This year more than 40 folks implementing Customized Employment took time to join together in the mountains of Idaho for conversations about emerging practices, promising policy adaptations, staff support strategies, economic and social capital development, and to relax and simply enjoy the opportunity to meet and mingle. They came from twenty states and two other countries representing the Northeast Kingdom states of Maine, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire (http://linkabilities.org/), down through the middle Atlantic including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia, to the deepest South including Florida and Alabama (http://www.fulllifeahead.org/) back up through the Midwestern states of Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Iowa, and Indiana, stretching through the Rockies to the Pacific region including California, Oregon, British Columbia, Alaska (http://www.hss.state.ak.us/gcdse/projects/startup.htm) and across the globe to Australia (http://www.workfocus.com/ ) .
This Rendezvous began with a casual showcasing of best practices, including discussions of rural outreach for self-employment, resource ownership, and CE by West Virginia’s Job Squad (http://jobsquadinc.blogspot.com/). VIA of the Lehigh Valley (PA) talked about their expansion with school transition and emerging relationships with Vocational Rehabilitation (http://griffinhammis.typepad.com/employmentreformproject/). Both programs noted that their vocational budgets and rates have gone skyward as they’ve adopted customized methods, and while states look for create and effective approaches to employment. British Columbia representatives updated their Province-wide Employment First initiative, and the U.S. and Australia leaders shared their efforts as well. See these sites for more information: http://www.communitylivingbc.ca/individuals-families/employment-initiative/; http://www.bcacl.org/our-priority-areas/employment; http://www.langleyacl.com/index.php?page_id=1
While not universal, evidence from participants indicates that early adopters of quality CE methods are increasing referrals, outcomes, and reimbursement rates, while leveraging new partners in their communities. Incomes reportedly jumping from 100% to 400% over the past few years are credible. The message again was, break down the silos and partner with others in the community who are looking to crack the employment barriers faced by so many people these days. This outreach was demonstrated in real time by participants Andrea O’Brien joining us from the SBDC in New Hampshire (http://www.nhsbdc.org/), and through Brian Wormer’s detailing of how the SBDCs are working with his agency (the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission) on self-employment expansion (http://www.enterpriseworks.biz/disabilities/disabilities.asp)
Self-employment again this year prompted questions of policy, reimbursement, and process refinement. We heard in casual conversations how the Iowa Medicaid Infrastructure Grant is using peer business mentors to assist people in their business, and discussed the wealth of small business resources in states such as Minnesota where GHA has prepared a report regarding sustainability options for vocational rehabilitation. Vicki Vining and Sherry Beamer, who are working with on-line training leaders Essential Learning, detailed some of their work with GHA. We now have a 5-session course on CE available at http://essentiallearning.com; the final touches are being added to the self-study course on self-employment; and a new course on Discovering Personal Genius is being designed for a Spring 2011 release. We further discussed the Certified Business Technical Assistance and Consultation (CBTAC) training program begun with Florida VR and now expanded to the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services, Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, et al. And, we highlighted the synchronous on-line course on self-employment GHA and Virginia Commonwealth University stage in 5-week blocks. Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) CE certification requirements were further detailed as GHA rolls this opportunity out to our many customers, including sites in Harrisburg, PA, across Illinois, and throughout Ohio. These on-line courses resulted directly from requests at earlier Rendezvous sessions and are proving to be an efficient and affordable staff training, and professionalization, option.
On the lighter side, folks spent a few hours experiencing something that used another part of their brains, and challenged them to learn skills just a little difficult to master. Musician Phil Hamilton, who plays blues harp in three local bands, joined us to conduct a group harmonica lesson. The results were ear pleasing, yet challenging, and we’re sure the folks who got the music bug will practice and return next year to serenade us by the campfire!
The hit of the Rendezvous this year was Dr. Ashley Preston who joined us from the University of Montana’s College of Technology. Ashley is known for her grasp of technical writing and taught a short seminar concentrating on observing and reporting without speculation. The session was scheduled after last year’s Rendezvous conversations included comments regarding high amounts of speculation and attribution by staff conducting Discovery or behavioral observations. Discovering Personal Genius (DPG) requires that team members conducting interviews and activities record findings without bias. Ashley introduced several exercises that helped the group clarify their recording of events, and that can be used with their teams back home. Of course, many people also realized the role that clear, precise writing plays in policy development, business planning, and grant writing as well. Don’t be surprised to see a return engagement by Dr. Preston next year!
The closing session was a review and discussion of Employment First efforts that are underway across the country and in Canada. We learned that several strong Employment First initiatives exist in Indiana, Minnesota and Iowa. And, Employment First initiatives are springing up in states including Maine, Rhode Island (http://griffinhammis.typepad.com/ripathways/) and California (http://southerncal.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=CALA_WorkFirst). Employment First is about raising expectations regarding the employment and the economic advancement of people with disabilities whether through wage employment or micro-enterprise. GHA has a strong presence in many of the states where Employment First movements are in full swing having participated in EF events in over 10 states from Rhode Island to Arkansas (check out http://employmentfirst.net/). There is much excitement about Employment First throughout the land and GHA is proud to play a key role in supporting Employment First efforts through training, consultation and by hosting the Employment First blog. We can’t wait to see how many more states and provinces join in the Employment First movement when we get together next year.
All in all, 2010 was another great event, with good friends joining together in a safe environment to problem-solve, enjoy the wilderness, catch a fish or two, ride a horse, and clear the fog of the daily routine. For the Griffin-Hammis/Center for Social Capital team, it is an honor and a privilege to host this annual event. We hope to see you again next year from August 28 through August 31, 2011, when once again, The Best Go West!
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