Disability Program Navigator Initiative

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Disability Program Navigator Initiative

• Delaware Workforce Investment Board

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Jointly Sponsored by

• U. S. Department of Labors Employment and
  Training Administration
• Social Security Administrations Office of
  Program Development and Research

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Introduction

• What is a Navigator?
• Reason for Navigator position
• Navigator Functions
• Navigator Knowledge
• Navigator Position vs. Other Positions
• Benefits of Navigator Position
• Goals of Navigator Initiative
• Navigator Locations

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What is a Navigator?

• Resource
• Facilitator
• Problem-Solver
• Systems change agent
• Relationship/Capacity Builder

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Reason for Navigator Position

• Facilitate seamless and comprehensive services to
  persons with disabilities within the One-Stop
  Career Centers
• Provide assistance in navigating through the
  variety of programs and services that impact
  their employment (ex., transportation, housing,
  health care, etc.)

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Reason for Navigator Position

• Serve as a resource to the one-stop staff and the
  disability community
• Conduct outreach to the disability community and
  organizations that serve them

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Navigator Functions

• Facilitate universal access to the One-Stop
  system for persons with disabilities
• Address the needs of people with disabilities
  seeking training and employment
• Provide training on issues and programs related
  to people with disabilities
• Conduct outreach to the disability community, as
  well as to local and regional disability advocacy
  organizations on resources available through
  One-Stop Career Center system

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Navigator Functions

• Development of relationships with mandatory
  partners and or other service systems
• Develop linkages and collaborate with employers,
  employer organizations, and community service
  providers
• Identification and assistance with implementation
  of solutions to physical, communication and/or
  program access challenges
• Identification of resources and connecting
  seekers with these resources
• Outreach to Consumers

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Navigator Functions

• Presentations to disability-related
  organizations, school systems, etc., to educate
  them about the workforce development system

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Navigator Knowledge

• Social Security Administration programs
• Department of Labor programs
• Education
• Housing
• Transportation
• Assistive Technology

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Navigator Position vs.

• Case Manager
• Do not carry a caseload
• Do work with case manager to assist them in
  serving persons with disabilities
• Front Line Staff Person in One-Stop
• Do not answer phones, work in resource room,
  register clients
• Do assure that One-Stop is accessible, and make
  adjustments accordingly

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Navigator Position vs.

• Benefits Planning and Outreach Specialist
• Do not provide benefits counseling
• Do refer individuals with disabilities to
  Benefits Counselor
• Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist
• Do not provide one-one case management
• Do work collaboratively with VR to serve persons
  with disabilities

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Benefits of Navigator position

• One-Stop Disability Resource
• Time Saver
• Linkage of organizations in disability community
  

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Goals of Navigator Initiative

• To maximize access for persons with disabilities
  within the one-stops
• Increase customer satisfaction of persons with
  disabilities within the one-stops
• Assist in the increased employment of persons
  with disabilities
• Enhance economic empowerment of persons with
  disabilities

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Navigator Locations

• Career One-Stops
• Fox Valley Wilmington
• Pencader Newark
• Dover
• Georgetown

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You are key!

• Teach us how we can help you and the people you
  serve
• Alert us to barriers that exist for your
  customers
• Share with us your ideas and experience
• As part of DE Workforce Investment Board, we are
  Working Together so that Delaware Works!
• Lisa Brack, Lead Navigator 302-856-5230
• Delaware Workforce Investment Board
• 302-577-6202 www.delawareworks.com/wib