Forging New Partnerships Forging New Partnerships and Employment and Employment

Opportunities for Persons Opportunities for Persons with Disabilitieswith Disabilities

SPI and BARCSPI and BARCSSA Projects OfficeSSA Projects Office

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Commonwealth University

Beth Bader Gilson Susan O’MaraBeth Bader Gilson Susan O’Mara

Before there were WIGs…Before there were WIGs…Before there were MIGs…Before there were MIGs…Before there were BPAOs…Before there were BPAOs…Before there were PABSSs…Before there were PABSSs…Before there were ODEP Grants...Before there were ODEP Grants...Before there were Tickets...Before there were Tickets...

THERE WASTHERE WAS SPISPI

The purpose of SPI is to develop innovative effective service delivery systems which increase employment of individuals with disabilities... and be able to demonstrate effectiveness through both outcome and process evaluation that includes extensive data collection.

Federal Agency Funding Federal Agency Funding Collaboration - October, Collaboration - October,

19981998 Social Security AdministrationSocial Security Administration Department of Education - Department of Education -

Rehabilitation Services Rehabilitation Services AdministrationAdministration

Department of Labor - Employment and Training Department of Labor - Employment and Training AdministrationAdministration

Department of Health and Human Services - Substance Department of Health and Human Services - Substance Abuse and Mental Health AdministrationAbuse and Mental Health Administration

State Partnership Systems Change Initiative States

OHCA

OR

SSA States

TX

WA

ID

MT ND

SDWY

NV

UTCO

NM

AZOK

KS

IA

MO

AR

LA

MS

IL

FL

GA

NC

VA

ALA

TN

KY

INWV

MD

NJ

NYMI

MENH

VT

DE

MA

RICT

AK

NE

MN

WI

SC

PA

HI

RSA States

But what has SPI really done But what has SPI really done in the past 4 years…in the past 4 years…

Developed and implemented innovative service approaches that are addressing employment barriers for over 6,200 individuals with a variety of disabilities.

The SPI projects have ...

...had a significant impact on the expansion of health care coverage for individuals with disabilities

Many SPI projects were instrumental in the development of Medicaid buy-in programs in their state. These projects have served as models for many other states currently attempting to design buy-in programs.

...have been heavily involved in improving the ability of One-Stop Centers to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities

The projects have pioneered the provision of benefits planning services within the One-Stop structure, stimulated the development of improved service practices, and delivered training and technical assistance to local One-Stop centers.

...have developed innovative approaches to providing employment supports

These approaches include such diverse strategies as targeted case management, SSI waivers, and employer partnerships, have expanded employment opportunities for individuals who have faced difficulties obtaining employment through traditional approaches.

...have served as a model for interagency collaboration

The interagency governance structures developed by many SPI projects, generally comprised of state vocational rehabilitation, consumers, workforce development, Medicaid, employers, mental health, and other relevant agencies, have formed the basis for additional reform efforts through SSA, DOL, and CMS.

...have led the nation in the development of benefits planning and assistance services

The initial results of the SPI projects efforts in this area formed the basis for the SSA Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach initiative.

Benefits Planning, Assistance Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach and Protection and and Outreach and Protection and

Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social SecuritySocial Security

Essential employment Essential employment supports outlined in the supports outlined in the Ticket to Work and Work Ticket to Work and Work

Incentives Improvement Act Incentives Improvement Act

Benefits Planning, Benefits Planning, Assistance, Assistance,

& Outreach Program& Outreach Program The Ticket to Work and Work The Ticket to Work and Work

Incentives Improvement Act of Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 authorizes SSA to:1999 authorizes SSA to:

Award one or more cooperative Award one or more cooperative agreements in every state and US agreements in every state and US territory, andterritory, and

Provide all SSA Disability beneficiaries Provide all SSA Disability beneficiaries (including transition-to-work aged (including transition-to-work aged youth) with access to Benefits youth) with access to Benefits Planning and Assistance Services.Planning and Assistance Services.

OUTCOME… FORGING NEW OUTCOME… FORGING NEW PARTNERSHIPS!PARTNERSHIPS!

Benefits Planning, Benefits Planning, Assistance, Assistance,

& Outreach Program& Outreach Program

SSA has awarded BPAO cooperative SSA has awarded BPAO cooperative agreements to 117 organizations agreements to 117 organizations across the countryacross the country..

BPA&O Roles / BPA&O Roles / ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Deliver benefits and work incentives Deliver benefits and work incentives planning and assistanceplanning and assistance

Conduct outreach to disabled beneficiaries Conduct outreach to disabled beneficiaries regarding available programs and incentivesregarding available programs and incentives

Prepare and disseminate information Prepare and disseminate information explaining such programsexplaining such programs

Work collaboratively with other federal, Work collaboratively with other federal, State, and private agencies and nonprofit State, and private agencies and nonprofit organizations that serve beneficiaries with organizations that serve beneficiaries with disabilitiesdisabilities

Array of BPA&O ServicesArray of BPA&O Services

Information and referralInformation and referral Problem solving and advocacyProblem solving and advocacy Benefits planningBenefits planning

analysis analysis advisementadvisement

Benefits assistanceBenefits assistance Support planningSupport planning ManagementManagement

Support informed decisio

n

making and self-sufficiency

stemming from work

VCU BARC – Serving 4 VCU BARC – Serving 4 Regions and 65 BPAO Regions and 65 BPAO

ProjectsProjects

Objective of the National Objective of the National Reporting EffortReporting Effort

To document the degree to which the BPAO Program is achieving the outcomes intended by Congress when it established the Program as a key component of the Ticket to Work Act.

Note: All services and recommendations are documented, as well as the beneficiary’s employment and benefits receipt status at the time of service.

Services Delivered to Services Delivered to Recipients Through BPAO Recipients Through BPAO

(N=16,584)(N=16,584)

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Information & Referral

ProblemSolving &Advocacy

BenefitsAnalysis &

Advisement

BenefitsSupportPlanning

BenefitsManagement

SSI

SSDI

Concurrent

Hours of Services Rendered Hours of Services Rendered Per Participant Per Participant (N=16,584)(N=16,584)

Service TimeService Time I&R/Problem I&R/Problem SolvingSolving

Intensive Intensive Benefit Benefit SupportSupport

Less than 1 hourLess than 1 hour 51.951.9 11.811.8

1 hour1 hour 19.119.1 15.915.9

2 hours2 hours 16.316.3 23.723.7

3 hours3 hours 6.06.0 16.316.3

4 hours4 hours 2.72.7 9.19.1

5-9 hours5-9 hours 3.33.3 18.118.1

More than 10 More than 10 hourshours

0.80.8 5.25.2

Current Employment Current Employment Status by SSA Benefit Status by SSA Benefit

(N=16,584)(N=16,584)

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

Full-Time Part-Time Not Employed,Seeking

Employment

Not Employed,Not SeekingEmployment

SSI

SSDI

Concurrent

Incentives IndicatedIncentives Indicatedby SSA Benefit by SSA Benefit (N=16,584)(N=16,584)

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%

SSI

SSDI

Concurrent

Age Ranges by Services Age Ranges by Services Received Received (N=16,584)(N=16,584)

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

Under 19 20 to 39 40 to 59 Over 60

I&R/Problem Solving

Intensive Benefit Support

BPAO TA TrendsBPAO TA Trends

Work incentives -- next level, Work incentives -- next level, new provisions, & work new provisions, & work

incentive enhancementsincentive enhancements

Concurrent beneficiariesConcurrent beneficiaries

Interface of multiple Federal & State Benefit Interface of multiple Federal & State Benefit ProgramsPrograms

Issues related to Medicare & Medicaid provisionsIssues related to Medicare & Medicaid provisions

BPAOBPAO TA TrendsTA Trends

State-Specific Benefit ProgramsState-Specific Benefit Programs

Effective Collaboration with other Effective Collaboration with other Federal/State Grantees & InitiativesFederal/State Grantees & Initiatives

BPAO ProjectsBPAO Projects

32 BPAOs operated by Centers for 32 BPAOs operated by Centers for Independent LivingIndependent Living 18 BPAOs operated by Service Organizations18 BPAOs operated by Service Organizations such as Goodwill Industries, UCP, such as Goodwill Industries, UCP, Easter SealsEaster Seals 7 BPAOs operated by State Agencies7 BPAOs operated by State Agencies

8 BPAOs Legal Services, P&As, University8 BPAOs Legal Services, P&As, University based programs, Office of thebased programs, Office of the Governor, CCD Governor, CCD

Strategies for WIGSStrategies for WIGS

Relationships Relationships

Training & TA on WIG initiativesTraining & TA on WIG initiatives

Information on new State/local Information on new State/local developmentsdevelopments

Collaboration on delivery of BPAO servicesCollaboration on delivery of BPAO services