1、Disability Employment Initiative Gary Lewis Region 5 Project Coordinator August 30, 2016,2,2,Overview of Disability Grants,Disability Program Navigator (2002 to 2010)Between 2002 and 2010, the Disability Program Navigator (DPN) was jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labors Employment and Tr
2、aining Administration and the Social Security Administration to better inform SSI/SSDI beneficiaries and other people with disabilities about the work support programs available at American Job Centers (also known as One-Stop Career Centers).,3,3,Disability Employment Initiative,The Disability Emplo
3、yment Initiative (DEI) seeks to improve education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes of youth and adults who are unemployed, underemployed, and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. The DEI is jointly funded and administered by the U.S. Department of Labors Employment a
4、nd Training Administration and the Office of Disability Employment Policy. Since 2010, the Department of Labor has awarded over $81 million in grants to 26 states through the initiative.,DEI Project Focus,4,All DEI projects currently focus on the following: Increasing participation in Career Pathway
5、 Systems; Developing collaborative partnerships across multiple service delivery systems; Blending and braiding of funds to leverage resources; Providing flexible opportunities to persons with disabilities for training and employment; and Creating systemic change.,5,5,Who Received DEI Grants?,Grant
6、Implementation Timeline,Overview of DEI,DEI funds allow enhancements and build capacities in the workforce system to support employment efforts of people with disabilities through the American Job Centers (AJC)DEI funds are designed to address the following needs: Improve the training and employment
7、 of individual with disabilities focusing on career pathways which lead to economic self-sufficiency; Build effective partnerships that leverage public and private resources to better serve individuals with disabilities; and Expand the public workforce developments systems capacity to become Employm
8、ent Networks for beneficiaries under the Social Security Ticket to Work (TTW) Program. DEI funds are awarded to state workforce agencies with resources going to Local Workforce Development Areas DEI funds help fund Disability Resource Coordinators (DRCs) at AJCs,DEI Round VII Funding Opportunity Ann
9、ouncement (FOA),8,9,9,Grant Awards,Round 7$15.6 Million$1.5 million to $2.5 million,10,10,Grant Target Populations,Adults (18 years and older) Youth (14 through 24) Individuals with Significant Disabilities,11,11,Grant Objective,Increased Participation in Career Pathwaysin partnership with:Vocationa
10、l Rehabilitation Community Colleges Human Services Partners Business Partners,Leading DEI Round VII Objectives,12,Employment Outcomes Improve employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Career Pathways Adapt and expand capacity of Career Pathways.Strengthen Partnerships Build effective par
11、tnerships across multiple service delivery systems that leverage resources.Employment Network (EN) - Expand public workforce development systems capacity to become an EN for beneficiaries under Social Security Ticket to Work program. Systemic Change Create systemic change by being innovative.,DEI Ro
12、und VII FOA,13,Funding Opportunity: On June 27th, DOL released a FOA for the seventh round of DEI projects with availability of $15.6 million to fund approximately eight cooperative agreements to state workforce agencies ranging from $1.5 million to $2.5 million each. Performance Period: The period
13、of performance will be 42 months starting October 1, 2016. Population Focus: DOL intends to award at least one agreement in each of 3 focus areas Adults, Youth, and Significant Disabilities. Deadline: The application deadline was August 1st.,Difference,Menu of Options,15,Q&A,16,Additional Resources,
14、Workforce GPS For DEI grant implementation tools and ongoing support for state-level project staff and other key stakeholders, go to https:/dei.workforcegps.org/ For Disability and Employment Community of Practice, go to https:/disability.workforcegps.org/ For Career Pathways resources, tools and in
15、formation on Career Pathways, go to https:/careerpathways.workforcegps.org/Innovation and Opportunity Network (ION) National, regional, state and local alliance that facilitatesinformation sharing to implement the vision of WIOA, go to https:/ion.workforcegps.org/,17,Contact Information,Gary LewisTitle: Region 5 Project CoordinatorPhone: 312-596-5522E-mail: lewis.garydol.gov,18,
