Texas Employment First Initiatives for Individuals with Disabilities

Employment First Initiatives Texas Health and Human Services Commission Community Services Special Projects Donnie Wilson, Director Carrie Bruns, Deputy Director

Special Projects Provides support to all areas of HHS Community Services. Three sources of projects/assignments: o Legislatively mandated; o HHS Executive Leadership requests; and o Innovative staff project proposals. Multiple projects that promote the Texas Employment First Policy.

What is Employment First? Employment First is the concept that employment in the general workforce should be the first and preferred option for people with disabilities receiving assistance from publicly funded systems. The assumption is that a person with a disability can work.

Recent Legislation Senate Bill 50, 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021 This bill seeks to increase competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals receiving services under certain 1915(c) Medicaid waiver programs and the STAR+PLUS Home and Community- Based Services program. House Bill 4169, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 This bill requires HHSC to seek authorization from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to include pre-vocational services as part of the individualized skills and socialization services delivered under waiver programs.

Employment First Positions Employment Recruitment Coordinator Furthers the state s Employment First principles with continued field work across the state, directly working with employers and presenting to civic organizations to expand awareness and generate additional integrated employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Employment Services Coordinators (2) Assists with the implementation of the HHSC Supported Employment Initiative and conduct other activities as necessary to improve employment services for individuals with developmental disabilities served by HHSC.

Employment Pilot Programs Electronic Tablets Program This project uses electronic tablets and currently available apps to provide individuals with interactive technology that lessens their dependency on assistance or intervention from others. Ultimately, fading out the need for a job coach to be physically on site. Community-based Apprenticeship Program This project will provide opportunities for paid internships for individuals with IDD or receiving behavioral health services. The pilot provides transferrable skills for further employment through a combination of classroom and on the job training.

Employment Pilot Programs Contd Employment Navigators Pilot The purpose of this project is to contract LIDDAs to hire Employment Navigators to work at sites across the state of Texas to educate, guide, and assist individuals and family members through the process of obtaining employment. Employment Navigators will serve as an advocate/point of contact to facilitate communication and services among individuals, families, HHSC, TWC, TEA, and other organizations, as necessary, to reach employment goals.

Toolkits Transition to Competitive Integrated Employment The goal is to develop a toolkit, provide a demonstration, and provide training to assist providers in transitioning from a heavy focus on day habilitation and sheltered workshop services to more community involved competitive and integrated employment services providers. Disability Inclusive Community An initiative to assist people and communities in integrating a person with disabilities into all aspects of community life. The toolkit will assist communities with initiation or improving the inclusiveness of all citizens, especially those with disabilities.

Toolkits Contd Family Focus Guides In 2022, informal, roundtable discussions were held throughout the state with families to discuss employment for people with disabilities. The information gathered was used to develop resource guides. Two versions: o Family, Friends, and Advocates; o Job Seekers The resource guides provide practical guidance, information, and answers to commonly identified employment barriers within the IDD population.

Training Opportunities Employment First Training In person o Special Projects hosted in person training sessions from June thru September 2024 at the following locations: o Longview, Hurst, Lubbock, Weslaco, El Paso, San Antonio, Beaumont, Sugarland, and Rosenberg Online modules are available on the Texas HHS Employment First webpage.

SELN and eLearning Initiative The State Employment Leadership Network is a membership- based network of state IDD agencies that work together to achieve system improvements, particularly in paid employment for individuals with IDD. SELN developed an eLearning initiative titled Supporting a Vision for Employment. As a member of the SELN, Texas was given 50 eLearning slots and distributed them among Texas HHS staff, Local IDD Authorities, and State Supported Living Centers.

Collaboration with TEA and TWC HHSC, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) have established a steering committee and workgroup to collaborate on employment first efforts across the state. Special Projects provided input to Texas Workforce Solutions- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (TWS-VRS) on a sequencing of services document that explains how Medicaid waiver services and TWS-VRS services work together and in what order. A journey map is in development by TEA, HHS, and TWS-VRS to help students, families, and other supporters understand the process to establish services with each agency.

Employment Videos Hiring People with Disabilities https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ns6xDD16w Supporting Employment Goals for People with Disabilities https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osIfXHLPOuE Vocational Apprenticeship Program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3yc8rDzoBk Job Coaching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3h0N5UiUos

Employment First Video

Texas HHS Employment First Webpage Resources available for: People looking for job opportunities Employers looking for qualified employees Types of resources: Guides Pamphlets Trainings Employment Readiness Videos Information Letters

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