PROJECT YES!
Youth Employment Solutions - Project YES!
North Platte Community Team Meeting Minutes
October 11, 2006 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
McKinley Education Center, Room 103
301 West F Street, North Platte
Present:
Becki Koehler - Program Development Director, Easter Seals Nebraska; Jeremy Hamik - Employment Consultant, Easter Seals Nebraska; Kristine Warren - District Manager, Social Security Administration; Sally Vaughn - Executive Director, Region II Services; Sharon Johnson - Systems Change Grant Coordinator, Health and Human Services; Denise Johnston-Rauterkus - VR Counselor, Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Donita Mains-Field Representative, Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; JaDeen Cornell - Program Assistant, Easter Seals Nebraska; Karen Evans - Disability Navigator, Department of Labor; Dave Brunelle - Transition Coordinator, North Platte Public Schools; Kim Cooper - Special Education Coordinator, North Platte Public Schools
Welcome and Introductions
Becki Koehler welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made.
Review and Approval of Minutes
Minutes for the September 2006 meeting were e-mailed to the community team members. The minutes were approved.
Training topic: How Nebraska's SSI, SSDI, and CDB eligible youth with disabilities can use Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) - more review and discussion.
Members watched an SSA video on PASS.
Tim McEvoy, who is the PASS Cadre for the Kansas City Region attended the York meeting. He stated:
- A large number of PASS participants are going to school. However, many of the plans that he has approved are simply to reduce the beneficiary's reliance on their SSI.
- PASS can be used to repay a loan on an approved item.
- Many individuals do become eligible for Social Security while completing their PASS. An amendment to the PASS can be made to include the SSDI check as well as wages.
- The Kansas City region does not have a lot of PASS plans for transition age youth.
- Nebraska has as many PASS plans as Kansas and Missouri despite the smaller population.
- Money sheltered in a PASS plan is not counted as a resource for SSI eligibility.
- In most cases, money set aside in a PASS is disregarded when determining eligibility for other federal programs.
- Tim McEvoy can be reach at 800.551.9289
Members reviewed the PASS Plan for one of our pilot youth from the Tri-Cities area.
Pilot Youth Update
Jeremy provided an update on the pilot youth in the North Platte area:
Pilot Youth: #6
Highlights:
- working for pay
- using Student Earned Income Exclusion
- employers are requesting that he work through summer, more hours
- final year of school
Concerns:
Pilot Youth: #10
Highlights:
- final year of school
- non-paid work experience employer wants her to work for pay during the summer
- using Student Earned Income Exclusion during the summer months
- potential PASS candidate
Concerns:
- family was fearful of work because of inaccurate information i.e. told that she could only earn $65 before losing benefits
- how will non-paid work experience school policies effect potential for employment?
Pilot Youth: #11
Highlights:
- potential use of Blind Work Expense employment support
Concerns:
"You've got questions. We've got answers!" - customer service motto from Radio Shack
- How do we get these services and supports for people we work with?
Answer: Becki is putting together an overview of the benefits planning services that Easter Seals provides. She will share it with the team as soon as its completed.
- Team members requested a simple check list and/or screening tool to help them determine what to look for in a potential PASS candidate.
Answer: Crystal Norvell who is one of the Work Incentive Specialists for Easter Seals is working on a referral sheet for VR counselors.
Team discussion - actions, changes, goals
The team identified the following objective and result:
- Objective:
Examine our own procedures to reduce barriers for transitioning youth and their
families.
- Result:
Assess internal system procedures (first message, referral process, what happens to
young adult at each entry point)
Next Meeting
November16, 2006 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
McKinley Education Center, Room 103
301 West F Street, North Platte
Future meeting dates are as follows: December 14, 2006 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
