Transition Material

Youth Employment Solutions - Project YES!

Lincoln Local Community Team Meeting Minutes
Lincoln Vocational Rehabilitation conference room
5143 South 48th Street, Lincoln, NE
December 8, 2006 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Present:
Becki Koehler - Program Development Director, Easter Seals Nebraska; Kim Johnson - Service Coordination Supervisor, Health and Human Services; Sharon Johnson - Systems Change Grant Coordinator, Health and Human Services; Tanya Hilligoss - Special Education Coordinator, Lincoln Public Schools; Jason Kerkman - Disability Navigator, Department of Labor; Pat Bracken - Area Administrator, Vocational Rehabilitation; Susan Lewis - Assistant District Manager; Social Security Administration; Melissa Money-Beecher - Program Specialist, Health and Human Serices; Norm Waverka - Field Representative, Nebraska Comm. for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Amy Bresh - VR Counselor; Comm. for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Malcom Miles - Network Specialist, Region 5 Services

Welcome and Introductions
Becki Koehler welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made.

Review and Approval of Minutes
Minutes for the November 2006 meeting were e-mailed to the community team members. The minutes were approved.

Community Level Planning

Behavioral Health

  1. Fear of loss of benefits
  2. Transportation
  3. Under belief in oneself (work, higher education)
  4. Transition from agencies working with children to agencies working with adults. This is a complicated this age range

Public Schools

  1. The #1 thing we hear is the fear, the myths, the lack of knowledge about benefits.
    1. Educators need a contact. (call this person, call this number)
    2. School is a safe place you've got all kinds of people we can turn to
    3. Lack of awareness that school goes away
  2. Transition from school to adult services/families don't act

SSA

  1. One big one, myths and miscommunications about work and benefits.
    • Need education, hard enough for staff. It's overwhelming for parents
    • Key - trying to keep up with education
    • Different training formats are available

Developmental Disabilities

  1. Fear and/or reality of being over income resulting in a share of cost/ability to pay, possible loss of benefits.
    • Ability to pay may force an individual to quit work.
    • The fear pushes people a long way (ex. People with dual diagnosis)
  2. Reporting income is a process that can be very difficult
    • Triggers a lot of problems
  3. Youth to adult transition
    • Supporters drop off

Vocational Rehabilitation

  1. Folks come with myths/fear about benefits (same issue with adults) Lots of security for families with those benefits.
    • Child's benefit is a large part of the family income
  2. No extended services available for youth eligible for DD services prior to age 21

Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired

  1. Fear of losing benefits, especially health
  2. Lack of knowledge amongst employer
  3. Lack of motivation belief in ones self (little exposure to successful role models. The earlier we can be involved with the student the better)
  4. Transportation

Department of Labor

  1. Disclosure of disability and accommodations.
  2. If you have a disability you have to be above and beyond to get hired.
  3. Wage rates are not necessarily higher than benefits
  4. Medical insurance is a barrier - employer provided insurance is not what it used to be

Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

  1. Fear of losing benefits - father cannot afford employer provided health insurance for family of four
  2. Communication break down for deaf - lack of expertise
  3. Still discrimination for people who are deaf - lack of advocacy
  4. Parents don't know all the options available
    • May not be told about better educational program
    • Schools not always willing to provide services that cost money

Other points

  1. Dialogue between SSA, DHHS & VR providers is improving. There is an increased awareness - its been improving but we have more to do.
  2. Need to revisit Medicaid eligibility
  3. DD can not fund school students at mid term

Planning will continue in January.

2007 Meeting Dates
Meetings will be held the second Friday of each month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lincoln VR offices. Future meeting dates are as follows: January 12th, February 9th, March 9th, April 13th, May 11th, June 8th, July 13th, August 10th, September 14th, October 12th, November 9th, December 14th.

Next Meeting
The next meeting will be: January 12, 2006 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Vocational Rehabilitation conference room, 5143 South 48th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska