CT Community Nonprofit Alliance (The Alliance): Exploring ......CT Community Nonprofit Alliance (The...

CT Community Nonprofit Alliance (The Alliance):

Exploring Employment – the Provider Perspective

Nonprofit Provider Panel Presentation to

The Governor’s Committee on Employment of

People With Disabilities _____________________________________

April 13, 2017 (rev 6.01.17)

Panelists: o Beth Fisher, Executive Director, Kuhn Employment Opportunities, Inc. o Sandra Lavoy, VP, Community Services, CW Resources, Inc. o Jessica LeRoy, Rehab Services Manager, InterCommunity, Inc. o Kathleen Stauffer, Chief Executive Officer, The Arc New London County o Julia Wilcox, Senior Public Policy Specialist, CT Community Nonprofit

Alliance

Nonprofit Alliance Panel Presentation 2

About The Alliance o The CT Community Nonprofit Alliance (The Alliance) is the largest

membership organization in the state dedicated exclusively to working with nonprofits.

o We represent more than 500 mission-based nonprofit organizations which embody the scope and breath of the nonprofit sector.

o The Alliance is Connecticut’s statewide association of community nonprofits, which serve over 500,000 people each year and employ almost 14% of Connecticut’s workforce.

o The mission of The Alliance is to support and strengthen nonprofit

organizations in building and sustaining healthy communities in Connecticut.

The Voice of Community Nonprofits Nonprofit Alliance Panel Presentation 3

Member Organizations Every day, nonprofit organizations strive to improve communities. They work tirelessly to strengthen our overall social fabric, and improve the quality of life for individuals in our state - and beyond.

We represent a diverse membership of nonprofits that focus on:

• Advocacy • Agriculture • Animal Welfare • Arts & Culture • Civil Rights • Community Development • Education • Economic Development • Employment • Environment

• Food • Foundations • Healthcare • Housing • Human Services (& subsectors) • Nutrition • Philanthropy • Public Policy • Religion • Social Justice • Vocation

4 Nonprofit Alliance Panel Presentation

Membership within each Division, includes the ongoing services of a dedicated Policy Specialist.

The Alliance convenes meetings of the following Divisions

on a monthly basis:

Behavioral Health: Primarily DMHAS funded Providers

Children & Youth: Primarily DCF funded Providers

Community Justice: Primarily DOC and/or CSSD funded Providers

Developmental Disabilities: Primarily DDS funded Providers

State- Funded Divisions


o Program creates meaningful work opportunities and reliable wages for people with disabilities by developing contracts between state agencies and community providers under the preferred purchasing law.

o Over the past 30 years, the Program has employed thousands of individuals with disabilities in Connecticut. In 2016 alone, the program held over one hundred sixty state contracts that employed eight hundred-fifty workers with disabilities who earned nearly $3 million in wages.

o The Alliance facilitates the employment of individuals with disabilities by connecting individuals seeking employment with nonprofits who receive government contracts to supply state agencies with needed products and services. http://ctnonprofitalliance.org/preferred-purchasing/

Alliance Preferred Purchasing Program: Putting People to Work

Since 1977


http://ctnonprofitalliance.org/preferred-purchasing/

Cross-Sector: Types of Employment Situations


Concepts and expectations

∗ Competitive Integrated Employment (when successfully ‘graduated’ from services & no longer require agency/ staff supports)

∗ Individual Supported Employment (competitively employed w/ supports)

∗ Group Supported Employment (small group w/ job coach on site)

∗ Facility-Based Employment – Currently Phasing Out ∗ Employment Assessment Services (working interview/ evaluation/

job interview skills training)

∗ End goal - individual competitive employment

Beth Fisher, Executive Director, Kuhn Employment Opportunities, Inc.

∗ Kuhn was established in Meriden in 1962 by Ernest B. Kuhn, a local

resident and businessman who saw a need for training individuals with disabilities to work.

∗ The agency has a proud history of serving local communities and individuals with disabilities through the provision of vocational and employment services. Individuals supported by Kuhn live in our community and benefit from access to skills training, job supports and employment opportunities offered by the agency.

∗ Funding partners include the State Department of Developmental Disabilities; Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services; Bureau of Rehabilitation Services; East Hampton Board of Education; Meriden/ Wallingford United Way; Middlesex United Way


Provider Perspective:

Beth Fisher, Executive Director, Kuhn Employment Opportunities – ctd.

∗ Office Locations: Meriden, Middletown & East Hampton ∗ Serving residents of Central Connecticut ∗ Services include: job seeking skills training, independent job placement,

group supported employment, career exploration, vocational assessment, peer mentoring, job counseling & support, day & retirement services and, school to work transition services.

∗ Kuhn has a positive impact on approximately 400 individuals with disabilities each year. Individuals supported by Kuhn obtain employment, earn wages, pay taxes, and spend money in the local economy; work empowers individuals to participate in all aspects of community life and, lessens dependence on Federal & State benefits/ entitlements.



Beth Fisher, Executive Director, Kuhn Employment Opportunities – ctd.

∗ Approximately seventy (70) staff is employed by Kuhn to support individuals served providing jobs to the local economy.

∗ Community Partner: As a not-for-profit social service agency, Kuhn has many community partners: patronizing local businesses for goods & services; employers as a source for client work & support to businesses for workforce development and; “sister” agencies for collaboration and advocacy.

∗ VIP Principle: All individuals with disabilities have the right to work; Kuhn staff provide the necessary support for them to be Valued in the community, Independent by earning a wage and, Proud of the work they do.



Sandra Lavoy, VP, Community Services, CW Resources, Inc.

∗ CW Resources, Inc. established in 1964, is a national not-for-profit, headquartered in CT.

∗ We provide services to and/or employ 1400 individuals with disabilities across the country and provide employment and day services to 500 individuals daily, across the state of Connecticut.

∗ We operate Centers for Community Opportunities and Employment Services in Bristol, Greater Hartford, New Britain, Naugatuck, West Hartford, Norwich, and Gales Ferry, CT.

∗ We believe that anyone who wants to work should have the opportunity to work to the extent in which they are able. 11 Nonprofit Alliance Panel Presentation


Sandra Lavoy, VP, Community Services, CW Resources, Inc. - ctd.

∗ We support individuals by helping them to develop skills (both hard and soft

skills) needed to be successful at work and in other life situations. ∗ We do this through direct placement in individualized competitive

employment, group supported employment, and by creating work within the broader community and within community-based facilities.

∗ From July 1, 2016 to February 28, 2017, CW has paid out $1,071,489 of wages to individuals with disabilities working in group supported employment, state set-aside contracts, federal set-aside contracts, or through CW established services and facility based businesses.



Jessica LeRoy, Rehab Services Manager, InterCommunity, Inc.

∗ InterCommunity, Inc. is a community health non-profit organization

located in East Hartford, Connecticut, providing primary care and behavioral health services to individuals, families, and communities within the state of Connecticut for over 39 years. The agency is licensed by the Department of Public Health to provide comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services to over 4,000 people each year.

∗ Since 1981, InterCommunity has been contracted with the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services as the Local Mental Health Authority for six towns, including East Hartford, Glastonbury, Marlborough, Newington, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield for its behavioral health division.



Kathleen Stauffer, Chief Executive Officer, The Arc New London County

∗ The Arc New London County was founded in 1952 by families looking for opportunities for their children. The Arc today serves over 600 people of all ages, offering advocacy, employment opportunities, life skills training, recreation, residences and person-centered, community based services.

∗ In partnership with national, state, and local chapters, we are a powerful

advocacy force for full inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Southeastern Connecticut. Moving people from intensive supports to increasing independence is the Arc’s approach to helping make dreams come true for all the individuals we serve. Our goals remain high.

∗ The Arc New London County believes every person can succeed and that every person will succeed. The Arc NLC believes employment at minimum wage or higher is a dignity issue for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.



Kathleen Stauffer, Chief Executive Officer, The Arc New London County – ctd.

∗ In 2016, The Arc NLC launched three microbusinesses – a cookie factory, a

farm stand and a lawn care operation – with a goal of proving that people with I/DD can be fully employed and earn minimum wage and that the enterprises that employ people with I/DD can pay minimum wage and maintain profitability.

∗ One of these enterprises has attained modest profitability, and the goal is for all three to attain profitability. The Arc NLC currently supports 16 students in transitional vocational programs and 65 adults in community employment: 55 in Group Supported Employment (GSE), 7 in Individual Employment (ISE) and 3 in Individual Day/Vocational (IDV). All people with I/DD in GSE and ISE are earning minimum wage or higher.



Personal Challenges for Individuals

∗ Lack of appropriate vocational placements/opportunities

∗ People with disabilities have varying skills – Individualized

approach to job placement is critical

∗ Those with significant disabilities may present some pervasive

challenges (Medical, behavioral, etc.)

∗ May require flexible work schedules (to meet needs of

individuals or families)


Personal Challenges for Individuals – ctd. ∗ Lack of transitional training opportunities

∗ Lack of practical transportation options

∗ Gaps in work history/minimal work history

∗ Environmental circumstances - living situation (lack of

permanent address for reporting purposes, no income for work

attire, etc.)

∗ Established ‘Level of Need’ scores vs actual preferences


Overarching Challenges for Organizations

∗ Absence of funding which covers the actual cost of services

(average COLA = .05% for the past 25 years.)

∗ Audits (Fully support the accountability. Concerns re: process)

∗ Duplicative documentation & unfunded mandates

∗ Budgetary limitations

∗ Payment and funding differences


Overarching Challenges for Organizations - ctd.

∗ Federal legislative changes/demands

∗ Elimination of services due to funding cuts, reduced services

authorizations and definition changes

∗ Limited transportation options

∗ Employer/Individual’s needs and expectation

∗ Application process screens people out


Overarching Challenges for Employers

∗ SHIFT NEEDS. The greatest hiring needs of employers lie within the second shift, but this shift does not necessarily work for families with a person who has IDD in their household, particularly for parents who both work first shift jobs. Further, providers cannot provide transportation for second shift jobs without incurring significant overtime costs and/or experiencing significant staffing challenges as many Direct Support Employees (DSP) have two or three jobs.

∗ WORKER’S COMPENSATION. Worker’s compensation premiums are very high in Connecticut. Although data does not support the belief, employers have concerns that hiring people with physical challenges could lead to increased worker’s compensation claims.


Overarching Challenges for Employers – ctd.

∗ ECONOMIC CONCERNS. The Group Supported (GSE) Employment Model that

the Department of Developmental Disabilities funds was built for an economy

that no longer exists. Specifically, hiring four to six people at a time represents

a business expansion that pragmatic employers are wary of, even if they are

highly interested in hiring people with IDD and even if they are willing to pay

minimum wage or higher. In the current economy, very few employers feel

comfortable taking on 4 - 6 new employees at a time – particularly at

minimum wage or more.


Overarching Challenges for Employers – ctd.

∗ Services funded by the various state agencies differ and confuse businesses/employers: ‘Who pays the wages?’

∗ Education re: Eligibility for various populations

∗ Increased expectation (with the changing service definitions) is the placement of individuals with significant disabilities and pervasive behavioral challenges, in the wider community and business sector

∗ Lack of funding/opportunities for job development and training. 22 Nonprofit Alliance Panel Presentation

Opportunities for Collaboration & Next Steps ∗ Joint meeting with The Connecticut Business Leadership

Network (CTBLN) ∗ Potential initiative: ‘Anti Stigma’ campaign - education of the

business community and the public ∗ Improve education of potential employers ∗ Increased collaboration to improve employment opportunities

for all persons with disabilities ∗ Explore opportunities for blended funding sources ∗ Increase incentives - Business Grants/initiatives for companies to

hire individuals with disabilities


http://ctbln.com/

Thank You!

To continue the conversation:

o Beth Fisher, Executive Director, Kuhn Employment Opportunities, Inc. [email protected] o Sandra Lavoy, VP, Community Services, CW Resources, Inc. [email protected] o Jessica LeRoy, Rehab Services Manager, InterCommunity, Inc. [email protected] o Kathleen Stauffer, Chief Executive Officer, The Arc New London County [email protected] o Julia Wilcox, Senior Public Policy Specialist, CT Community Nonprofit Alliance

[email protected] 860.525.5080 x1025


mailto:[email protected]




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