key initiatives of the institute for economic empowerment-part2

Key Initiatives of the Institute for Economic Empowerment

Part II: All About Empowerment

Panelists

• David Henninger, Bayaud Enterprises, Inc., Denver, CO

• Martin Gerry, Institute for Economic Empowerment, Vienna, VA

• Denise Perka, Institute for Economic Empowerment, Vienna, VA

Financial/Benefits Counseling Pilot

AmeriCorps members provide financial and benefits counseling services to CRP employees with severe disabilities and other eligible community members at 6 CRPs across the country Income tax return preparation Disability benefits information, intake and analysis Financial education sessions, including household budgeting and

credit management and asset development counseling

Dramatic Outcomes: Year 2: over 1,900 individuals with disabilities received income tax prep assistance = $2,300,000 in refunds/credits

Co-funded by AmeriCorps and the Institute and coordinatedby the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation

Financial/Benefits Counseling Pilot – Mid-Year 2 Outcomes

Cumulative (2010 1st and 2nd Quarters) Total

Benefits Outreach - Group & One on One Meetings 608

Financial Education - Group & One on One Meetings 1057

Tax Assistance -- Number of clients 1939

Total Federal Refund $2,026,938.00

Total State Refund $278,623.00

Financial/Benefits Counseling Pilot -- Findings

• Overall financial “well being” of an individual is critical to quality of life and can impact decisions people can make regarding work.

• Employees with disabilities are often unaware of tax refunds/credits they are eligible to receive which translates into lost opportunities for additional income.

• Employees that are SSI/SSDI beneficiaries may be misinformed or uninformed regarding the impact that job choices/changes may (or may not have) on their benefits.

• Employees with disabilities are easy targets for payday advance loans, income tax refund advance loans, high interest credit cards and car loans. Decisions that are made related to loans and credit can negatively impact credit scores and lead to fewer employment options (and stress).

CRP Spotlight

Bayaud Enterprises, Inc.Denver, CO

Veterans Employment Initiatives

• Assess Employment/Career Interests and Goals of OEF/OIF Veterans w/ Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Identify Contract Related Employment Opportunities – both Federal and Commercial

• Design and Test Ongoing Employment Supports


• Interviewed over 200 veterans, family members, providers and employers

OEF/OIF Veterans Interviewed ….

• See themselves as wounded or injured soldiers – not as disabled

• Have other service related disabilities (e.g., hearing loss) in addition to TBI and/or PTSD

• Want to return home - home life and their living situation takes priority over employment

OEF/OIF Veterans Interviews Con’t

• Need ready access to career counseling, mental health services, and alcohol and drug abuse counseling as well as family supports

• Need to work at home, in special work settings, and/or with flexible work arrangements due to the impact of TBI and/or PTSD

• Rely on spouses and other family members as their primary caregivers many of whom may also require similar work flexibility where job sharing could be a viable solution


CAREER INTERESTS (expressed most by interviewees):

• Healthcare/Healthcare Support• Computer Science/Programming• Contract Work on Military Installations• Administration• Business Mgmt/Ownership• Park Ranger/Wildlife Services• Law Enforcement/Security• Engineering• Social Services• Homeland Security• Automotive Repair• Transportation Security


• Employment that can be performed in a variety of settings (e.g., at home, community hub, traditional office) using virtual office technology would best suit the the needs of large numbers of OEF/OIF veterans w/ TBI and PTSD.

• Four lines of work appear particularly appropriate for a significant number of OEF/OIF veterans’ capabilities in light of both career interests and the need for flexible work settings:• Help Desk• Contact Center• Health IT • Virtual Administrative Support


• A demonstration project is in development to include jobs identified via veteran interviews.

• Research will identify additional employment alternatives that can be performed at a variety of locations through cloud technology.

• Exploration into job sharing for the veteran and the primary caregiver is being considered.

• Long term supports will be incorporated into the pilot to address all areas of care the veteran might require.

Expanding Choice for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

GOAL:To expand employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a model that utilizes an in-depth discovery process and experiential learning as a basis for informed choice among real employment alternatives that include community-based integrated employment.

Expanding Choice for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Provides opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (including those currently working in facility based settings) to experience different types of jobs and work settings through internship rotations with different employers

Ensures that individuals have a real context for making informed choices among employment alternatives

Incorporates the Institute’s employer payroll tax incentive model to expand employer demand

Phase 1

Phase 2

Questions?

• David Henninger– [email protected]

• Martin Gerry– [email protected]

• Denise Perka– [email protected]

key initiatives of the institute for economic empowerment-part2

Documents