Employment First:Moving From

Policy to Practice

APSE WebinarLawrence, KS

October 31, 2011

EMPLOYMENT

• Where do we begin?– Introduce the concept & set the stage• CDDO contract negotiations• State appointed task force• Initial report and recommendations• Marketing materials• Clear and consistent message• Frame the argument• Include all disability groups

EMPLOYMENT

• How do we create an agenda?– Get the word out & expand stakeholder support• Leadership• Buddy group/Big tent• Presentations/meetings• Family Employment Awareness Training• Legislative reception• Employment First Summit (Conversation with the

Governor’s Cabinet Secretaries and Directors)• Persevere

From Planning to Policy – Get to Yes Before You Draft Bill

• Groundwork is key• We got to YES – Employment First Work Group

Built a consensus position NO ONE disagreed with• “The State of Kansas will establish integrated,

competitive employment at a commensurate wage as the first priority for working age people with developmental disabilities. This initiative will be called Employment First.”• Everyone was at the table – broad consensus• “Big Tent” – type position

From Planning to Policy – Get to Yes Before You Draft Bill (cont.)

• Focus on a broad goal everyone can agree to• Agree to disagree on some things• Don’t sweat the small stuff• One goal – “get to yes” on the strongest statement

acceptable to the group

• Simplicity = Beauty• Policy statements can be simple• At its core, Employment First is a stunningly beautiful

policy• Competitive, integrated employment is the priority

From Planning to Policy – Get to Yes Before You Draft Bill (cont.)

• Employment First is about creating the focus and priority on competitive, integrated employment

• Our philosophy – About providing the right services and supports to enable competitive, integrated employment• Assistive technology critical issue – specialized AT can

be hard to get Medicaid or other programs to pay for.• With Employment First as the policy, ALL services,

supports, and programs have to change the way they do business to conform to the new policy

(AT, VR, Waivers, One Stops, etc.)

Quick Tips – Summary of Our Policy Advocacy Activities

• Held reception “kick off” to introduce idea to legislators– Hand out with the broad policy goal of

employment first– Behind scenes were working out kinks of the

language– Took the temperature of the legislators– Bounced ideas off the decision makers

Quick Tips – Summary of Our Policy Advocacy Activities (cont.)

• Small group wrote the bill from the consensus position• Simple policy statement• Applied it to state programs & services – not a mandate on

employers• About government accountability for the millions already spending

on employment services for people with disabilities

• Shopped the idea around• Found sympathetic Chair• Introduced in the “right” committee

– In Kansas, it meant it was an “exempt” bill – not subject to normal deadlines

– Find the Committee that is the “right” fit in your state

Quick Tips – Summary of Our Policy Advocacy Activities (cont.)

• “Murphy’s Law” - Navigated all the problems• Dozens of groups supported the Employment

First concept --- had them weigh in strategically• Matched up key E 1st supporters with key

Legislators• Created an “echo effect” where multiple voices

were being heard by many policymakers (not just the 2-3 people actively working the bill at the Capitol)

Quick Tips – Summary of Our Policy Advocacy Activities (cont.)

• 2 “lead” agencies navigating the legislative process (the Kansas P&A and Kansas DD Council)• Managed the bill on the ground• Brought supporters into the process at strategic points • Couldn’t get a key policy maker to take our meeting

--- found an influential constituent to “warm” them up for us• Meeting didn’t go well --- had constituent double

back to smooth it over or address questions / concerns• Who do we need to do what today?

Quick Tips – Summary of Our Policy Advocacy Activities (cont.)

• Mistakes WILL Happen – Deal with it• I personally wrote the bill to ensure clarity of purpose.

• Focus – accountability of government programs. Not a mandate on private businesses.

• Legislative staff re-wrote it as a hiring preference for state jobs and mandate on private businesses – TWICE!

• Every Mistake = Opportunity for Investment• We are in this together (bonding)

• Use Bill Drafting Error as Opportunity to work with the Chair to get buy-in and support • Having someone do you a favor can get them invested• Had key constituents educate the Chair behind the scenes

Quick Tips – Summary of Our Policy Advocacy Activities (cont.)

• Be polite, be patient, but persistent • Kill them with kindness• House passed 2336 nearly unanimously• Senate was a waiting game – strategy and hard

work paid off • Keep your partners informed & coordinated

Don’t Assume

• Don’t ASSUME any Vote based on ideology!• KNOW how to focus your message based on the Legislator

and audience• Employment first resonates across party and ideological labels• In Politics must get to Yes, No or Maybe. Numbers game. Don’t

ASSUME.• We got support from the most Conservative and Liberal members. • Didn’t present as just a “warm & fuzzy” issue• Example Messaging Points:

– Holding State Government accountable for millions $ spent* Commission to oversee E. First policy and set goals & objectives

Don’t Assume (cont.)- Saving taxpayer dollars- Reducing reliance on government welfare and other

programs- Greater competitive integrated employment = greater wages = less

reliance on taxpayer funded programs

- Kansas is dismal 46th in the nation • No policy = No direction = PWD’s stuck in the public program trap• Kansas’ policy is to not have a policy = one of worst states

– Self Advocates said – We want to be “net tax providers” not “net tax consumers.”• E 1st will help do that• State must set the priority & policy … make everything conform to E 1st• It’s your money; it’s our lives and dignity

Don’t Assume (cont.)- If you support disability programs and services, have to set the

policy to create independence while ensuring dignity & respect.- Funding is important, but $ w/out focus bought you the results you have (46th)

• Kansas – must count to 63, 21 and 1 to pass a bill into law (House, Senate, Governor)

- Can’t afford to leave votes on the table- Ks = dark “red” state. Everyone is potentially that 63rd or 21st

vote- Get to YES, NO or MAYBE

• Have MORE votes than you need- Can survive the tough make or break votes & win- Ex: because we had 70 unwavering votes in the House, snowballed

to 103! (needed 63 to pass)

What HB 2336 says-Establishes that competitive integrated

employment is the first option Sect. 1 (b) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state

of Kansas that competitive and integrated employment shall be considered its first optionwhen serving persons with disabilities who are of working age to obtain employment. This policy applies to programs and services that provide services and support to help obtain employment for persons with disabilities.All state agencies shall follow this policy and ensure that it is effectively implemented in their programs and services. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any employer to give preference to hiringpeople with a disability.

What HB 2336 says-All state agencies have to follow…make

changes to implement (cont.)Sec. 2. (a) All state agencies shall coordinate efforts and shall collaborate within and among such agencies to ensure that state programs, policies, procedures and funding support competitive and integrated employment of individuals with disabilities. All state agencies shall, whenever feasible, share data and information across systems in order to track progresstoward full implementation of the act.(b) State agencies are authorized to adopt rules and regulations to implementthis act.

What HB 2336 says-Oversight Commission to ensure Accountability,

Measureable Goals, & Objectives (cont.)

• 5 member Employment First Oversight Commission. - Cannot be state employees (no Legislators, no bureaucrats).

- 5 members must be persons with disabilities or others

knowledgeable of disability issues. - 4 Legislative appointments, 1 Governor

Sect. 3 (2-d) The commission shall establish measurable goals and objectives for the state of Kansas to ensure implementation of this act. The commission shall track the measurable progress of public agencies in implementing this act. All state agencies shall fully cooperate with and provide data and information to assist the commission in carrying out its duties.

What HB 2336 says-Oversight Commission to ensure Accountability,

Measureable Goals, & Objectives (cont.)(e) The commission shall issue an annual report on or before January1 each year which shall be presented to the governor and members of thestate legislature. The report shall detail progress toward the goals and objectivesand full implementation of this act. All state agencies shall cooperatewith the commission on the creation and dissemination of the annualreport. The report also shall identify barriers to achieving the outcomesalong with the effective strategies and policies that can help realize theemployment first initiative.(f) The governor shall select from the cabinet agencies the lead agencyresponsible for compiling data and coordinating the preparation of the annualreport at the direction of the commission. The activities of the commissionand lead agency pursuant to this section shall be done within existinggrants and resources.

Now what?

• Oversight Commission is extremely important – set the measurable goals and objectives to ensure implementation of this new employment first policy • Critical next step will be advocacy to ensure PWDs get services and supports they need for competitive, integrated employment.

- History of difficulty obtaining A.T. and other supports & services

* We don’t want to see lack of access to A.T. and other supports used as excuse to prevent integrated,

competitive employment. * Need advocacy to prevent thwarting the E 1st policy.

EMPLOYMENT

• How do we move beyond policy?– On-going work group– Address issues– Oversight Commission– Self Advocates Coalition of Kansas– Families Together– Let others know – get the message out– Acknowledge and respond– Employment First website– Second Employment Summit– Build on energy & excitement

EMPLOYMENT

• To implementation…– Great Expectations Employment Initiative • VR funded• Training, technical assistance, & evaluation– What does it take?– What are the issues?– What are the solutions?– How much does it cost?

• Data-based decision-making• Changes: Person centered planning

Expedited referral Revised pay for performance

EMPLOYMENT

• To implementation…(cont.)–Others are initiating on their own• Talking to each other• Asking for help• Requesting employment• Including on agendas• Telling others

EMPLOYMENT

• Role of KS APSE– Leadership– Liaison to national activities– Information/resource sharing– Testimony– Active involvement– Event co-sponsor– Membership support– Website

• For more information, contact:

Wendy Parent-JohnsonKansas University Center on Developmental Disabilitieswparent@ku.edu(785) 864-1062

Rocky NicholsDisability Rights Centerrocky@drckansas.org(785)273-9661