MDAC+-+Transition+&+Employment+First

During 2009, twelve Mecklenburg County advocacy agencies that supported different disability populations met to discuss common issues facing those with disabilities and seek collaborative solutions to those issues. These agencies formed the Mecklenburg Disability Action Collaborative (MDAC) which is incorporated as a non-profit in North Carolina.
 * __The Mecklenburg Disability Action Collaborative (MDAC)__**

This group met for several months, analyzing issues that affected all people with disabilities: housing, transportation, wellness, education, employment and socialization. As the discussions continued, the group learned that integrated employment in the workforce was very low for all people with disabilities. This low rate of employment resulted in segregation, dependency and poverty for the majority of these individuals. It also resulted in lost of a key talent pool for employers, lost of tax receipts for the community, and high and increasing costs of care.

It was agreed that improved employment outcomes and careers would benefit these individuals and provide a means to improve their other life domains including socialization, housing, wellness, and transportation. It was also discovered that this focus on employment as being the preferred outcome for people with disabilities was becoming a key focus of "employment first" initiatives around the country.

It is interesting to note that during this same time period, the Local Management Entitiy (LME) of Area Mental Health shared the philosophy of integrated employment and provided significant leadership by stopping the public funding of all Mecklenburg "sheltered workshops", thus ending congregate contract work sites where many with disabilities were employed at sub-minimal wages. This required support agencies to focus more on placing their clients in integrated work settings in the community.

In December of 2009, MDAC produced its Employment First Positon Paper which was endorsed by key stake holders, and the MDAC Employment First Initiative was launched. **Priority was placed on young adults with disabilities as they transitioned from secondary education.**



__**What is "Employment First" and how is it being addressed around the country?**__ Employment First is a philosophy, implemented through policy, practices and re-allocation of funding that makes employment and careers the **preferred outcome** of all publicly funded services for people with disabilities. It recognizes that there are many paths, including post-secondary education to reach that outcome. It defines employment as integrated employment at competitive wages. It requires inclusive, individualized plans and supports, self-determination, self-advocacy and respect for the individual. It recognizes that some individuals may not achieve employment goals and that community supports will be required for them. It believes that readiness is in the eyes of the individual with the disability, not in the eyes of the professional support staff.

The National APSE organization - orginally, the Association of People in Supported Employment, but now known just as APSE, is a national advocacy agency that promotes Employment First for all people with disabilities. APSE has produced an excellent white paper on Employment First. There is a North Carolina Chapter of APSE. Additional information on APSE can be found at [|www.apse.org].



There are many strong advocates for Employment First in North Carolina. In addition to the activities of MDAC, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities has initiated North Carolina's participation in the Alliance for Full Participation (AFP), and the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN). The SELN website is at [|www.seln.org], and the AFP's site is at [|www.allianceforfullparticipation.org]. Many agencies and organizations have participated in these activities, including Vocational Rehabilitation, DHHS, DPI, Disability Rights of North Carolina, UNC-CH and others. This activity has led to the formation of a North Carolina Employment First Steering Committee and a North Carolina Employment First Position Paper that is gaining wide endorsement around the State. It may lead to legislation similar to that which has been passed in several states, the most recent of which is Kansas. It should be noted that a **key focus of the employment first initiatives is the transition of young adults from secondary education. It is much more efficient and effective to include individuals with disabilities into inclusive employment coming from secondary or pos-secondary education, than to integrate older adults coming from segregated settings.** The North Carolina Position Paper is attached.
 * __What's happening in North Carolina?__**




 * __How is MDAC addressing Employment First__**?

Through collaboration and focusing on transition. There is an MDAC Employment First Steering Committee which includes representatives of key community agencies including the Charlotte Mecklenburg School (CMS) system. The Steering Committee provides the guidance and direction for the Initiative and the representatives are expected to foster employment first philosophies and practices within their agencies.

There is a Transformation Committee which is fostering changes in attitudes and beliefs, as well as changes in business models and practices of the provider agencies that provide direct services to people with disabilities.

There is also a Transition Collaborative focused on improving employment and career outcomes for the young adults leaving CMS. The focus with the Collaborative is largely on changing attitudes and beliefs of the individuals with disabilities, their families and teachers. It has to do with changing the perception of opportunity and the future through exploration, encouragement, empowerment, expectations and self-advocacy.

Since most of this activity has to do with the "supply side", the Initiative recognized that if the "demand side", the employers were not receptive to hiring people with disabilities, the desired outcomes would not be achieved. Again, this came down to changing employer perception, attitutes and beliefs, and encouraging employers to recognize the value of and contributions that people with disabilities can make to their businesses. To help address the issues that exist on the "demand side", the North Carolina Business Leadership Network (NCBLN) has been incorporated and organized. The NCBLN is a chapter of the USBLN. Both organizations are solely focused on the benefits of hiring, marketing to, and contracting with people with disabilities. Information can be found at [|www.usbln.org], and [|www.ncbln.org]. **Both organizations understand the importance of need to improve the transitions outcomes of young adults with disabilities, and the valuable talent pool they represent in the future.** An overview of the MDAC Employment First Initiative is attached. A key principal is shown on the chart that illustrates what must change to improve employment and career outcomes. It's not about creating a new program, or having more services or more money. And, it's not about just improving the performance of one agency such as Vocational Rehabilitation or the school system. It's primary about changes in attitudes and beliefs, then changing systems to align with those attitudes and beliefs and to foster common community goals for collaborative activity to achieve the goals.



__**What is MDAC's current focus on Transition?**__ Several things are occuring. We have found several groups in the community that are involved with improving the outcomes for young adults with disabilities, or otherwise at risk, when transitioning from secondary education. One example is that the System of Care (SOC) has also been addressing the transition issues. Since all of these initiative require effective collaboration, these efforts are trying to be brought together to gain efficiency and effectiveness. The MDAC Transition Collaborative intends to merge with the SOC transition team to form a Transition to Careers Collaborative for the community.

The MDAC Employment First Steering Committee has also teamed up with CMS to serve as the Community Team in the implementation of the CMS Circles Grant initiative. MDAC also participates in the annual CMS Transition Fair and has engaged the NCBLN's participation in the Fair.

MDAC is also trying to find creative ways to engage more parents and in the transition discussions and process. We believe that students must improve their self-advocacy and empowerment skills. We believe parents need to be encouaged regarding futures planning for their child, and play greater roles in fostering career outcomes. Parents are also encouraged to engage with their own employer to determine whether or not that employers supports hiring individuals with disabilities and suggesting they participate in the NC Business Leadership Network.

The National recognized Project Search has been initiated in Charlotte through the collaboration of MDAC, Area Mental Health's LME, Mecklenburg County (as the intern employer), InReach (a service provider), and our local Community College, CPCC. The second internship is now in progress.

Through MDAC, the NCBLN has been encouraged to participate in the CMS Transition Fair during the past two years. MDAC is also working with Mental Heatlh, ID/DD and Substance Abuse service providers to increase thier focus on emloyment and career outcomes. We work closely with the Mecklenburg County Providers Council and its Executive Board to educate the members regarding employment first principals.

The following attachments show some of the plans and some of the materials being used. These include a presentation on the collaborative plan with the System of Care, an Employment First Flyer for parents, a presentation used with parents regardiing futures planning, a before and after survey used with parents, and a list of resources provided to parents.



Your feedback, thoughts, suggestions and questions on any of the above are appreciated. Ron Reeve, Chair, Mecklenburg Disability Action Collaborative RR77777@carolina.rr.com