Workforce Professionals Resources

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U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy Announces Nearly $1 Million in Continued Funding for Youth Center

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy announced that it will award nearly $1 million to continue funding the Youth Technical Assistance Center through the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth. NCWD/Youth helps state and local workforce development systems to better serve youth with disabilities and their families in the areas of education, employment and independent living.  Read more about NCWD/Youth and its partners.

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Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Program Guidance for Program Year 2010

Provides guidance on the use of the Workforce Investment Act's Youth Program based on information learned during the 2009 youth summer employment program that was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) of 2009. The Recovery Act's funding enabled states to create and expand summer employment for eligible WIA youth. This link opens a PDF document.

$4 Billion in 2010 Workforce Investment Act and Wagner-Peyser Act Allotments Announced

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced 2010 allotments to states and outlying areas under the Workforce Investment Act and Wagner-Peyser Act. The nearly $4 billion in funds will be used to help Americans get back to work through high quality employment and training services, which are delivered mainly through the department's national network of One-Stop Career Centers.

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A New Day: We're Listening Webcasts

In early 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and its federal partners held a series of six "Listening Sessions" across the country on the employment of people with disabilities. Each session provided an opportunity for members of the public to provide input to senior federal officials on better ways to employ all people with disabilities, including women, Veterans and minorities with disabilities, and what was currently working in their communities to increase employment among people with disabilities. The summary reports in Word format and recorded video and audio programs of these sessions are now available.

America's Heroes at Work

This project focuses on the employment challenges of returning service members living with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Designed for employers and the workforce development system, this Web site offers information and tools to help returning service members affected by TBI and PTSD succeed in the workplace.

Career Videos for America's Job Seekers Challenge

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) invites members of the public to produce and submit short (1 to 3 minute) videos focusing on the daily activities, necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs), and career pathways of one of 15 occupations. Videos that receive the most votes in each occupational category will be awarded a $1,000 prize and the chance to be used on DOL sites. Read the instructions and frequently asked questions for more details. Deadline to submit a video is November 1, 2010.

Disability Inquiries in the Workforce Development System

This publication is for those working in One-Stop Centers as well as youth and adult service providers who interact with individuals with disabilities. It is designed to help clarify what you may and may not ask about someone's disability. This information can also be downloaded in PDF format in Spanish.

Establishing a National Employment First Agenda

Report from APSE on the Employment First movement. This movement seeks to provide integrated and community-based employment for people with disabilities. Employment First is about raising expectations. Without higher expectations, individuals with disabilities and their families often settle for programs or services that do not encourage them to participate fully in the mainstream of community life. This link opens a PDF document.

Federal Regulations on Implementation of the Nondiscrimination & Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998

Title 29, Part 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is available online. WIA ensures that persons with disabilities have equal access to information and services in the national workforce preparation and employment system and within the One-Stop Career Center System. The Code lists agencies and organizations affected by the regulations, defines discrimination in relation to disability, explains reasonable accommodation, and outlines the responsibilities of Department of Labor agencies for enforcing specific parts of the law. Part 37 subsections are available in text and PDF format.

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Guideposts for Success for Youth Involved in the Juvenile Corrections System

Provides information on experiences, supports and services to improve transition outcomes for youth with and without disabilities involved or at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. This guide can be downloaded in PDF or Word format.

Letter to State Medicaid Directors on Receipt & Use of Federal Funds Under the Ticket to Work Program

Letter from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that provides clarification regarding the receipt of federal funds under the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Ticket to Work & Self-Sufficiency program, and encourages the use of the flexible funding the program offers. Using and coordinating these resources is critical to support States' progress in building a comprehensive health and employment services system for individuals with disabilities to achieve their employment goals. This guidance also provides policy clarifications on State Medicaid providers' acceptance and the treatment of SSA ticket payments. This link opens a PDF document.

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National Association of Community Health Centers' (NACHC) 2010 Community Health Institute & EXPO

The NACHC Community Health Institute (CHI) and Expo is the largest annual conference of Community Health Center professionals. The 2010 CHI will be held September 10-14, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. There will be many new educational workshops related to to health reform. The conference will also report on the latest developments on workforce issues,recruiting and keeping staff, and negotiating the new consumer marketplace as health care reform brings in new patients. Registration is available online.

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National Council on Disability Calls for Government Leaders to Ensure Availability & Quality of Future Workforce Services for People with Disabilities

The National Council on Disability (NCD) has released a report entitled Workforce Infrastructure in Support of People with Disabilities: Matching Human Resources to Service Needs, calling for policymakers at all levels of government to proactively address current shortages and examine how labor market changes are driving both current and future supply. The report presents recommendations that call for partnerships among federal departments and agencies, their state counterparts, and the private sector, including organizations involved with education and training, health care and employment services. The complete report can be downloaded in Word or PDF formats.

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Summary Report of Office of Disability Employment Policy's (ODEP) Listening Sessions

ODEP held a series of six Listening Sessions in January - March 2010 to engage stakeholders across the nation. These sessions collected information and comments about best practices and key issues to be addressed by federal workforce systems regarding the employability, employment, workforce participation, retention and promotion of people with disabilities. Read ODEP's summary report, including specific recommendations for the Disability Program Navigator (DPN), Medicaid Buy-In and other initiatives. Webcasts of the Listening Sessions are also available online.

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The Workforce Development System & the Professional Development of Youth Service Practitioners: Why Professional Development?

Explains the benefits of professional development for youth service providers in order for them to effectively prepare young people both with and without disabilities to enter and succeed in the workforce. This information can also be downloaded in PDF format in Spanish.

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U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Study on Disability Program Navigator Initiative

DOL has released an evaluation study of the Disability Program Navigator Initiative titled Use of One-Stops by Social Security Disability Beneficiaries in Four States Implementing Disability Program Navigator Initiative. This study showed that the One-Stop Career Centers are serving a large share of individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits. The study was conducted in Colorado, Iowa, Maryland and Oregon. The report is available for download after registering online.

Universal Design for the Workforce Development System

A reference guide on universal design that shows how universal design strategies should be part of all functions performed by public and private workforce development systems, including in marketing and outreach, orientation, assessment, service coordination, service delivery and business services. This link opens a PDF document.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Needs Assessment Guide

This guide and appendices from the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration provide state VR agencies and State Rehabilitation Councils with basic tools needed to meet the requirements of a fully developed comprehensive statewide needs assessment (CSNA). Frequently Asked Questions about the CSNA and a presentation on the materials are available.

What the ADA Amendments (ADAAA) Mean for the One-Stop System & Job Corps

This PowerPoint presentation from the U. S. Department of Labor's Civil Rights Center describes the key changes that resulted from the ADAAA and what Equal Opportunity Officers in the One-Stop System and Job Corps should know about the impact of these amendments. For more information about the ADAAA visit the Web site of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Workforce3 One Unveils New Disability & Employment Resource

Workforce3 One has released a new disability and employment resource page to make employment-related information and promising practices available to the workforce system. This new disability and employment community of practice will help promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities and expand the capacity of the One-Stop Career Center system to serve customers with disabilities. The new resource also has information to help the business community understand disability employment-related topics such as tax incentives and recruiting and accommodating employees with disabilities.

Youth with Disabilities Entering the Workplace through Apprenticeship

Provides information on registered apprenticeship and how it can be used to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The intended audiences for this toolkit are service providers that work with young people, including young people with disabilities. For more information read the background document Improving Transition Outcomes of Youth with Disabilities by Increasing Access to Apprenticeship Opportunities.