N.D.I. Technical Assistance Team
N.D.I. Consulting, Inc.
[ http://www.dpnavigator.net ]
and
The Burton Blatt Institute
Syracuse University
[ http://bbi.syr.edu ]
One–Stop Toolkit Resources of the Week Technical Assistance Project E–Mail listserv
December 11, 2009
Good morning everyone!
Below please find the website(s) and publication(s) of the week, as well as other resources that we hope will be useful as you work on systems change activities to help improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
To subscribe and / or view past resources of the week archives, access:[ www.onestoptoolkit.org ] and click on the link to "Resources of the Week" on the right hand side of the home page.
Have a great day and weekend!
Laura Gleneck
Project Coordinator
NDI Technical Assistance Team
Phone: 781-899-0139
Fax: 781-642-0895
[ E–mail lgleneck@ndi-inc.org ]
[ http://www.dpnavigator.net ]
Good morning Navigators,
Under the Real Economic Impact section find out how you local workforce investment area is OR can connect with tax services for job seekers with disabilities through the Real Economic Impact (REI Tour) and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Disability Program Navigators and the REI Tour and Asset Building Strategies
Since the beginning of the REI Tour, NDI, working through the DPN program, has been able to connect with DPNs in a Tour city, where they exist, and include the workforce investment system as part of the group of community agencies and organizations. Some examples of how DPNs have helped to facilitate this process::
There are a number of ways that DPNs can get involved in the REI Tour.
Johnette Hartnett
(202)-296-2043 / jhartnett@ndi-inc.orgJudy Stengel (retired IRS representative)
(202)-619-2776 / jstengel@ndi-inc.orgTo connect with IRS Field Staff, contact
Richard Keeling
IRS Stakeholder Partnerships Education and Communication (SPEC)
(404)-338-8814 / richard.keeling@irs.gov
Don’t forget to checkout the table of contents to learn of additional information and resources that may help you in your work to build the capacity of the workforce system to provide more meaningful and effective employment opportunities to jobseekers with disabilities. Especially check out the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) new website chat feature at [ http://www.jan.wvu.edu/index.htm ]. Use the JAN website chat feature to locate resources, information, and technical assistance. Just access the URL and under the “Contact Us” tab, click on the link to “Live Help Available.” What a great resource for Navigators to share with One-Stop staff and partners especially those that work directly with employers.
Happy Friday!
White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth
[ http://www.whitehouse.gov ]
On Thursday, December 3rd, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis kicked-off the White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth that brought together business, labor, and nonprofit leaders for a discussion of long term job creation.
To read the December 3rd White House press release, access:
[ http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/background-forum-jobs-and-economic-growth ]
To read the President and Vice President’s remarks, access:
[ http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-and-vice-president-opening-session-jobs-and-economic-growth-forum ]
To read the remarks of Secretary Solis, access:
[ http://www.dol.gov/_sec/media/speeches/20091203_WHJobs.htm ]
Action: Calling all Chambers and Businesses!
U.S.
Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workforce
[ http://uschamber.com/icw/ ]
Are you a Chamber of Commerce with a promising practice that helps to improve education and workforce training in your region? Do you represent a business (small or large) that helps demonstrate the importance of quality education as it relates to training successful workers? The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) would love to hear from you!
Each month, ICW features one chamber of commerce and one business that is improving its region's educational and workforce training systems. ICW is constantly on the lookout for inspiring, innovative, and effective practices that are helping to reform education and in turn better prepare tomorrow's workers for today's jobs. If you or someone you know is running a program or initiative that is making an impact in your community, tell ICW about it! With a readership of over 3,500, this is the perfect way to advertise your business or chamber and gain recognition for your program. Plus, your program can serve as a model for other communities looking to improve their own business-education partnerships.
For more information, or to submit details about your business-education partnership, please contact Caitlin Ward at cward@uschamber.com or (202)-463-3171
Job Accommodation Network’s Annual Webcast Series – 2009
to 2010
[ http://www.jan.wvu.edu/webcast/index.htm ]
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Webcasts are available at no cost. Gather your employees together in a room for live, in-service training. Educate yourself, management, and other employees on disability etiquette, assistive technologies, management techniques, and the latest on accommodations and the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All Webcasts begin at 2pm eastern and are 1 hour. You must register to attend. One registration is equivalent to one login.
The list of webcasts for 2009 through 2010 is as follows. Access the URL to register for any of these events and to learn more about how JAN’s webcasts work.
Job Accommodation Network New Website Chat Feature
[ http://www.jan.wvu.edu/index.htm ].
Use the Job Accommodation Network’s (JAN) website chat feature to locate resources, information, and technical assistance. Just access the URL and under the “Contact Us” tab, click on the link to “Live Help Available.”
Diversifying Your Workforce
U.S.
Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
[ http://www.dol.gov/odep/documents/Flip%20Guide_FINAL_3%2030_508%20compliant2.pdf ] or
[ http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/publicat.htm ] (MS Word version--scroll down to the “Other” category)
Diversifying Your Workforce, A Four-Step Reference Guide to Recruiting, Hiring, & Retaining Employees with Disabilities is a resource designed to provide answers to critical questions about the employment of persons with disabilities:
To order this free publication, access: [ http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/rc/odep.htm ]
U.S.
Department of Labor New Monthly Data Series on Employment Status of People with a Disability - November
[ http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsdisability.htm ]
In June 2008, questions were added to the Current Population Survey (CPS) to identify persons with a disability in the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and older. The addition of these questions allowed BLS to begin releasing monthly labor force data from the CPS for persons with a disability. The collection of these data is sponsored by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. Publication of CPS disability data began in February 2009 with the issuance of labor force data for January 2009 . Explanatory materials are available on the frequently asked questions page [ http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsdisability_faq.htm ]. These materials provide information on comparisons with other data sources, variability of the data, and the typesof data available. Additionally, links to historical data and alternate formats are located below.
In November 2009, the unemployment rate of persons with a disability was 14.1 percent, compared with 9.2 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted. The employment-population ratio for persons with a disability was 18.4 percent, compared with 64.0 percent for persons with no disability.
Access the URL to view the chart plus other pertinent statistical related information.
During the month of December, we will be sharing information on the upcoming tax season and how workforce professionals can become more involved to help jobseekers with low-incomes access favorable tax credits and connect to asset building strategies. In this week’s segment, we focus on the Real Economic Impact Tour (REI Tour) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites.
The National Disability Institute (NDI) in collaboration with federal, state, and local government, Mayor’s offices, community partnerships, financial institutions, and the business community, as well as an increasing number of Disability Program Navigators and One-Stop Career Centers is creating a new roadmap out of poverty for persons with disabilities. Through public education, training, and technical assistance activities, NDI is advancing improved economic freedom for Americans with disabilities.
NDI is in its fifth year serving as the originator and facilitator of the Real Economic Impact Tour (REI Tour), which represents a national initiative delivering free tax preparation and filing assistance, along with other asset building strategies to low-income people with disabilities and their families. It provides Americans with disabilities insight, tools and resources to improve their lives through financial education, training and counseling; and promotes the following:
The REI Tour/National Disability Institute has the unique mix of public and private partners with IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication as the lead federal partner. In 2009, the REI Tour was in 84 cities and the following highlights some of the accomplishments:
The REI Tour began five years ago in 10 cities and will have expanded to 100 cities in 2010 . The 100 cities represent the largest cities in the country indexed to the size of the population of people with disabilities.
The IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) division was established “To assist taxpayers in satisfying their tax responsibilities by building and maintaining partnerships with key stakeholders, seeking to create and share value by informing, educating, and communicating with our shared customers.” As part of its work IRS SPEC has established the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program with the assistance of community based partners and key stakeholders.
The VITA program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $42,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing.
To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-829-1040.
On November 10th, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced for the second year in a row it has awarded nearly $8 million in matching grants to support its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Under the VITA Grant Program, the IRS awarded matching grants to 147 organizations that will offer free tax preparation services during the 2010 filing season. VITA partners assist taxpayers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The funds will be used to:
VITA partners are organizations that provide free federal tax return preparation and electronic filing to low and moderate income individuals. For tax year 2009, individuals and families with an adjusted gross income of $49,000 or lower are eligible for assistance.
The VITA program has enjoyed tremendous support since it was created in 1969. For example, more than 3 million tax returns were prepared at nearly 12,000 locations during the 2009 filing season by volunteers working under either the VITA program or the Tax Counseling for the Elderly, another volunteer program sponsored by IRS.
Access the URL to view the 2010
grant recipients.
This web portal has incorporated several unique free services designed to help people prepare for the work place and build their careers. Its social networking medium offers individuals a platform to connect with each other and career mentors. Job seekers will find opportunities posted by employers who expressly use the portal through paid annual subscriptions to hire them. The GettingHired portal identifies and highlights individual skills, talents and backgrounds. No person will be asked to disclose a disability anywhere on the GettingHired portal. The Right Match technology matches individual qualifications to specific job requirements facilitating employment success.
This publication reports that one in four adults in the United States suffers from a mental disorder in a given year, with about 6 percent suffering from a serious mental illness. These problems typically take a toll on overall health. For example, patients diagnosed with a serious mental disorder die 25 years earlier than the general population. Related behavioral issues such as substance abuse or domestic violence also remain persistent problems.
[The following is excerpted from the Executive Summary.]
As the saying goes, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” but does that penny saved translate into greater economic mobility? Movement up the income ladder is fairly limited for children of low-income parents - 42 percent of children born to parents on the bottom rung of the income ladder remain on the bottom rung a generation later. To date, however, there has been less analysis that shows clearly how income mobility differs based on one’s own or one’s parents’ level of savings. This paper clearly demonstrates the relationship between savings and economic mobility.
Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), the paper first explores whether having parents with high savings (i.e., above median savings) or having high savings oneself, improves one’s chances of making the climb up the income ladder, or prevents one from falling down it. Second, it examines federal incentives and disincentives to savings in the federal tax code and public assistance programs. And third, consistent with the project’s recently released nonpartisan policy road map to enhance mobility, it makes recommendations on ways public policy can be improved to encourage savings, especially among low- and moderate-income families.