Study Report on Accessible Transportation Projects

The Center for Workforce and Disabilities, American Public Human Services Association, recently issued a Report, entitled "Getting to Work: A Case Study Report on Accessible Transportation Projects." A lack of reliable, accessible, and affordable transportation is consistently cited as a barrier to employment by people with disabilities. The four Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) transportation projects (Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Jersey) profiled in this Report illustrate a set of promising practices that address transportation needs. Although the MIG grants are not intended to provide or fund direct transportation services, state MIGs are well-positioned to use their resources to create linkages with other agencies and entities engaged in accessible transportation planning and service delivery. The four projects described in this Report suggest a set of strategies and activities that can help advance accessible transportation in states and in communities.

Opening Doors Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness has released a comprehensive federal plan that will serve as a roadmap to prevent and end homelessness. The plan notes that in 2009 forty-three percent of adults without families in shelters or transitional housing had a disability. The plan calls for ending Veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015, and to ending homelessness among children, family and youth by 2020. Opening Doors includes strategies based on the fact that housing, health, education and human service programs must be coordinated to end homelessness. The plan also calls for increased access to stable and affordable housing and permanent supportive housing.

Educating Employers About Hiring/Retaining Persons with Disabilities

As part of ongoing technical assistance to for the Disability Program Navigator Initiative, NDI Consulting Inc. hosted a recent webinar, Employer 30-Second Training Series and Resource Guide. This webinar provided an overview of the newly developed Employer 30-Second Training Series which includes eighteen 30-Second Trainings in the following four categories: 1) Compliance Benefits 2) ADA Basics 3) Recruitment and Hiring Strategies, and 4) Employment Basics. What is a 30-Second Training 30-Second Trainings are short, easy and fun and are designed to increase knowledge of disability and employment related issues. They should only take about 30 seconds to review and include national, reputable resources for follow up information. The resources—Employer 30 Second Training Series and Resource Guide—were developed to be used by those with an employer focus and were designed to educate employers, hiring managers and supervisors about proven strategies and easy-to-use resources that can assist in retaining and accommodating existing employees who experience the onset of a disability. These tools will also provide valuable information and sources of support to employers in hiring qualified employees who experience a disability, including strategies and resources that can assist in effectively accommodating all employees in achieving their maximum potential and productivity level.

Serving Youth with Disabilities in the One-Stop Career Center System

The Disability Program Navigator (DPN) Initiative has just issued another promising practices information brief as part of a series of publications. This Brief is entitled: "Maximizing the Self-Sufficiency of Youth with Disabilities in the One-Stop Career Center System." Colorado and Minnesota are highlighted in the attached Information Brief, which includes outcomes, successful strategies, case studies, and resources.

March, 2010-APTA Report on Meeting the Transportation Needs of the Older Population

In March of 2010, the APTA issued a Report on meeting the transportation needs of the older population. Rapid growth in the number of older people in the United States during the coming decades will lead to greatly increased needs for expanded and enhanced public transportation services. This Report: a) identifies the range of actions that will be needed to expand mobility options for older people, including accessible public transportation services; b) quantifies the demand for these public transportation services; and c) estimates the funding that will be needed to provide them.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Made Easy

There is a new Web site, www.eitc.irs.gov, which centralizes all the information on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). On this site, you can: download forms, brocures, and other support materials; visit Marketing Express to customize EITC products; learn about EITC compliance programs; learn about the latest rules and tax law changes, find helpful tips and tools; learn about eligibility; etc. The EITC Assistant, which helps persons know if they qualify for the EITC, is available in English and Spanish

Mental Health Day-May 2010

Mental Health America (MHA) is continuing its tradition of celebrating "May is Mental Health Month," which began in 1949. This year’s theme, "Live Your Life Well," challenges us to promote health and wellness in homes, communities, and schools. Every day, Americans are affected by the myriad challenges, stresses, and demands on their lives. There are effective tools that are readily available and free to help persons cope better and improve their well-being. Live Your Life Well is a national public education campaign to help people better cope with stress and enhance their well-being. Stress can take a huge toll on a person's health, mood, productivity and relationships. There are tools that can help counterbalance these effects. This Web-site provides resources to build resiliency and well-being:http://www.liveyourlifewell.org/ Access the following Web site to find links to fact sheets and information on mental health: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/mentalhealthmonth Activities and Tools for the Public Workforce System http://www.dpnavigator.net/pages/mentalhealth_30.html The Disability Program Navigator (DPN) initiative has created a series of five 30-second trainings to disseminate via email to One-Stop Career Center and Partner Agency staff. The first Resource listed on the page is a Microsoft Word document which contains instructions on how any workforce professional can customize these “30 Second Trainings” to meet their needs. Employer Resources Check out the tools/resources (from the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health) to assist employers wiht menatl hekath issues in the work place. http://www.workplacementalhealth.org/employer_resources/index.aspx

April, 2010-National Financial Literacy Month

Did you know that April 2010 was National Financial Literacy Month? http://www.realeconomicimpact.org/News.aspx?id=148 In a proclamation released by the White House on April 2nd, President Obama declared April National Financial Literacy Month. According to the proclamation: " In recent years, our Nation's financial system has grown increasingly complex. This has left too many Americans behind, unable to build a secure financial future for themselves and their families. For many, financial literacy can mean economic prosperity and protection against fraud and predatory banking practices. During National Financial Literacy Month, we recommit to teaching ourselves and our children about the basics of financial education." Open the documents to find several resources to promtoe financial literacy.

ARRA On-the-Job Training National Emergency Grants, TEN 38-09

On April 12, 2009, ETA issued TEN 38-09 to announce the one-time availability of up to $90 million in funding for On-the- Job Training (OJT) National Emergency Grants (NEGs) funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). ETA encourages states to begin planning a strategic approach and a NEG application that would greatly expand OJT activities for hard-to-serve populations with the greatest barriers to reemployment. Upon receipt of an award, ETA will require states to provide an implementation plan addressing (not an inclusive list): • Creating OJT opportunities in the private and private non-profit sectors that provide appropriate skill acquisition opportunities for the participants; OJT opportunities may not be created in the public sector using these funds. • Creating partnerships that develop additional recruitment and outreach services to communities most impacted by the current economic recession by establishing collaborative partnerships that will contribute to and support the creation of OJT opportunities. • Providing a credible plan for recruitment of employers in the area to be served to participate in the program. • Describing how the project will serve areas of the state that have been disproportionately impacted by the current economic downturn and provide OJT opportunities to those areas with the highest levels of poverty and with the lowest employment to population ratio. • Focusing on populations with the greatest barriers to reemployment.

Promising Practice: Promoting Economic Self-Sufficiency of Job Seekers with Disabilities

Disability Program Navigators (DPNs) throughout the country have developed and implemented successful strategies in the public workforce system to promote the employment and economic self-sufficiency of persons with disabilities. This Information Brief highlights how DPNs are improving access to financial education; home ownership ad entrepreneurial programs, and increased use of the Earned Income Tax Credit to expand economic opportunities of job seekers with disabilities. One very successful strategy has been facilitating the One-Stop Career Centers to become Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. Read the full Brief to learn about more strategies, resources and examples of how the One-Stop Career Center system can help support jobseekers with low-incomes during tax season.

Coordinating with Indian and Native American Programs in the One-Stops

The attached document provides several strategies to coordinate with ETA's Indian and Native American Programs, resources,and grantee contact information

International Asssociation of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS) Financial Career Pathways Demonstration Project for People with Disabilities

IAJVS was funded by ETA/DOL to develop a sectoral approach focused on the financial services industry and workers with disabilities.

National Center for Service and Employment of Individuals with Disabilities

Volunteering and community service are proven avenues through which individuals with disabilities can gain skills, explore career paths, and develop the social networks necessary to gain meaningful employment or postsecondary education. The National Center, Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston, is a collaboration of several organizations. The National Center will identify and document effective practices in the areas of volunteerism, service, and employment, as well as postsecondary outcomes. For additional information, contact: Sheila Fesko, Institute for Community Inclusion, Sheila.fesko@umb.edu

Transportation Resources for the One-Stop Career Centers

This document highlights some information on transportation initiatives and programs that can provide communities and One-Stop Career Centers with resources and suggestions to help customers address their transportation needs.

DOL Veterans Services National Resources

This resource highlights several DOL and other government programs that support disabled veterans to become employed. These are useful resources to connect with at the local, state, and/or regional levels.

Veterans Day 2009: November 11

Employer Resources - DPN FAQ's - U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration National Technical Assistance Project

How do I begin to build relationships with community service providers and sustain these relationships?How do I represent and educate employers on the ADA, reasonable accommodations, and hiring/retaining individuals with disabilities?