pathways to successful collaboration · barriers consumers could ... pathways to successful...

Pathways to Successful Collaboration

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Promising Practices in

Integration in

Rural Capital Area

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Integration in Rural Capital Area Three Planning Partners

AEL Provider - Community Action Inc. of Central Texas

Vocational Rehabilitation - General and Blind

Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area

Each partner identified their area of expertise.

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Integration in Rural Capital AreaThree Workgroups

How to Share System Services (AEL)

• Focus on recruitment, orientation, intake, eligibility & customer information

How to Share System Customers (VR)

• Focus on referrals for appropriateness, timeliness & follow through

Business & Job Finding Services (WSRCA)

• Focus on job matching, job fairs & employer services 4

Integration in Rural Capital Area Work Group Products

(1 of 2)

Fact Sheets & Desk Guides for each program

Referral Process - WIT registration (plus one page)

Identification of Staff for WIT, TWIST, PIRL –Accessing information systems is key to quality service

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Integration in Rural Capital Area Work Group Products

(2 of 2)

Training Schedules

• WIT, TWIST, TEAMS, PIRL, customer referrals, desk guides……

• Workforce Center visits

Points of Contact

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Integration in Rural Capital Area Leadership

WSRCA Executive Director, VR Regional Director, and AEL Adult Education Director

have committed to meet quarterly to:

Review implementation of plan by target date

Evaluate effectiveness of plan – number of referrals, effectiveness of referrals, number of co-enrollments

Adjust plan as needed for continuous improvement

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Contact Information

Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area

Al Lopez, Planner

al.lopez@ruralcapital.net

&

Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area

Jenna Akridge, Director of Contracts & Programs

jenna.akridge@ruralcapital.net

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Tarrant County Workforce

Centers and Vocational

Rehabilitation Services

Pathways to Collaboration

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Ice Breaking Activity

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“The Perfect Storm”

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“The Perfect Storm” (1 of 4)

Vision – Strong partnership between Liaison VR counselors and WFS offices

• Assigned to each WFS office

• Comparable services

Mixed results

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“The Perfect Storm” (2 of 4)

Mixed results–

• Some Liaison VR Counselors –

Too busy

No joint partnership

Limited/no understanding of WFS services

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“The Perfect Storm” (3 of 4)

Mixed results (continued) –

• Other Liaison VR Counselors -

Active engagement

Strong partnership

Office space made available

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“The Perfect Storm” (4 of 4)

Referral Process - VR consumers/WFS customers

• Not getting served

• Could not get past the front desk of WFS office

• Lost in the shuffle

• Poor hand-off processes

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Referral Process Examples (1 of 2)

Tarrant County Transition Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (TVRCs) wanted to partner with the WFS Youth Program

VR Counselors assigned to all five Tarrant County WFS offices

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Referral Process Examples (2 of 2)

VR counselors referred consumers to WFS offices

• free job readiness training

• free job placement services

• access to the Work In Texas (WIT) program

Received training on the WFS services programs

Agreed-upon referral process – training

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Barriers

Consumers could not get past the front desk

• Miscommunication

• Lack of knowledge about services

No hand-off process in place

Consumers

• lack of support,

• difficulty navigating the WFS/VR system

• No office space

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Putting the Puzzle Together

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Puzzle Pieces Identified (1 of 2)

Lack of understanding

• WFS services vs. VR Services

Individuals with disabilities

• not provided equal access to free WFS services - same as everyone else

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Puzzle Pieces Identified (2 of 2)

Not tapping into comparable services = duplication of services = waste of funds

Loss of potential referrals = not providing a service to qualified individuals = not meeting local labor market demands

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Putting the Puzzle together (1 of 2)

Tarrant County Workforce Centers

• Ensure accessibility protocol: equal access for all

• Ensure adaptive equipment: good working order

• Provide training on adaptive equipment

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Putting the Puzzle Together (2 of 2)

Improve partnership between WFS and VR staff

Equal accessibility opportunities for all to same free WFS services

Comparable services

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Events

Joint Tarrant County WFS/DARS training

VR Liaison Counselor Work Group

VR Transition/Youth Program

Job Club for the Deaf

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Joint WFS/DARS TrainingTarrant County

Intent – understand what the other does

Training was for all Tarrant County WFS and DARS offices

Training –

• November 7, 2015 at the Resource Connection location

• Half day

• Ice breaking activities

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Training (1 of 3)

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Training (2 of 3)

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Training (3 of 3)

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VR Liaison Counselor Work Group

Monthly teleconference calls

Clear expectations/accountability of strong partnership

Utilize available services

Minimal duplication of services

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VR Transition/Youth Program

Several meetings

Lessons learned

• Enhanced knowledge of both programs

• Developed/implemented agreed upon referral process

Win-Win situation

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Job Club for the Deaf (1 of 5)

Goal – provide equal access opportunity for individuals who are Deaf to the same job readiness classes at the local WFCs in Tarrant County

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Job Club for the Deaf (2 of 5)

Pilot – Resource Connections of Tarrant County

Reviewed handouts on WFS job readiness classes

Conclusion: Not accessible (not “Deaf Friendly”)

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Job Club for the Deaf (3 of 5)

Half day disability awareness training on Deaf Culture

• Provided to TC Resource Connection WFS staff

• Increased understanding of communication needs

• Presenters – VR Counselors who are subject matter experts

WFS job readiness material

• Equal access for the Deaf• Feedback from VR Counselors• End result – modified material for equal

communication access 33

Job Club for the Deaf (4 of 5)

Small classes

• 6 or less

• Optimal accessibility for communication

• Daily for one week

• 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Qualified sign language interpreters provided

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Job Club for the Deaf (5 of 5)

Participants are job ready

WFS Facilitator

• Review history on each participant

• Provide matching job leads

• Hands-on activities

• Visual cues

First class – week of June 6, 2016

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Now

Success stories

• Participants are actively seeking employment

• Word of mouth spread within Deaf community

• Held every other month due to demand

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Contact Us

Anne Hoscheit, MA, CRC

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services Area Manager, Fort Worth South Field Office

Anne.hoscheit@twc.state.tx.us

Deb Jones

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services Business Relations Coordinator, Metroplex Regional Office

Debra.jones@twc.state.tx.us

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Pathways to Successful

Collaboration

Community Collaboration

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Community Collaboration 2005 - 2006

In 2005, various agencies came together to discuss how to enhance services to people with disabilities

Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (now Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services)

VOLAR Center for Independent Living

El Paso Community College

University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

In 2006, idea was promoted to include Workforce Solutions Borderplex (then Upper Rio Grande)

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Disability Subcommittee Convened in 2006 (1 of 2)

Formation of the Disability Subcommittee of the Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB)Board

Championed by then Board of Directors member, Luis Enrique Chew

Chaired by WSB Board member

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Disability Subcommittee Convened in 2006 (2 of 2)

Members included representatives from disability community, organizations that served individuals with disabilities such as Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (now Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services [VRS]), and employers

Promoted a paid work experience/summer employment initiative for youth with disabilities, dubbed Breaking Barriers

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Disability Subcommittee Purpose

Advises the workforce system on community needs, goals and program services

Encourages employers to recruit, hire, retain and provide career development opportunities for people with disabilities

Provide input and recommendations which support Workforce Solutions Borderplex Strategic Plan

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Mission and Objectives

To better serve customers with disabilities

Work closely with other agencies that serve people with disabilities

Establish a permanent governance structure that is needed by the disability community to have issues and needs represented at the Board level

To provide expertise and guidance to the Board regarding disability issues in the community

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Value of the Disability Subcommittee

Opens doors to employment opportunities

Provides guidance in accepting workforce challenges

Better prepares staff to assist customers with disabilities so they become self-sufficient

Improves customized employment practices for customers

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Breaking Barriers Launched (1 of 2)

• Youth with disabilities were

outreached through various

organizations

• Determined eligible for

Workforce Investment Act

services

• Placed with employers to

gain real work experience.

• DARS and WSB job

developers worked with

employers to enter into

work experience site

agreements

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Breaking Barriers Launched (2 of 2)

DARS provided Job Coaches for the youth and

employer sites, assistive technology and

supports

WSB provided case management

WSB utilized WIA funds to pay youth for the work

experience

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That was ThenThis is Now

2006 - 2016

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10 Years Later (1 of 2)

Disability Subcommittee of WSB continues as an active component of the Board

Provides guidance about adaptive equipment to further enhance services

Sensitivity training provided on an ongoing basis

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10 Years Later (2 of 2)

Breaking Barriers Continues

Shift was made from In-School Youth to Out-of-School Youth

Partnerships remain active

40 Youth

25 Employers

2 Hires

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Promoting Awareness and

Employment (1 of 4)

• Joyce Wilson, CEO, WSB

and John Fuller, Director of

Workforce and Board

Support, TWC were speakers

at UTEP’s Disability Week

opening program

• Fact sheet of benefits of

hiring included in employer

packets

• Job fairs for individuals with

disabilities are held annually50

Promoting Awareness and

Employment (2 of 4)

• VRS, WSB and other

organizations refer customers

to job fairs

• Recruit employers who

actively seek to hire

individuals with disabilities

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Promoting Awareness and Employment (3 of 4)

October Disability Awareness Month job fair had 14 employers and 185 job seekers with 10 onsite interviews

Workshop for employers offered in concert with the job fair

Assistive equipment on display with VRS support

VRS Business Relations Coordinator teamed with Business Services staff to promote services to employers

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Promoting Awareness and Employment (4 of 4)

View example of TV commercial promoting hiring fair at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVmFjelGzow

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Contact Information David and Janet

For further information, contact:

• David Zarazua, Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services

David.zarazua@twc.state.tx.us

• Janet Bono, Workforce Solutions Borderplex

Janet.bono@borderplexjobs.com

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