Building Partnerships and Collaboration The Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Model 2011 Training Series – May 31, 2011 Hosted/Facilitated by: Laura Gleneck Presented by: DJ Diamond, NDI Technical Assistance Team Brian Ingram, Worksystems, Inc., Portland, OR NDI Technical Assistance Team

 According to the SGA, states were required to choose at least two service delivery components as a primary focus for their grant implementation. Integrated Resource Team(s), as a service delivery component was selected by all nine of the DEI projects.  Training and Technical Assistance to DEI Projects in effectively coordinating partnerships at the state- and local- level is provided under U.S. DOLETA contract with NDI Consulting, Inc. and the National Disability Institute (NDI).  Evaluation of the impact of DEI Projects’ implementation and outcomes in effectively coordinating partnerships at the state- and local-level will be provided under U.S. DOL ODEP contract with Social Dynamics. 2

3 REQUIRED DEI COMPONENT Establish & coordinate state-level partnerships 7 DEI PROJECTS Partnerships & Collaboration Approach ALL DEI PROJECTS Integrated Resource Team Approach 7 DEI PROJECTS Blending/braiding funds, leveraging resources

Improve coordination and collaboration among employment and training and asset development programs implemented at local levels, including the Ticket to Work Program, and Build effective community partnerships that leverage public and private resources to better serve individuals with disabilities and improve employment outcomes. The Integrated Resource Team (IRT) model serves as a conduit to improve coordination and collaboration among employment and training programs and focuses on leveraging, blending and braiding resources at a customer level thus improving access to the workforce investment system for ALL customers. 4

Building Partnerships and Collaboration – Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Model Learning Objectives 5 Upon completion of this webinar DEI Projects will have working knowledge of: The IRT model as defined under the DEI which is based upon the Promising Practices derived from the Disability Program Navigator (DPN) Initiative. Successful implementation models for the Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Programmatic Supports for implementing the IRT Model

 Background on the Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Model  Definition of an IRT  Creating an IRT  IRT Supports  IRT Examples 6

 The Disability Program Navigator (DPN) Initiative, which was implemented in 2003, focused on the coordination of integrated services to job seekers with multiple challenges to employment.  Locally deployed staff, known as Disability Program Navigators (DPNs), saw the disconnects within the workforce investment system at large that often prevented job seekers with multiple challenges from being able to access the array of services available to them. 7

 The DPNs considerable knowledge of resources within the workforce investment system and the surrounding local community resources allowed them to see the “big picture”.  Understanding the big picture also enabled DPNs to understand how all of these resources could fit together, like pieces of a puzzle, to allow job seekers to access a wide array of services in one streamlined service delivery model.  This streamlined service delivery model, brought together multiple programs, resources and service providers, that were determined by the job seeker’s individual needs, to work together as a group to support the job seeker thus improving the probability of a successful employment outcome. 8

 A promising practice identified by the DPN Initiative. ◦ A team of representatives from generic and disability- specific agencies and service systems coordinate services and leverage funding to meet the employment needs of an individual job seeker with a disability. ◦ The job seeker as a member of the team, works with providers (e.g., interpreter service, community college, etc.) to determine how their combined services and resources can benefit and support the job seeker’s education, training or employment goals. 9

 An IRT brings together public and private sector representatives at a local One-Stop community level. ◦ It improves communication and collaboration that results in enhanced coordination of services and supports for an individual jobseeker with a disability. 10

Breaking it Down/Behind the Scenes:  Customer Driven Approach ◦ The IRT, at its core, is customer driven – the customer’s needs determine who is a part of the IRT – i.e., which programs and resources are leveraged and blended and braided in order to help the job seeker meet their employment goal. ◦ The customer is an integral member of the IRT as the customer determines their personal work goal (self determination). 11

Breaking it Down/Behind the Scenes:  Informal collaboration ◦ The IRT model promotes informal collaboration and relationship building by bringing together public and private sector representatives at the community level to work together to assist an individual in meeting their employment goal. 12

Breaking it Down/Behind the Scenes:  Shared customers, shared resources, shared accountability, shared outcomes. ◦ By sharing customers, agencies share resources and ultimately are able to address the needs of more customers as a “team” as opposed to each agency working on their own. ◦ The “team” approach also allows more agencies to share in the responsibility of direct case management services and accountability. ◦ Finally, all agencies can collectively take credit for the successful outcome of the job seeker’s success. 13

 An IRT is an informal agreement between a customer and the systems providing services to that customer allowing the members to coordinate resources at a customer level around a shared employment goal 14

Before approaching partners a customer should be engaged by your system and positioned to access your system’s resources. For example:  Customer should be determined eligible and be enrolled in your system’s services.  Customer should have determined an employment goal that allows for the application of your system’s resources.  Customer should be consulted and agree to all contacts. 15

Which systems to approach are determined by two considerations: 1. The Employment Goal ◦ What resources beyond those available in your system are critical to your customer’s success in attaining their employment goal? 2. The Customer ◦ What system is your customer currently accessing ◦ What services might your customer be eligible for that are relevant in the context of attaining their stated employment goal? 16

Pre-eligibility  Introduction – Explain that the Customer is currently engaged with your program  Eligibility – Ask if there is anything you can do to help your customer to complete the partner’s eligibility process.  Establish partnership approach – Let the decision-maker know that you are interested in discussing the possibility of partnering with them if the customer is determined eligible for their services.  Tracking progress – Be willing to assist in communicating any issues or barriers your client might be experiencing during this process to the providers themselves. 17

Post-eligibility  Ask questions concerning the specific services that are being delivered.  Emphasize the benefits of partnering with your program that might be of great value to the customer.  Try to uncover areas where you or the partner have some flexibility within the established plans. 18

 Set up a meeting to discuss a joint employment goal and plan.  Present information gathered about customer’s goal choices, needs, and YOUR program’s resource commitments.  Listen to the concerns of partners in relation to identified needs concerning their field of expertise.  Finally, negotiate a multi- partnered Employment Plan

Reach consensus around three key parameters: 1. A common employment goal 2. Lines of communication 3. A sequence of services 20

A Common Employment Goal  Most service providers will have some sort of employment goal as an outcome to services.  Each provider will have specific parameters as to HOW an employment outcome is defined.  Discuss what outcomes are linked to resources accessed. 21

Lines of Communication  The customer agrees to communication between partners.  Identify what information will be communicated.  Identify how partners will be informed of progress or needs (Who is the point of contact?). 22

Sequence of services  Determination of which services are necessary at each point in a plan  Linking services to milestones within a plan  When do services stop for each provider? 23

 An enrolled One Stop customer participates in a career exploration process and identifies an employment goal of medical coder. ◦ He works with his Workforce Investment Act (WIA ) Case Manager to contact his Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselor, ◦ His Veterans Administration Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, and his housing provider. ◦ They arrange to meet at the One-Stop to discuss partnering on a shared employment plan. 24

In order to successfully create an IRT certain supports for the customer need to be put in place; these are:  Career Exploration that is self directed, and leads to a living wage employment goal.  Active Resource Coordination assistance. 25

In order to approach multiple partners and negotiate an employment plan the customer needs to determine an employment goal that is:  Self determined  Strength based  Concrete enough to build a plan around, and  Meets the outcome requirements of systems accessed 26

Many One Stops provide career exploration focused services for their core and intensive customers. When determining if these services will successfully position a customer to engage in an IRT consider:  Are these services accessible to all customers, both programmatically and functionally?  Do these services focus on identifying customer strengths (as opposed to barriers) and help a customer to understand their transferable skills?  Will these services lead to the creation of living wage employment goals for all participating customers? 27

Career Mapping Workshops:  Were implemented by the DPN Initiative in the state of Oregon from as an IRT support  Were open to all One-Stop customers as a core service and were facilitated by One-Stop staff.  Were used as a key support for implementing IRT’s for enrolled WIA customers who were also accessing multiple service systems 28

Career Mapping Workshops:  Used a strength based customized approach to career exploration.  Was a process that assisted customers in determining a living wage employment goal based on their strengths and transferable skills.  Included access to a resource planning meeting scheduled with the workshop facilitator after the workshop if the customer chose to do so. 29

Active Resource Coordination is:  More than just referral to multiple service providers  Helping a customer to create a goal specific Resource Plan  Directly assisting a customer to convene, and negotiate with, multiple service providers to create an employment plan that accesses needed resources from multiple systems  Directly assisting a customer to implement and monitor the employment plan, then to make adjustments as needed 30

Many One Stops provide referral to additional services for their core and intensive customers. When determining if these referrals will successfully position a customer to engage in an IRT by providing Active Resource Coordination consider:  Are referrals given before or after the development of an employment goal?  Is communication between service providers considered the responsibility solely of the customer?  Do your One Stop Case management staff have the authority to convene a meeting with multiple service providers? 31

Resource Planning Meetings  Were implemented by the DPN Initiative in the state of Oregon from as an IRT support  Were open to all customers who had attended the Career Mapping Workshop and were facilitated by One-Stop staff.  Were used as a key support for implementing IRT’s for enrolled WIA customers who were also accessing multiple service systems 32

Resource Plans  Have a stated goal  Include services your system will provide  Include possible partner services  Include possible partner roles  Identify pieces of the multi-partner plan puzzle *Resource Plans are the blueprint or building blocks of Active Resource Coordination. 33

Resource Plan for One Stop Customer  Employment Goal: Completion of an Occupational Skills training certificate in circuit board assembly. Placement in full time position related to this training at $10-$1/hr. with the possibility of advancement and further trainings later.  See supporting resources for Sample Resource Plan example 34

 A One-Stop customer engages in a career exploration process and identifies an employment goal of high tech assembly. ◦ Her WIA case manager refers her to VR to begin their eligibility process, and to the Employment Department for registration, then contacts her Department of Human Services /Jobs Plus employment specialist. ◦ Once she has been determined eligible for VR services and a counselor has been assigned, the WIA case Manager assists the customer to call a meeting in which the customer and all the providers attend. 35

Career exploration Identify goals and needs Career exploration Identify goals and needs Integrated Resource Team Identify common goal, lines of communication, and sequence of services Integrated Resource Team Identify common goal, lines of communication, and sequence of services Outcome Active Resource Coordination Resource Planning and Case management of employment plan

Question: “What is the Difference Between an Interagency Committee and an IRT?” 37

Question: “How are Interagency Committees relevant to the IRT model?” 38

 A customer is referred to the One-Stop by an Independent Living Center (ILC) for career exploration. ◦ The ILC houses the regional Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA ) benefits planner who participates in a regional interagency group that focuses on providing access to services for customers on Social Security Disability benefits. ◦ As was suggested by the group, the customer arrives at the center with the card of a WIPA representative who is willing to participate in an IRT as an employment plan is developed and support the customer in accessing Social Security Work Incentives where appropriate. 39

40 Questions, tips, and/or lessons learned in partnership and collaboration? A: Submit it to the host in writing via the Chat or Q&A Box to the right, or… B: Click on the “raise hand” icon to have your line un- muted and ask your question/make your comment. Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Model

41 Contact Information  Brian Ingram Worksystems, Inc., OR (503)  DJ Diamond NDI Technical Assistance Team (740)