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Enthusiasm for Sports Leads to Employment Success Story

Everyone who knows Mike knows he’s a big sports guy.  He loves the UT Volunteers and the Boston Red Sox.  Mike is a State Special Olympics Gold Medalist in snow skiing and basketball with more medals in in track and field.  He also bowls once a week in a league.  That love for sports makes him a perfect fit at the Sports Barn in downtown Chattanooga.  Mike works three days a week, and he receives a good wage to maintain the basketball courts, handball courts, indoor track, and other hardwood floors in the club.  He’s also responsible for preparing towels, vacuuming carpeted areas, and keeping smudges off the glass and mirrors.  Mike’s dedication has him on a first name basis with his co-workers and club members.  Mike receives support from Orange Grove Center in Chattanooga.

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WIOA Webinar

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 is poised to have an impact on Employment First efforts in Tennessee and other states.  David Hoff, former APSE President, Co-chair of the APSE Public Policy Committee, and Program Director for the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston, will host a 2 hour webinar on topics including:

New rules for the public vocational rehabilitation and general workforce systems under WIOA, including major changes in services supporting transition from school-to-adult life, new restrictions on use of sub-minimum wage, and an increased focus on disability issues by American Job Centers/One-Stop Career Centers.

Engagement and advocacy strategies to ensure WIOA delivers on its promise of good jobs at good wages for individuals with disabilities and all citizens.

The webinar is set for April 28 from 2-4 p.m. (EDT).  You can register by clicking on this link.

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Agency’s Employment Work Highlighted

People at Progressive Directions Inc. are celebrating their recognition as an employment network in the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program.  The news was recently highlighted in the Leaf-Chronicle newspaper.  You can read more about their achievement at this link.

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Employment First in the News

A pair of workers who live at the department’s East Tennessee Homes were featured in a recent Greeneville Sun article.  In addition to profiling the two men, the reporter explored the benefits of integrated employment and showed the difference it’s making in the community.  Read more at this link.

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How Are You Promoting E1st?

In Memphis, SRVS uses an approach to public relations that could rival a corporate strategy.  They identify goals, target audiences, key opportunities, publications, and strategies for getting their message across.  The key opportunities include several events each month that news consumers might find interesting.  SRVS maintains contacts with print and broadcast media and advertisers.  They also use social media, newsletters, and community outreach to spread the work that people are doing on E1st.  It all culminates with measurement of impact.  SRVS measures its impact through social media analytics, job placement, and print and broadcast media impacts.

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Employment First Task Force Strategic Planning

For the past quarter, the Employment First Task Force has been working diligently on the development of a three year strategic plan. The purpose of developing the three year plan is to continue progress in effort to increase the number of Tennesseans with disabilities who are in integrated employment and to decrease the barriers that hinder employment. This document is still a work in progress. It reflects the planning and ideas that began in the fall (Employment First Task Force and Tennessee Works Partnership) and the efforts of the Task Force to develop them into a strategic plan. For questions or comments regarding the plan, please contact the State Director of Employment and Day Services, Amy Gonzalez at Amy.Gonzalez@tn.gov. You can review the draft plan at this link.

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How Are You Promoting E1st?

Over the next few weeks, the Employment First blog will take a look at how providers are telling people about their efforts to expand integrated employment.  Up first is Progressive Directions, Inc. in Clarksville.  PDI's Margaret Davis says they are preparing the news releases and newsletters you'd expect, but they're also holding town hall meetings that are open to the public.  People who attend learn more about supported employment and what to expect as people with disabilities move from youth to adulthood.  Margaret says her department has also started a "Job Club" that meets ever week, and they're always looking for new ways to get folks working.

If you have an employment success story you'd like to share, email Matthew.Parriott@tn.gov

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Preparing for Work in the Community

Graduates of the SRVS career center job readiness training program received encouragement from Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell at their graduation earlier this month.  23 People received certificates for completing an eight week job readiness curriculum to prepare them for work in the community.  Participants learned skills including communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving, critical thinking and professionalism.  As SRVS moves to close its occupational workshop by the end of June, administrators created a career center to prepare people for the transition. The career center has also helped build parental support for the move to full community employment.

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Employment Success Story

For the last few years, Marilyn told her circle of support at their ISP meetings that she wanted to work.  With a big grin on her face, Marilyn would express her eagerness to join the workforce.  But finding an employer who could meet her needs was a challenge until her dentist, Dr. Isaacman, learned of Marilyn’s desire to have a job.  He and his staff customized a job specifically for Marilyn in his Cordova office.  She currently works two hours a day, two times a week as a greeter.  Fulfilling that role required communication assistance. Marilyn communicates through her Path Finder board, and her speech language pathologist worked with support staff to program key phrases and names.  With a push of a button, Marilyn is now connected to the working world.  She greets patients with a warm smile and a phrase that welcomes them to the dentist office and them instructions on registering at the front desk. When the visit is over, Marilyn extends a thank you to the patients for their business and wishes them a good day as they leave the office. Outside of her greeter responsibilities, Marilyn works with the assistance of her job coach to disinfect children’s toys in the lobby.  When anyone asks Marilyn about her job, she always smiles because she loves it!

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Employment Success Story

Cookeville resident Amanda Pruitte was featured in a recent article in her hometown newspaper. The writer highlighted Amanda’s work for more than a year at Blue Coast Burrito. “She gets along with everybody in here. She comes in and works hard,” Pruitte’s manager told the newspaper. The article also takes a closer look at Community Options and their role in the department’s efforts to help people find meaningful employment. You can read more about Amanda and her story in the newspaper at this link.

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Employment Success Story

Mary Crews started her work career at the Orange Grove Center’s Community Enclave Programs.  She has experience with the TVA and Erlanger Hospital, but she wanted to do more, to work in the community, and to earn higher wages!  The employment team began working with Mary to support her wishes.  In February of last year, Mary accepted a job at the YMCA in downtown Chattanooga as an Aquatic Assistant Instructor.  She works in the pool with children and adults providing them with aquatic exercises.  She even helps out at the front desk to scan customer badges and direct them to where they need to go.  Mary loves what she does at the YMCA. 

When she’s not working, Mary enjoys swimming, bowling, basketball, watching television, and talking on the telephone with friends.  She has competed in the Special Olympics and is a gold medal winner in the butterfly, and free style swimming events.  Mary also regularly attends church in the community both when she’s at home and when she visits her family in South Carolina.

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Employment Success Story

A restaurant in Lebanon took a chance on a new employee, and their investment has paid off big.  Jackie Price is a fixture on the team at Painturo's.  Prospect, Inc. helped Jackie get her start 14 years ago, and managers at Painturo's say she's been a valuable team member ever since.  They love the big personality she brings to the staff, and if the comments on the restaurant's recent Facebook post are any indication, loyal customers love her too!

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National Conference Presentation

Five Tennessee state officials attended the National Employment First conference on December 2nd at the United States Department of Labor. The purpose of the meeting was to solidify plans for 2015. For the upcoming year, we will continue working on Provider Transformation, Customized Employment and Discovery sustainability, Ticket to Work, and implementing a “train the trainer” model.

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On October 17, Gary Smith was awarded the Mid-South ARC Award for “Excellence in Community” at its 2014 Gala. Gary received the award because he demonstrates excellence in his role with the Department as the Employment and Day Services Coordinator in the West Tennessee Regional Office. Gary is an inspiration to persons with disabilities and a role model for Tennesseans with disabilities who have a desire to become employed in the community.

Congratulations, Gary!!

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SRVS Shares Experiences at Idaho Conference

The Center for Social Capital held an event in Lolo Pass, Idaho from Au-gust 24th-27th, called "The Best Go West: Customized Employment Leader-ship Rendezvous 2014". The purpose was fostering inventive strategies to implement and expand Employment First and Customized Employment initiatives. This year’s theme was "Resisting Arrest: Moving Forward Against the Gravity of Mediocrity". This invitation-only event was attended by SRVS Executive Director Tyler Hampton, Director of Community Employment Stephanie Potter and board member Frances Metheny. They had the opportunity to attend sessions focused on customized employment strategies and share successes and challenges with others in the Employment First Initiative from around the country.

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"You Can Do It!"

 On September 18, ODEP SME Margaret-Lee Thompson met with some advocates and state officials to share her experience as an advocate and how she successfully spearheaded the development of parent coalitions in Washington State. Margaret-Lee talked about some of the activities conducted in Washington State for Disability Day on the Hill and how she ensured that families were able to meet with their respective Legislators to advocate for services that lead to enhanced employment outcomes. Margaret-Lee also conducted several presentations at the Think Employment Summit on September 17. She inspired many family members to become advocates and ended her presentation with the final words, “you can do it���!

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Transition to Competitive Employment

On September 17, Tennessee Works held its “Think Employment” summit at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville.   Amy Gonzalez, DIDD State Director of Employment and Day Services, moderated a panel discussion about systems change, called “Transition to Competitive Employment”.  Taking part on the panel were Troy Allen of SRVS, Tera Roberts with Orange Grove Center, Dwayne Webb with St. John’s Community Services and Lee Brown of Impact Centers.  These four provider agencies have either shut down their sheltered workshops, or are in the midst of major integrated employment pushes.  The panelists spoke of some of their efforts, and the barriers that exist for provider agencies who are seeking to close their workshops and expand integrated employment opportunities.  All four agreed that one of the biggest hurdles was changing the mindset of staff, families, employers and the community at large.  They said once that was achieved, and a person supported was placed in an integrated job, the person often thrived.  It was a lively discussion, and the audience had a lot of good questions for our panelists.