11/8/2006 OREGON COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT PROJECT A systems change initiative to develop comprehensive employment supports for persons with disabilities State of Oregon Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services This presentation is sponsored by The Oregon Competitive Employment Project, which is part of the Oregon State Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services funded through a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CFDA93.768) Updated July 2010

11/8/2006 MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Oregon Competitive Employment Project is to enhance the quality of life in Oregon by achieving, maintaining and advancing the competitive and inclusive employment of persons with disabilities. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

11/8/2006 Oregon Competitive Employment Project  3 rd in a series of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) funded Medicaid Infrastructure Grants (MIG) in Oregon. Current cycle runs through January – December 31,  The current MIG, which is known as the Competitive Employment Project (the Project) is charged with addressing employment supports on a comprehensive level. The MIG is housed in Oregon’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.  Major initiatives for include the Work Incentives Network; a national and state employer awareness campaign around hiring people with disabilities; and activities that support employment for people diagnosed with serious mental illness, traumatic brain injury or a developmental disability.  The CMS approved application as well as quarterly reports to CMS can be found on the Project’s website: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

11/8/2006 WORK INCENTIVES NETWORK (WIN) 2010  WIN is a free benefits and work incentives planning service for people with disabilities who want to obtain, maintain or advance in employment.  WIN supports and services are provided by 11 Work Incentive Coordinators in 9 Oregon Centers for Independent Living sites across the State.  Over 3,000 Oregonians with disabilities statewide have received support from WIN since services began in late Preliminary data from WIN shows a 22% increase overall in wages and a 4% increase in employment post-enrollment!  WIN staff assist people with disabilities to: 1. MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS about work and their benefits; 2. USE WORK INCENTIVES to achieve their employment goals; and 3. NAVIGATE THE BENEFITS SYSTEMS when they begin working.  To find more information about WIN, or to find the WIN staff nearest you go to: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

11/8/2006 SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT FOR PERSONS DIAGNOSED WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS 2010  Continue to support The Oregon Supported Employment Center for Excellence (OSECE). The OSECE provides training and technical support to County Mental Health Providers (CMHPs) to provide evidence-based practice supported employment for all clients. Currently 18 CMHPs are participants in the OSECE, with an average of 39% of those served obtaining employment.  Support and collaborate with Portland State University’s Regional Research Institute (PSU/RRI), the OSECE and Department of Human Services’ Addictions and Mental Health Division to develop a Supported Employment Peer Specialist Curriculum that will be tested in four regions of the state.  To read more about the OSECE and PSU’s RRI: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

11/8/2006 EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT 2010  Oregon is part of a partnership of state health and human service agencies with MIG grants that have collaborated with Chicago-based advertising agency, Wirestone to develop “Think Beyond the Label”, a cross-media national marketing campaign targeting senior executives and CEOs of businesses. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness that hiring people with disabilities makes good business sense, and includes a website offering businesses resources and access to individual state support to improve business’ ability to reach this untapped labor pool. To find out more about Think Beyond the Label go to:  The Project is collaborating with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, private providers and job developers across the state to ensure Oregon has the human resources needed to respond to employers who view the national campaign. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

11/8/2006 Employment First Policy: Supported Employment for People with Developmental Disabilities 2010  The Project has contracted with the Washington Initiative for Supported Employment (W.I.S.E.) to do 12 Regional Employment Orientation trainings for Seniors and People with Disabilities’ Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (SPD-ODDS) Employment First Policy and how to incorporate employment in people’s individual plans SPD-ODDS County Developmental Disability Providers, Personal Agents and Service Coordinators.  In addition, W.I.S.E. will hold six Regional Employment First forums around the state for all stakeholders on the Employment First Policy starting in late Spring  Read the SPD-ODDS Employment First Policy and find out when the Regional Employment Orientation or Employment First forums will happen: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

11/8/2006 Other Project Activities 2010  Continued support of Oregon conferences including:  Southern Oregon Options for Success in Employment. For more information contact Kristi Hyman:  Oregon Parent Training and Information Center and the Department of Education’s annual “Building Bridges” transition conference and Respect, Inspire, Support and Educate (R.I.S.E.) conference. For more information:  Brain Injury Association of Oregon’s annual Pacific Northwest Brain Injury Conference. For more information: and  Oregon Disability MegaConference:  Continued support of Oregon Parent Training and Information Center’s Individual Education Partners program, including a component that will provide support to three of Oregon’s Confederated Tribes.  Continued collaboration with Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Community Mental Health Programs on the Oregon Department of Human Services as an Employment Network under the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work program. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

11/8/2006 FOR MORE INFORMATION  Project website:   Project contact information:  Phone: (503)  Fax: (503)  TTY:  Project Staff Molly Sullivan Program Analyst (WIN) Gene Rada Policy Analyst (WIN) Paula Fitch Policy Analyst (Think Beyond the Label) Marcia Plass Office Specialist Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services