Maine's CHOICES CEO Project
Working Together News
A newsletter about Maine's efforts to increase work opportunities for people with disabilities
The Data Issue!
Priority #6 of Maine’s Strategic Plan to Maximize Employment for People with Disabilities, adopted in January 2006, is “Enhance data collection about workers with disabilities and ensure that data can be shared by relevant agencies providing services.” This newsletter issue provides updates on several data-related activities under way in Maine by the CHOICES CEO project and key project partners.
In Focus
Results from a Supported Employment Fidelity Review
Two state agencies are nearing completion of an 18-month study of supported
employment services for people with disabilities. The study is measuring
the quality of Maine’s programs and services relative to nationally
accepted best practices.
The agencies involved are the Maine Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS) Office of Adult Mental Health Services and the Maine
Department of Labor Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. The
project is being directed by Karen Glew, DHHS Office of Quality Improvement.
The study is called a “Fidelity Review” — essentially, a study that examines the extent to which practices are consistent with established standards. In other words, how closely do Maine’s supported employment services follow the guidelines and procedures that have been proven successful through testing?
The review looked at employment support services provided by Maine’s adult mental health system and was in response to a 2006 DHHS plan to improve vocational opportunities for adult mental health consumers. “Expand Employment Expertise in Provider Agencies” was a major action step in the plan, which followed a review conducted by two external consultants.
The results of the review are expressed in scores that fall on a scale of 1 to 5. A score of 1 means that the proven practice was not implemented, and a score of 5 was given when a practice was fully implemented.
Scores were determined using data collected from interviews with 17 supported employment providers in Maine. Scores fell into three areas: staffing, services organization, and the actual services. Results from the study are grouped by area and summarized below:
Staffing
Three items related to the role of vocational staff and the
size of their caseload were studied. All three received relatively high
scores. “Caseload size” had a score of 4.8; “focus
on vocational services” received a 4.7; and “staff are vocational
generalists” got a 4.9. Overall, the statewide staffing score was
4.78.
Organization of services
Two items were studied in this area. These were concerned with
whether or not rehabilitation services are integrated with local mental
health treatment teams, and whether vocational services are organized
into a specific organizational unit. “Integration of services” received
a relatively low score of 1.5; whereas, “services in a unit” scored
high with a 4.1. Overall, the statewide average in this area was 2.8.
Services
Nine different items were examined pertaining to service criteria.
These included permanence and diversity of jobs developed, individualized
job searches, and natural community setting for the services. Scores
for the nine areas ranged from a low of 3.4 (ongoing vocational assessment)
to a high of 4.5 (follow-along support provided after a person starts
work). Overall, the statewide average in this area was 4.0.
The study was funded by the Maine Data Infrastructure Grant,
a federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
grant that was started in 2006 and was conducted throughout 2007. The CHOICES
CEO project provided support for the study, specifically in hiring a national
expert in the area of evidence-based practices, and recruiting three recipients
of vocational rehabilitation services who served as evaluators in the study.
Supported employment providers may contact Jim Braddick at DHHS for agency-specific implementation scores. The final report is posted on the Office of Integrated Services website. For more information, contact karen.glew@maine.gov.
Supported Employment Services and Workers with Disabilities: Preliminary Results
Initial findings about people with cognitive and physical disabilities
who receive supportive employment services funded by the state
are in and have been summarized below.
Specifically, the data is about people receiving services funded by the Office of Adults with Cognitive and Physical Disabilities (OACPD) Comprehensive Waiver and State Grants. The OACPD program, part of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, funds a variety of services in the community, and is trying to increase services related to employment, such as job coaching and training. The information creates a starting point for policy makers and other decision makers to measure the state’s future progress.
The CHOICES CEO project is playing a key role in collecting and analyzing the data. A data collection form was developed and will be used quarterly to collect data from agencies that provide these services. The research is looking at 1) Sustained Employment, 2) Meaningful Employment, 3) Gainful Employment and 4) Quality of services.
The initial findings look at employment activities that occurred during the week of 8/13/07. Fifty-two agencies were identified as providing supported employment services during 2007. Following the request for data, six agencies reported that they did not provide services during that week. Forty-three agencies submitted data and three have not yet reported. Highlights are listed below.
Employment and Employers: the week of 8/13/07
- 675 people were working (this number does not include people working in sheltered workshops). Of these, 57 were working two or more jobs.
- People were employed by 212 different employers in a variety of settings.
- The top three employers were: Hannaford Bros., which employed 50 people, Wal-Mart, which employed 16 people, and Tom’s of Maine, which employed 14 people.
Earnings and Hours Worked: the week of 8/13/07
- Hourly wages ranged from $0.19 (possible in some situations where an exception to the minimum wage law is applied) to $25.00 per hour, with an average wage of $6.62 per hour.
- The number of hours worked ranged from 0 to 40, with an average of 10.51 hours.
Supported Employment Services: the month of August 2007
- The number of hours authorized for supported employment services funded by OACPD ranged from 0 to 135 hours per person, with an average of 30.72 hours.
- People used 25.97 hours of supported employment services — fewer than the authorized hours available.
Additional data and periodic updates can be found at: www.employmentforme.org.
State Affairs
New Money for Transportation Innovation
The state's 10 transit providers are competing for dollars from a relatively new federal transportation program, called New Freedoms, that will improve transportation for people with disabilities. The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) is seeking creative, innovative ideas for services and alternatives to expand transportation for people with disabilities, including transportation to jobs.
New Freedoms programs will go above and beyond what is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Programs could include initiatives such as volunteer driver programs or new equipment to accommodate mobility aids that exceed the dimensions and weights of common wheelchairs.
Federal funding for New Freedoms will range from $350,000 to $400,000 per year over the next couple of years, and Maine must raise local funds to match the federal dollars. MDOT plans to roll out the new programs in spring and summer of next year.
Spotlight on Employers
Susan Faloon of
Bangor Hydro
Electric Company
Bangor Hydro Electric Company (BHE) has successfully employed people with a disability for many years. “We believe that work is an important part of everyone's life,” said Susan Faloon, BHE’s communications officer. Employees with a disability, including those that require accommodation to perform their work, work in the same positions as non-disabled employees, such as in the call center and line operations.
“One of our meter readers happens to be deaf,” said Faloon. “We are able to provide American Sign Language interpretation via teleconference technology. The interpreter can hear the speaker and sign the conversation back to the same room via the monitor in real time. This allows our employee to fully participate in all meetings and is extremely convenient.” She described this employee as one of the first to sign up for workplace events. “He is extremely hard working, dedicated and actually looks forward to the challenges of working outside in Maine’s winter weather conditions,” she said.
Over the summer, this employee was also part of an Automatic Vehicle Locator pilot project. He tested technology, used by police departments, that is designed to provide driving directions and vehicle location. This information helps dispatchers assign work. He was one of the first to pilot the technology as his job requires him to be in remote locations with little or no cell or radio coverage. The technology allowed him to better communicate back to the company.
“Reviewing job descriptions with an eye toward physical and mental requirements is a beginning step to identifying jobs, or parts of jobs, that will work well for applicants who may have a disability,” Faloon reported. “The process is a deliberate one. Hiring and retaining workers with a disability requires a permanent commitment to appropriate accommodations that maximize the employee's development, self worth, and contribution to the company.”
BHE is a strong believer in the power of diversity to strengthen a company and Faloon said that BHE sees employees with a disability as an integral part of the diversity the company is striving for. “The challenges and reality of diverse hiring makes us a stronger workplace and community,” she said. “It builds our understanding of, and compassion for, the needs and challenges confronted by others, and demonstrates that we all have the right to work opportunities, regardless of our differences. With commitment, there are ample opportunities to create positive employment and growth opportunities for everyone, regardless of disability.”
To learn more about Bangor Hydro Electric visit: http://www.bhe.com.
Updates
The Maine Disability and Employment Dashboard, an online source of statistics about disability and employment in Maine, has been updated with data from Snapshot 2007: Maine Workers with Disabilities.
The Dashboard provides the most current information available related to the employment of people with disabilities in the state of Maine. It includes indicators of employment participation, economic well-being, and the use of employment services and supports.
A key finding is that employment among people with disabilities continues to lag far behind people without disabilities. In 2006, there were about 131,000 working-age adults with a disability living in Maine; of these, 52,000 (40 percent) were employed. This is compared to an employment rate of 81 percent for people without a disability.
New topics will be added to the Dashboard on a periodic basis. One topic currently under development is a comparison of the earnings of participants in the MaineCare Workers with Disabilities Option to the earnings of participants in similar programs in other New England states.
New on the Web
First Edition of Service Providers Directory is on the Internet
The first edition of a directory of service providers and agencies that support the employment of people with disabilities has been posted to our website. This Excel document can be downloaded directly here.
The directory is a resource guide for people with disabilities, family members, agencies, and employers. It includes contact information for service providers that was collected from state agencies, local organizations, and Internet research.
The CHOICES CEO project is developing a questionnaire that will be sent to providers in order to gather more detailed information for the next edition of the directory. Future editions may include detailed service descriptions, testimonials, search options, and other elements designed to help users find the best provider for their needs.
For more information, or to share ideas, please contact Larry Glantz.
Movies!
Several short video clips are now available on the CHOICES CEO website! Watch and listen to Governor Baldacci speak at an October 15, 2007 event at the State House in Augusta. Visit http://choices.muskie.usm.maine.edu/new/video.html
Mark Your Calendar
MaineCare
Workshops for Winter/Spring 2008
Learn how to offer information and application assistance
to individuals and families applying for MaineCare coverage. Free
workshops offered around the state.
Employment
Law and People with Disabilties: The ADA, Criminal Records & Beyond
February 12, 2008; 9 am – 4 pm
Sheraton South Portland Hotel; Portland, ME
Working
Life: Towards a Lifestyle of Employment for All
2008 Webinar Series
4 Sessions: 1/28; 2/4; 2/11; 2/25
New England Diversity Career Fairs
January
23, 2008; Nashua, NH
February,
27, 2008; Burlington, MA
Spring
Augusta Area Job Expo
March 10, 2008; 9 am – 2 pm
Augusta Civic Center; Augusta, ME
Ideas for Stories
Please help us… we are seeking stories! Do you know of a worker or employer that we can feature in our newsletter? Please contact Leslie Pohl.
