Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)

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Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)

• TICKET 301
• Employment Network Operations, Part II
• Partnership Plus Your EN Business Model

Hosted/Facilitated by DJ Diamond Presented by
Elizabeth Jennings, NDI Technical Assistance
Team Members
2011 Training Series
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Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)

• DEI Projects at the state level and/or local
  level participating LWIBs are required to become
  Employment Networks under Social Security
  Administrations Ticket to Work Program.
• Training and Technical Assistance to DEI Projects
  in attaining Employment Network status and
  implementing effective EN operations is provided
  under U.S. DOLETA contract with NDI Consulting,
  Inc. and the National Disability Institute (NDI).
• Evaluation of the impact of the DEI Projects
  implementation and outcomes as Employment Network
  will be provided under U.S. DOL ODEP contract
  with Social Dynamics.

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Ticket 301, Part II
Learning Objectives

• Upon completion of this webinar, DEI Project
  staff will
• Understand what Partnership Plus is, and what it
  means to State VR agencies and ENs
• Have a clearer vision of how to develop an EN
  Business Model
• Have the tools to develop your EN Business Model,
  and connections to key State VR Ticket Liaisons
• Registration details for Ticket 301, Part III

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Ticket 301, Part II
Agenda

• Partnership Plus
• State VR Ticket to Work History
• Cost Reimbursement
• A New Approach in working with State VR Agencies,
  Partnership Plus
• Additional EN-VR Considerations
• DRCs role in strengthening the Partnership Plus
  model
• The EN Business Model
• EN Business Model Basics
• Establishing Your EN Operations Model
• Components of Your EN Business Operations
• Preparing for EN Operations

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Partnership Plus
Partnership Plus
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State VR Ticket to Work History

• Under the Old Ticket to Work Regulations, SSA
  paid for beneficiary success under either the VR
  Cost Reimbursement (CR) program or under the
  Ticket program, NOT BOTH
• State VR agencies were required to assign Tickets
  in order to receive Cost Reimbursement payments
  for individuals served through State VR
• Payments were not available under both the CR
  program and the Ticket program on behalf of the
  same beneficiary
• Did not provide for a seamless service delivery
  hand-off from State VR to private EN for ongoing
  support

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A Word about how SSA pays State VR agencies
through Cost Reimbursement

• SSA pays state VR agencies for the cost of the
  services they furnish to individuals receiving
  Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
  benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  payments based on disability or blindness if
  certain conditions are met
• Services must result in the individuals return
  to work for 9 out of 12 months at the substantial
  gainful activity level of earnings (which for
  2011 is 1,000/month (non-blind), or 1,640/month
  (blind) gross)
• If this is achieved, SSA can reimburse the VR
  agency for costs associated with achieving the
  placement, this is called Cost Reimbursement

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Cost Reimbursement Payments to VR
Fiscal Year Number of Claims Allowed Amount of Dollars Allowed Average Cost Per Claim
FY 10 7,768 105,964,398.60 13,641.14
FY 09  8,712 122,268,833.39  14,035
FY 08  9,325 124,238,549.09  13,323
FY 07  6,871 90,263,129.56  13,137
FY 06  8,387 105,049,203.20  12,525
FY 05  6,095 75,635,939.94  12,410
FY 04  6,811 85,172,425.42  12,505
FY 03 6,760 84,599,189.87 12,514
FY 02 10,527 131,062,205.10 12,450
FY 01 8,208 103,892,717.86 12,657
FY 00 10,220 117,024,222.20 11,451
FY 99 11,126 119,934,831.23 10,780
FY 98 9,950 103,037,127.54 10,355
http//www.ssa.gov/work/claimsprocessing.html

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The New Approach Partnership Plus

• Changes the relationship between State VR, and
  private ENs which encourages a seamless
  transition from State VR placement supports to
  long-term EN supports
• A more coordinated process allowing Ticket
  holders to receive services from both State VR
  programs and ENs
• An opportunity for improved collaboration between
  State VR programs and private ENs

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State VR Ticket to Work

• Now State VR agencies do NOT have to assign a
  Ticket to claim Cost Reimbursement payments they
  are eligible for
• State VR agencies can choose one of the following
  reimbursement options for each Ticket holder they
  serve
• Cost Reimbursement
• EN under the Ticket to Work program
• May choose either Outcome Only Payment method, or
  Milestone-Outcome Payment method in each case

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State VR Ticket to Work

• When State VR chooses to serve a Ticket holder
  under traditional Cost Reimbursement, the Ticket
  has a status of in-use SVR (in use with a State
  Vocational Rehabilitation agency) which protects
  the Ticket holder from medical Continuing
  Disability Reviews (CDRs)
• In-Use SVR status also indicates that the Ticket
  is not available for assignment to another EN

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Partnership Plus An Improved Service Delivery
Approach

• State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies and
  ENs can partner to better meet the needs of
  Ticket Holders
• New Ticket regulations permit payments to State
  VR agencies under the Cost Reimbursement (CR)
  program and to an EN under the Ticket program on
  behalf of the same beneficiary for the same
  Ticket
• Note Ticket cannot be assigned to State VR and
  private EN at the same time
• For State VR agencies that have chosen CR, after
  case closure, a hand off to an EN for long-term
  follow up supports increases the likelihood they
  will achieve CR payments

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Partnership Plus What you should know as an EN

• For a Partnership Plus case
• State VR agency chooses CR program
• Services must be sequential not concurrent
• Allows a service provider to function as a VR
  vendor while the VR case is open and as an EN
  after VR closes the case
• Opportunity to address need for post-employment
  supports to help Ticket Holders maintain and
  advance in employment
• Increases likelihood
• Ticket Holder will continue working
• VR will receive CR payment from SSA
• EN will receive Ticket payments

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Partnership Plus Impact on EN Payments

• When a Ticket Holders VR case is closed
  successfully, Phase
• 1 Milestones are not available to an EN
• Ticket Holder already working at Ticket
  assignment, placement services already provided
  by State VR agency
• State VR will typically close cases 90 days after
  placement
• Ticket can now be assigned to EN, and All Phase 2
  Milestone and
• Outcome payments are still payable in this case
• When a Ticket Holders VR case is closed
  unsuccessfully, ALL payments remain available to
  EN

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Refresher EN-VR Considerations

• When VR chooses to serve a beneficiary under Cost
  Reimbursement, the beneficiarys Ticket is
• -- Not assigned to State VR, but is considered
  in-use SVR status
• -- Cannot be assigned to another EN while VR
  case is open
• New in-use SVR status extends Continuing
  Disability Review (CDR) protection to beneficiary
  while receiving State VR services under Cost
  Reimbursement
• NOTE State VR Extended cases are considered
  closed cases, which could allow an EN to
  consider working with certain individuals who
  could benefit from additional services through an
  Employment Network
• For More information about Partnership Plus, see
  http//partnershipplus.cessi.net/

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Additional EN-VR Considerations
Partnership Plus

• Scenario An EN serves a Ticket holder who is not
  being served by State
• VR. The EN assigns the Ticket, and serves the
  Ticket Holder with some
• success. After 5 months, Phase 1 Milestones 1
  and 2 are achieved
• and billed for by the EN. In month 6, the Ticket
  Holder determines they
• need additional training, and they are referred
  to State VR for assistance.
• The Ticket holder un-assigns their Ticket with
  the private EN and signs a
• plan with State VR for services.
• Questions
• What happens to the first 2 Milestones the
  private EN received?
• Does State VR still have the option of serving
  under Cost Reimbursement?

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Additional EN-VR Considerations
Partnership Plus

• Answers
• 1. The EN may keep the 2 Milestones they were
  paid for their efforts
• 2. State VR may still choose to serve the Ticket
  holder under Cost Reimbursement or its elected EN
  payment system (per new regulations Section
  411.585(c) )

Based on current regulations
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DRC Impact Creating a Strong Partnership Plus
Relationship

• The current TtW Partnership Plus model should
  help you to understand the value to both State
  VR, and ENs in partnering to serve Ticket holders
  after VR closure whenever viable
• Provides an opportunity to collaborate with
  Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
• Offers the opportunity for Ticket holders to
  choose ongoing supports, assuming goals are
  consistent with the TtW program
• To discover how your State VR agency is handling
  the TtW program, you should reach out to your
  State VR Contact See Knowing your DEI State
  Vocational Rehabilitation Contacts

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Questions? A Submit it to the host in
writing via the Chat or QA Box to the right,
orB Click on the raise hand icon to have
your line un-muted and ask your question/make
your comment.
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Understanding your Employment Network Business
Model
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EN Business Model Basics

• An Employment Network is a business, and like any
  other small business, careful planning and
  forethought will increase your chances of success
• Your business model will set the stage for all
  subsequent steps you will take in developing your
  EN operations
• Examples
• Determining whether will serve Ticket holders who
  are interested in removing themselves from
  benefits through work, or who wish to work and
  maintain benefits, or both
• What types of services you provide may be driven
  by an agency mission and/or the individuals
  within your One-Stop providing Ticket services

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EN Business Model Basics Request for Proposal
(RFP) Structure

• An Employment Network operates under an Employer
  Identification Number (EIN), as indicated in your
  RFP
• The structure of your EN operations, based on
  your RFP, will likely represent one of three
  basic strategies
• Local level operation
• Collaborative operation
• State level operation

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RFP Structure Local level EN

• Examples of Employment Network strategies
• Local level Strategy A One-Stop/EN which has
  applied to become an EN based on a specific
  Workforce area, typically under the Workforce
  Investment Boards (WIB) Employer Identification
  Number (EIN)
• Advantages
• All Ticket funds generated go to local EN
• Design of EN business operations is up to the EN
• Challenges
• Local EN responsible for all EN operations,
  including all service delivery (Job Development,
  follow-up supports, etc.), marketing, billing and
  tracking of all Ticket Holders
• No shared resources, therefore local EN must
  fully staff all operations and provide equipment
  and supplies necessary to support EN

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RFP Structure Collaborative EN

• Local Level with Collaborative Agreement Either
  a One-Stop or other community agency is the EN of
  record and is partnering through a local written
  agreement. This increases the resources
  available to Ticket Holders that are served in
  this collaborative model as both the community
  agency and One-Stop provide resources to the
  Ticket Holder.
• The local agreement guides the services and
  contributions that both the One-Stop and
  community agency provide through the
  collaborative EN.
• Advantages
• Sharing of resources
• Increased access for Ticket Holders (more than
  one site)
• Specific advantage when partnering with One-Stop
  Career Centers Access to a pool of Ticket
  holders who might prefer to use a more mainstream
  job search approach
• Blending and Braiding of resources for individual
  Ticket holders
• Challenges
• Sharing of Ticket funds per written agreement
• Scheduling and managing coordination of services
  between two sites in a time effective manner

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RFP Structure State Level EN

• State Department as EN State Department of
  Labor, for example, becomes the EN of record, and
  lists the One-Stop sites in the RFP that will be
  serving Ticket holders. One application covers
  all sites included in the RFP, and each site
  operates under the State EIN.
• Advantages
• Reduced administrative burden for local areas
• Additional resources at the State level to market
  the program state-wide
• Ongoing targeted marketing to Ticket Holders by
  the state
• One application required, local areas need not
  apply to become EN
• Challenges
• Tracking of Ticket Holders at the State level
  would require dedicated staff time
• Tracking large volumes of Ticket Holders would
  require a coordinated tracking system
• Payments to local areas would vary, potential
  distribution challenge
• State would likely require an administration fee
  for time spent

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Components of your EN Business Operations

• In order to develop your EN business model, you
  will need to address questions which address all
  phases of EN operations (see EN Business Model
  Checklist)
• Questions you should answer - Basics
• How do EN services fit within the mission of the
  One-Stop delivery system?
• One-Stops provide services to ALL customers,
  including PWDs
• Expands resources through EN revenue to serve
  this target audience
• What kinds of services will your EN offer?
• Job Matching services, Resume development,
  interviewing skills, workshops, funds for
  training (where applicable), subsidized wages
  (youth programs), Incentives to Employers (OJT,
  WOTC)
• Who is your target audience?
• Will you serve Ticket holders who wish to work
  part-time, full-time, or both?
• Will you target only Ticket holders who wish to
  remove themselves from benefits?
• Have you identified (in RFP) specific disability
  groups you will serve?

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Components of your EN Business Operations (cont.)

• Questions you should answer - Staffing
• Which staff will assist with your EN operations?
• Will you designate one, or multiple staff
  members? (This will help you determine who should
  complete the Optional Form 306)
• For all other One-Stop staff, have you considered
  a process that will introduce them to this new
  service, and how to effectively contribute?
• Which staff will be required to fulfill the SSA
  EN Security and Suitability requirements?
• For staff that will be working with Ticket
  holders, a simple security clearance is required,
  including Optional Form 306
• If you wish to obtain the Beneficiary Referral
  CD, containing contact information for all Ticket
  holders in your service area, a more complete and
  thorough background check is required
• For more information, see http//www.yourticketto
  work.com/selftraining/ENSecuritySuitabilityRequire
  ments3-24-09.doc

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Components of your EN Business Operations (cont.)

• Questions you should answer - Staffing
• What will the role of each staff member be?
• Marketing Outreach Developing materials that
  represent your new EN option locally, and
  reaching out to your target audience
• Assessment Ticket Assignments This person
  should be able to understand which Ticket holders
  are a good fit for your EN, and should be able
  to prepare all required documentation necessary
  to assign a Ticket
• Administration This person will likely handle
  your billing and tracking of Ticket holders you
  are working with. A clear understanding of the
  billing structure, billing options and when to
  bill will be required. Tracking of other key
  data will be helpful for future reporting to
  Maximus
• Services This will likely be multiple staff
  members of the One-Stop / EN, such as Employment
  Counselors, Workforce Development Specialists,
  DRCs and others. The One-Stop provides an
  advantage in terms of the number of skilled staff
  members that may be part of delivering services
• Benefits Advisement A necessary component which
  should be provided to ALL Ticket holders. This
  will require internal expertise, OR, a strong
  partnership with another benefits planning
  service (i.e. WIPA)

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Components of your EN Business Operations (cont.)

• Questions you should answer - Marketing
• Marketing your new EN will require you to
  consider four main customers Ticket Holders,
  Service Providers, One-Stop staff and Employers
• How will you market your EN?
• To Ticket Holders You will first need to
  address which Ticket holders you want to market
  to, and then find ways to reach this target
  audience. There are a variety of ways to reach
  your audience, and as a One-Stop, you will have
  some advantages through your MIS
• To Service Providers Referrals from community
  agencies can greatly enhance your success in
  reaching Ticket holders, so reaching out to these
  agencies should be part of your strategy
• To One-Stop staff Dont forget your internal
  customer, staff within the One-Stop. One-Stop
  staff should know how to make an internal
  referral for Ticket holders to find out more
  about your EN as an option for services
• To Employers Last but certainly not least are
  your local employers. You should be able to
  explain to employers, when a Ticket holder has
  decided to disclose, specific advantages in
  working with your EN (i.e. WOTC, guidance with
  accommodations when applicable, etc.)

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Components of your EN Business Operations (cont.)

• Questions you should answer - Funding
• Once you begin accepting Ticket holders who you
  will work with, you will then have to address how
  Ticket funds will be used
• How will you manage your EN funds?
• Will EN funds be saved for future use, for
  example, to carry DRC staff at the end of the DEI
  grant?
• Will EN funds be available for staff that are
  serving Ticket holders for the purchase of
  necessary goods or services? For example, if a
  Ticket holder requires a specific certification,
  can EN funds be used to pay for such a request?
• If you have a collaborative agreement, have you
  addressed the sharing of EN funds?
• If you have a State level EN, is there a portion
  of the Ticket funds the state will maintain for
  administration, and is there a process to
  equitably distribute EN funds to each EN site?
  (i.e. based on an established formula)

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Components of your EN Business Operations (cont.)

• Questions you should answer - Administration
• Serving Ticket holders successfully through your
  EN will take you to the next phase of
  development, requesting payments based on the
  payment structure of the TtW program
• How will you maintain Ticket holder information,
  and what information should you be collecting?
• Having your Ticket holder data-base in place will
  help you stay organized, and will help you in
  determining when to bill for each Ticket holder
• MIS systems may be used, and improved, in order
  to capture relevant data for your EN operation
• Capturing key data will not only help you with
  billing, but will also help you when completing
  the Annual Periodic Outcome Report each year, as
  well as Timely Progress Reports
• A data-base will also help you to monitor your
  ongoing efforts, and overall revenue, as one
  measure of success in your EN operations

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Conclusions Preparing for EN Operations

• Developing your internal operations prior to
  accepting Ticket holders for services will allow
  you to provide better customer service to all
  customers involved (i.e. internal staff, Ticket
  holders, businesses)
• While you can plan in advance for many of the
  components of your EN operations, you will
  continue to streamline your business operations
  as you mature as an EN, dont expect to have
  everything go smoothly from day one, even with
  excellent planning

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Conclusions Preparing for EN Operations

• Addressing EN operations internally first will
  provide you a platform to then market to Ticket
  holders, and other key stakeholders
• There is no teacher like experience, therefore,
  you should connect with other successful ENs
  whenever possible to learn from, and to
  collaborate with, in order to continually improve
  services you offer

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Questions? A Submit it to the host in
writing via the Chat or QA Box to the right,
orB Click on the raise hand icon to have
your line un-muted and ask your question/make
your comment.
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Ticket 301 Part 3 Staffing Services, Marketing
Outreach

• This training will focus on Employment Network
  staffing needs,
• services your EN will provide, and how to
  successfully market
• the Ticket program to your target audience.
• Registration
• Note that all NDI hosted webinars are based on
  Eastern Time (ET).
• Thursday, May 12th (300pm 430pm EST)
• Registration In order to register go to
• https//ndi.webex.com/ndi/onstage/g.php?tad9676
  77136

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Contact Information

• Kevin Nickerson
• Program Associate
• NDI Technical Assistance Team
• knickerson_at_ndi-inc.org
• For Ticket to Work Technical Assistance needs,
  please email questions, or requests to schedule a
  call. Email requests will be reviewed through out
  the week.