October 2008 Newsletter
Volume 8, Number 2
Consumer Voices
By Barbara Holsomback, Working Healthy/WORK Enrollee
As a fifty-something professional woman with a recently diagnosed
physical disability, I couldn’t seem to shake the thought that I
must be a bad person or I wouldn’t need so much
help to do even the most mundane of personal and household
tasks.
Not only had my physician told me three years ago that I no
longer could work because of my spinal condition, but I’d
sit for hours staring at a basket of laundry before I’d
get up the courage to ask a friend to help me wash. That was
before I discovered Working Healthy/WORK, the state program
that provides support and services to put people, like me,
back to work.
Today, WORK provides me a personal care assistant, who gets
paid to do the household and personal tasks that stood in the
way of me working. I’ve returned part-time
to the writing, editing and marketing consultation that my
disability had stripped from me. I’m the one deciding
who to hire or fire as my personal care assistant, and what
tasks I need done. In the social work lexicon, that’s
called self-determination. I call it a way to make me feel
free and whole again.
Fuel the Independent Living Passion!
The Kansas Association for Centers for Independent Living (KACIL) is
sponsoring the second bi-annual CIL Conference in Kansas, titled “Fuel
the Independent Living Passion.” The
focus of the conference is to provide an opportunity for learning,
training and networking among CIL staff an others interested
in keeping the independent living movement alive and moving forward
in Kansas.
Specific topics to be covered include advocacy, deinstitutionalization,
and employment. The event will be held in Wichita at the Best
Western North Hotel and Suites on November 12th and 13th. Registration
is $80 for KACIL
members and $125 for non-members. Working Healthy will be sponsoring
a pre-conference workshop the morning of November 12th addressing
independent living history, philosophy, and self-direction. For more information
contact your local independent living center
or Jennifer Schwartz with KACIL at jennifers@kacil.org.
Benefits Specialist Corner
This issue features Working Healthy Benefits Specialist Terry Cronin from the
Kansas City area SRS office. Terry covers the Kansas City Metro Area including
Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Douglas and Johnson counties. Terry can be contacted
by calling (913) 279-7173 or by emailing Terry.Cronin@srs.ks.gov.
Is the WORK Program Worth the Effort?
You’re a person with a lifelong disability. You use a wheel chair.
There were people in your life who encouraged you. There were
others who didn’t. You were defiant and determined to live independently...and
work.
You went to school, received a degree and became a licensed
Social Worker.
You require personal attendant services (PAS) to assist you
with activities of daily living: things like getting out of
bed, taking care of personal hygiene, dressing, preparing
meals, and so on. You are dependent on these services to
be able to live and work. You must pay $1,800.00
per month for these services out of your pocket. $21,600.00
per year.
You need more hours of service, but you can’t afford them. So you
struggle each night to put yourself to bed. You don’t go anywhere
in the evening, like out to eat or to a movie, because the
buses don’t
run at night and you can’t afford more hours for staff to assist
you. Most of the weekend you’re by yourself. You would like to go
to church but...
Some might say “What’s the point of working, it’s not
worth it.” But you know it’s not about the money. It’s
about self-worth, pride and personal values. It’s about independence
and dignity. It’s about being productive and contributing your skills
and talents to improve your community. And so you continue...
Then you hear about a new program called Work Opportunities
Reward Kansans (WORK). It’s part of the Kansas Medicaid Buy-in program
called Working Healthy (WH).
You wonder if this new WORK program could be beneficial to
you. You make an appointment with a Working Healthy Benefits
Specialist. The WH/WORK team and the local SRS office work
together to make you a part of the program.
Now you participate in the WH/WORK program and you receive
all the benefits of Working Healthy including the WORK program.
Your PAS are now paid by the program and not out of your pocket.
Your hours of service have been increased from 176 to 286 hours
per month. These are the additional hours you couldn’t afford to
pay for. You now have more staff time to help you to bed at
night, evening hours for outings and weekend staff to attend church. You
are more independent than
ever and you see even more possibilities in
your life.
The cost of this program to you?...You pay a $152.00 premium
per month.
And what do you do with the $1,800.00 per month you no longer
have to pay out of your pocket for your personal services?...Well...you
could go to a movie...
This story is about a real person and this scenario is true.
This person has described the WORK program as a “miracle” and a “godsend.”
The Working Healthy/WORK program is changing lives and if you think you could benefit from it or know someone who could, please contact a Benefits Specialist, call the toll free number, or look us up on the Working Healthy web site.
- Terry Cronin, Benefits Specialist
The Disability Program Navigator Initiative
By Jeff Schroeder, Kansas Disability
Navigator Program Coordinator
Under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the U.S. Department
of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) directed
funds and resources to improve workforce services for individuals
with disabilities, including those with psychiatric and other
non-visible disabilities. Funding for the Disability Program
Navigator (DPN) Initiative was made to responsd to barriers
to One-Stop services including physical and program accessibility,
and meaningful and effective participation of job seekers in
the workforce investment system. Beginning in November 2007,
the Kansas Department of Commerce
- Workforce Development, has hired 5 Disability Program Navigators
(one to work in each Local Area), plus one DPN state lead.
The Navigators, while working through the local Workforce Centers:
•
Guide, train, and support Workforce Center staff in helping
people with disabilities access and navigate the complex
provisions of various programs that impact their ability to gain/retain
employment.
•
Develop linkages and collaborate on an ongoing basis with employers
to facilitate employment for persons with disabilities.
•
Develop partnerships to achieve integrated services, systemic
change, and expand the capacity to serve customers with
disabilities.
•
Facilitate the transition of in or out-of-school youth with
disabilities to obtain employment and economic self-sufficiency.
•
Conduct outreach to agencies/organizations that serve people
with disabilities.
•
Serve as resources on Social Security Programs such as: work
incentives/employment support programs through
its Work Incentives, Planning, and Assistance (WIPA) program;
Protection and Advocacy systems (P&As); and employment
related demonstration projects.
•
Serve as resources on programs that impact the ability of persons
with disabilities to enter and remain in the
workforce.
The Kansas Disability Program Navigator initiative
has thus far been very successful throughout
the state. Within the Workforce Centers, much
needed adaptive equipment has been put in place, and the
centers have been evaluated for necessary upgrades in equipment
and software. We are continuing to work with
Local Operators to help purchase the identified
items that are needed to better serve customers. In addition,
the Navigators have successfully integrated
themselves in to their Primary Workforce Centers throughout
the state. They have become valuable resources and team members,
working with the many different agencies, employers,
service providers, community organizations,
and Workforce Center staff, providing support, information,
and training in friendly, efficient, and effective ways.
Further, Navigators
have worked closely with Working Healthy staff
and Benefits Specialists as they provide training
and coordinate referrals.
Some of the many successes our program is proud of are:
•
New and updated adaptive equipment for many of the Workforce
Centers throughout the state, and ongoing evaluation and collaboration
for purchasing needed equipment in the Workforce Centers where needed.
•
We worked closely with the Kansas Commission on Disability
Concerns (KCDC) to communicate, schedule, and co-facilitate
Disability Employment Resource Training throughout the state
to educate WFC staff, and other service providers on different
resources available
throughout Kansas, and how to access that information, including
the KCDC website, KANSAS WORKS website, and the Kansas SHARE Network.
•
The Navigators have been very influential in getting SHARE
Network Sites identified, trained, and opened to help serve
customers.
•
Due to the Disability Employment Resource Training and the
information that our Disability Program Navigator presented,
a connection was made that helped resolve an issue with a medical
card for someone in Western Kansas, and communication with
a benefits specialist was established.
•
We were an intregal part of the team who updated the accommodation
protocols which are now used withinthe Workforce Centers
throughout the state when requesting and obtaining accommodations
for customers accessing the centers, such as interpreter services.
•
While using the updated accommodation protocols, the DPN’s
have been able to help provide interpreters for several deaf
customers who have never used the
Workforce Center before.
•
Helping promote the Workforce Centers and the services they
provide, throughout the community, in different
presentations, and while attending job and career fairs.
•
Working closely with the Rehabilitation School for the Blind;
their students are accessing the Workforce Center
as part of their independence training, and their input and
suggestions have helped us
make changes with equipment and procedures to
better help customers who are blind or visually impaired.
The Disability Program Navigator Initiative has
made a positive impact throughout Kansas as we
strive to provide services to all customers who
access the Workforce Center. Please contact us if you have
any questions, concerns, or need additional information.
•
Jeff Schroeder, Topeka, Coordinator (785) 296-0658, jschroeder@kansascommerce.com
•
Maria Martinez, Hays, Local Area I (785) 625-5654, mmartinez@kansascommerce.com
•
Bryan Traylor, Topeka, Local Area II (785) 235-5627 Ext. 219,
btraylor@kansascommerce.com
•
Jerry Daskoski, Kansas City, Local Area III (913) 281-3000,
jdaskoski@kansascommerce.com
•
Veronica Triana, Wichita, Local Area IV (316) 771-6849, vtriana@kansascommerce.com
•
Barry Barbrick, Pittsburg, Local Area V (620) 231-4250, bgarbrick@kansascommerce.com
State Considering New Policy to Speed Hiring of People with Disabilities
By Daniel Lassley, Working Healthy Employment Specialist
The State of Kansas is considering a new program designed to encourage the hiring of people with disabilities into Classified Civil Service jobs. Under the terms of the program, a job seeker must meet the “severe disability” definition of Vocational Rehabilitation. Alternatively, disabled veterans may qualify if they have a current disability rating of 50% or more. The proposed program also requires a certification of “work readiness.” The details on this certification are yet to be determined.
Job seekers who meet the requirements for the position may
be interviewed and hired directly, bypassing the regularjob
posting process. This process could save agencies considerable
time in filling open positions. Job candidates are to be identified
by a database proposed to be developed
by the Workforce Centers. Individuals interested
in these jobs would need to register either in person at
a Workforce Center, or online via the KansasWorks.com website.
Again, details on this aspect of the program have not been finalized.
Be on the lookout as this exciting program is approved and
the final requirements and processes are revealed. For
more information, contact Daniel at daniel.lassley@khpa.ks.gov.
Pay Your Working Healthy Premium with Automatic Debit
Did you know that KATCO offers automatic debit as a way to pay your Working
Healthy premium? Your Working Healthy premium can be automatically
deducted from your bank account on either the 4th or the 20th of
each month. There are no fees
associated with automatic debit. Many Working Healthy Enrollees
find automactic debit much easier than remembering to write
a check. To sign up for automatic debit, you must fill out a short form
and return it to KATCO. For more information
about automatic debit, or to
request a form, call Mary Ann Newton at 866-465- 2826 ext.
104.
NEW--Permanent Medical Cards
The Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA) has launched permanent medical
identification cards for Medicaid beneficiaries. Beginning
September 1, 2008, the KHPA has issued permanent plastic medical
identification cards in place of the previously issued monthly
paper cards. The back of the cards will contain a swipeable
magnetic stripe that allows access to beneficiary eligibility information
through KHPA’s Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). For
more information on the Kansas permanent medical ID
card, please visit the KHPA website at: http://www.khpa. ks.gov/medicalcard/beneficiary.html.
This newsletter and other Working Healthy information can be found online
at: http://www.workinghealthy.org
Working Healthy is published quarterly by the University of Kansas CRL, Division
of Adult Studies and the Kansas Health Policy Authority. Additional copies and
copies in alternate formats are available upon request by writing the University
of Kansas Division of Adult Studies, Attn: Noelle, 1122 West Campus Rd.. JRP
Hall Rm. 517, Lawrence, KS 66045, by phone (785) 864-7085, by emailing: pixie@ku.edu
KU Research Team:
Jean P. Hall, Principal Investigator
Michael Fox, Co-Principal Investigator
Noelle K. Kurth, Project Coordinator
Shawna Carroll & Emily Fall, Graduate Research Assistants
Emily Tonsfeldt, Student Assistant
Kansas Health Policy Authority:
Mary Ellen O'Brien Wright, Senior Manager
Nancy Scott, Program Manager
Daniel Lassley, Employment Consultant