin, Texas

• Project SEARCH was expanding and had grant program for start up

• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan explored, committed to program, built

relationship with Fort Bend Independent School District

• Two organizations were awarded grant, UnitedHealthcare funded second

year of certification

• We continue to work with other markets and health plans to expand our

support of Project SEARCH

Recognition of the multiple factors (including employment) impacting

health, quality of life and wellness – Expanding definition QUALITY

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The Opportunity

Medicaid Evolution Aligns with Project SEARCH Opportunities

New Medicaid Managed Care

Populations

Individuals with Intellectual and

Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)

Individuals with Serious Mental

Illness (SMI)

Children with Special Healthcare

Needs

Homeless

Emerging Benefits and Services:

Housing

Employment

Caregiver assistance

Educational planning

Emerging Community Partners:

Housing placement and supports

Employment Agencies/Providers

School Districts

Project SEARCH OPPORTUNITY

Young Adults with

Disabilities – ID/DD

Person Centered

Immersion for staff and

members

Promotes Independence

through Employment

Commitment to

Population

National Award Winning

and effective Project

Search

Local School Districts

DARS/DADS agencies

New provider types –

Voc Rehab/ SELN/ EN

Creative Community

Partnerships

States and advocates

support the program

Market Differentiation

Build relationships with

potential members and

families

New community partners

Multiple ways to support

Project SEARCH

Growth & Retention

10-12 students with

disabilities immersed in

plan annually

Active partnerships –

Schools/agencies/providers

/parents/plan

Health plan and other

Business Segments

Cultural Change

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The Options

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Fort Bend Independent School District Leah Davis

Project SEARCH Teacher

Fort Bend ISD Special Education

Our Mission

“Fort Bend ISD exists to inspire and

equip all students to pursue futures

beyond what they can imagine.”

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Building Partnerships

Fort Bend Independent

School District

Voc Rehab Services

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan

Project SEARCH

• Evaluated our

existing programs

• Found Project

SEARCH filled a

gap

• School District was

immediately on

board with this

approach

• Worked quickly with

partners to develop

and launch

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Why We Were Excited

• Nothing like this in our district or even in the Houston area

• Gives our students increased support system and opportunities

to prepare for employment

• Gives FBISD the opportunity to strengthen our relationships with

other partners who had the same goal for our interns as we do:

• local business

• long-term support agencies

• VR services

• UnitedHealthcare

• Additional national relationships through UnitedHealthcare

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Ensuring Success

• Building Parental Trust

• Concerns about training outside of the traditional school setting

and questions about why UnitedHealthcare would “do this for

our students.”

• Many information parent nights at UnitedHealthcare to help the

interns and parents become more familiar with the team, Project

SEARCH, and where their interns would be going each day.

• Addressing Transportation

• Technically eligible for free public school bus transportation.

• Yet ride public transportation or scheduling transportation is

essential in their future success finding and retaining a job.

• We assisted program participants in coordinating public

transportation and providing transportation training. We also

provided resources and information regarding available

transportation options to parents and families.

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Captain of the Ship

“Parents are the captain of the educational ship”

However, in this program they have trusted their

children to become the captain of their own ship by

accepting the challenge of gaining skills to become

an independent young adult.

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2014-2015 Project SEARCH Interns

Questions?

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strategies to support employment

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