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Pathways to Successful Collaboration
1
Promising Practices in
Integration in
Rural Capital Area
2
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.
3
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
5
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
6
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
7
Contact Information
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area
Al Lopez, Planner
&
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area
Jenna Akridge, Director of Contracts & Programs
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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
12
“The Perfect Storm” (2 of 4)
Mixed results–
• Some Liaison VR Counselors –
Too busy
No joint partnership
Limited/no understanding of WFS services
13
“The Perfect Storm” (3 of 4)
Mixed results (continued) –
• Other Liaison VR Counselors -
Active engagement
Strong partnership
Office space made available
14
“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
15
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
17
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
18
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
20
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
21
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
22
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
23
Events
Joint Tarrant County WFS/DARS training
VR Liaison Counselor Work Group
VR Transition/Youth Program
Job Club for the Deaf
24
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
25
Training (1 of 3)
26
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
29
VR Transition/Youth Program
Several meetings
Lessons learned
• Enhanced knowledge of both programs
• Developed/implemented agreed upon referral process
Win-Win situation
30
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
31
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”)
32
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
34
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
35
Now
Success stories
• Participants are actively seeking employment
• Word of mouth spread within Deaf community
• Held every other month due to demand
36
Contact Us
Anne Hoscheit, MA, CRC
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services Area Manager, Fort Worth South Field Office
Deb Jones
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services Business Relations Coordinator, Metroplex Regional Office
37
Pathways to Successful
Collaboration
Community Collaboration
38
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)
39
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
40
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
41
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
42
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
43
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
44
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
45
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
46
That was ThenThis is Now
2006 - 2016
47
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
48
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
49
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
51
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
52
Promoting Awareness and Employment (4 of 4)
View example of TV commercial promoting hiring fair at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVmFjelGzow
53
Contact Information David and Janet
For further information, contact:
• David Zarazua, Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Janet Bono, Workforce Solutions Borderplex
54