Dear 21 & Able Partner: Monday December 14, The County of Allegheny is the company participating in the project for this RFA.

Transcription

1 Dear 21 & Able Partner: Monday December 14, 2015 The following Request for Application (RFA) provides background information and specifications for the exciting expansion of United Way s Career Transition Pilot Project. The pilot project began in 2013 and included partners: Giant Eagle, the Allegheny County Executive s Office, and Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services. The Kessler Foundation has provided funding to expand that model to 3 5 additional Allegheny County companies. The utilizes the embedded job coach model inside those companies to accomplish the following objectives: 1) provide career preparation support and sourcing of company job opportunities for young adults with disabilities; 2) continue that support as they become employees which will enable them to thrive on the job; and 3) provide education to company staff, providing managers and administrators consultation for working with individuals with disabilities. This includes an analysis of company policies and procedures, as well as identification of adaptations and accommodations that would make more opportunities available to individuals with disabilities. These objectives will be accomplished through the addition of a Career Transition Professional (CTP); one brought on for each of the 3 5 companies that participate in the project. The CTP will be selected from a pool of candidates proposed and currently in employment of the applicant agencies. The CTP works at the company and functions as staff, but remains an employee of his or her home agency, who is responsible for administering and supervising the employee. This innovative model gives your agency an opportunity to showcase your success and your best and brightest employment support specialists; to leverage your expertise within the company structure; and to receive compensation for your efforts in implementing this important project. The University of Pittsburgh committed to the project in May 2015 and has gone through this process, has selected their CTP, and is actively utilizing the model to hire more young adults with disabilities at Pitt. The County of Allegheny is the company participating in the project for this RFA. To begin the process, we will hold an informational session for potential applicant agencies from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon on Friday, January 8, 2016 at our United Way of Allegheny County office at 1250 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, and you are invited. Questions and answers from this information session will be posted on the United Way website shortly after the information session. The deadline for responding to the RFA is Monday, January 25, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Please contact Megan Grabski at or megan.grabski@uwac.org with questions and/or to register for the informational session that is scheduled for Friday, January 8, Sincerely, Julie DeSeyn Julie DeSeyn Vice President of Community Impact 1

2 Application Summary: Instructions To complete this proposal, interested applicants must submit all of the following by 5 p.m. Monday, January 25, Cover Page 2. Agency Proposal 3. Agency/Pilot Budget for first year of funding 4. Resume of (up to 3) proposed candidate(s) 5. Evaluation Participation Agreement Agencies must agree to comply with evaluation protocols as part of the pilot process to evaluate the effectiveness of the experience. Agency must also agree to give permission for photographs of Career Transition Professional to be taken and used by United Way of Allegheny County and/or Kessler Foundation publications. All submissions are to be made by attaching the completed documents to an sent to megan.grabski@uwac.org Please include your agency name in the footer of each of the UW forms submitted. If you have questions: contact Megan Grabski, Project Manager, United Way of Allegheny County, 21 and Able at or megan.grabski@uwac.org 2

3 Introduction 21 and Able was established to ensure that young adults with disabilities have better options for a successful transition into adulthood. Its goal is to coordinate a systemic roadmap for young adults with disabilities, with pathways that involve families, the community, agencies and the business community in the development and implementation of effective practices leading to change. The initiative engages business and human services leaders, disabilities service providers, legislators, and young adults with disabilities, and their families across Allegheny County, working together toward the long-term outcome of improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families via three strategies: 1. Development of a public policy agenda and coordination of advocacy efforts with local, state and national partners to ensure meaningful and productive systems change; 2. Creation of public awareness campaigns that draw attention to the urgency of issues related to successful transition into adulthood; and, 3. Design and launch of pilot projects that address the needs of young adults with disabilities and their families. This Request for Application furthers the third strategy above by expanding a successful career transition project with 3-5 new companies. Statement of Need After years of in-school support, young adults with disabilities and their families too frequently find themselves in dire straights when those supports are withdrawn. This is particularly true of obstacles to employment. According to the American Community Survey (U.S. Census), approximately 20% of young adults with disabilities in Allegheny County who consider themselves in the workforce are unemployed; and another 40% of young adults with disabilities exit high school with no employment or post secondary education, training, and/or plans to access employment or training. Case management and other services for this population are in short supply. Although 24% of all people covered by Medicaid in Pennsylvania have a disability, this assistance is not available to every eligible person with a disability: for example, more than 14,000 people with intellectual disabilities are awaiting Medicaid home and community-based services. Most young adults with disabilities can receive a small social security benefit; however, that amount is often inadequate to cover living expenses and is grossly insufficient to cover the cost of the services and supports needed to access and succeed in the workforce. Consequently, according to US Census data, nearly 28% of individuals with disabilities live in poverty the highest poverty rate experienced by any identified group. 3

4 The 1. Project rationale and design: The goal of The is to increase employment opportunities for young adults with disabilities (18-29 years of age) and to provide ongoing support to those employees with disabilities in select Allegheny County companies through the employment-related services of an embedded Career Transition Professional (CTP). The County of Allegheny is the employer for this Request for Application. All specific references to the company in this Request for Application refer to The County of Allegheny. An embedded CTP is a non-traditional job coach whose role is to offer targeted employment support within the company s human resources and training structures. The embedded CTP model in this Project is based upon the following assumptions: Many young adults with disabilities have the desire and the aptitude for employment, but lack both necessary preparation and supportive work environments. Work environments must change to become more supportive of those with disabilities if unemployment among individuals with disabilities is going to decrease. Companies can understand the benefits and challenges of employing individuals with disabilities, and desire to create more supportive work environments. More companies will engage in the creation of supportive work environments if they can do so by building on a well-vetted model. Essential components of a supportive work environment include: onsite job training from a skilled professional; ongoing attention to training and work environment issues; and a supportive company culture. Individuals with disabilities and their co-workers without disabilities have a stake in each others performance capacity, and are partners in their mutual employment success. Human services agencies have specialized expertise, which is otherwise lacking in company cultures, to inform the creation of more supportive work environments for individuals with disabilities. They can effectively leverage that expertise by proposing a candidate for the embedded Career Transition Professional role and supervising his or her work. 4

5 In the context of this Project, the Career Transition Professional is tasked with the following responsibilities: To understand the business model, mission and culture of the company; To gain a detailed understanding of all jobs in the company, including responsibilities, tasks, and necessary qualifications; To support new learning for everyone involved in the employ of individuals with disabilities. This includes: o Educating supervisors and peer employees; o Training trainers to support and work more successfully with individuals with disabilities; o Scanning the company for new opportunities for employees with disabilities; o Supporting individual and universal accommodations for employees with disabilities; o Working as appropriate with a third party evaluator on the formative evaluation of the project. This model represents a departure from the current system, in which employment support is usually provided from outside the company environment; is usually accessed only when a problem arises; and does not attend to work environment issues within the company structure. This new model engages the business community in an innovative collaborative effort wherein human services providers can contribute to corporate cultures and actively join the business community in improving outcomes for people with disabilities. With its success, the model may be permanently adopted and replicated by other employers who understand its economic and social benefits. With this Request for Application, United Way is seeking proposals from human service agencies in Allegheny County with already established supported employment programs. The selected agency will have the opportunity to work with important community partners to achieve community level impact. United Way, with major support from a national grant from the Kessler Foundation, is committed to the this project s success and is investing the resources to invite and include a total of 3-5 Allegheny County companies and will work closely with these companies and the selected human services agencies throughout the project. In addition to United Way s leadership, the inaugural company on board through our two year pilot, Giant Eagle, will remain an advisor and champion of this important work as they have helped to formulate the model upon which all future work is based. The CTP will be selected from a pool of candidates proposed by applicant agencies and will work at the company, and will be transitioned seamlessly into the company s culture. It is important to note that for the duration of the project, the CTP will remain a salaried employee 5

6 of the partner agency, which will be responsible for administering all aspects of the Career Transition Professional s employment, including job supervision and in cooperation with a designated contact at the company a performance evaluation. The Career Transition Professional may have an option to be hired as an employee of the company at the conclusion of the two-year period, depending on outcomes and other factors at the discretion of the company and agreement of the agency and the Career Transition Professional. This Request for Application Process will be repeated as additional new companies (1-3 additional) join the. Each company will have a timeframe of two years from the date of hire of their Career Transition Professional. This is made possible by the Kessler Foundation. 2. Request for Application process: a. Timeline: Request for Application distributed via to United Way Partner Agencies/other job coach agencies Informational meeting for interested agencies at United Way, 1250 Penn Avenue (Strip District), Pittsburgh, PA (You must RSVP). The County of Allegheny will be present at this Informational Meeting Q&A from information session published on United Way website Proposals due Screening interviews conducted by panel comprised of company and/or United Way staff (to be considered, candidates MUST be available at designated times) Top three candidates referred to the company for second interview process Monday, December 14, 2015 (placed on uwac website Thursday 12/17/15) Friday, January 8, 2016 from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon Friday, January 15, 2016 Monday, January 25, 2016 by 5:00 p.m. Weeks of February 8 and 15, 2016 Week of February 22, 2016 Notification of selection Week of February 29, 2016 Career Transition Professional start date Week of March 14,

7 b. Budget Budget Period: Two Years from Start of Career Transition Professional Total Agency Request: $60,000/ year for two years A unique feature of this is that the project budget is set per the terms in the table below, and requires only that the participating agency abide by its provisions. These include a firm salary for the Career Transition Professional of at least $35,000 per year for each of the two years of the project. The Job Coach Agency Overhead and Supervision can be no more than the $11,000 stated below. A standard benefits package must be offered. The selected agency will receive information on expense documentation procedures at the time of notification of the award. AGENCY BUDGET Year One Year Two Salary $35,000 $35,000 Benefits $10,500 $10,500 Job Coach Agency Overhead & Supervision $11,000 $11,000 Travel $3,500 $3,500 Total Cost $60,000 $60,000 c. Application criteria In addition to the specific Proposal Questions and Requirements listed below, applicant agencies should address the following criteria in their proposals: Proposals should verify the applicant agency s competence and showcase its capacity in the area of supported employment programs for persons with disabilities. These factors establish the agency s capacity to supervise the Career Transition Professional, but it should be stressed that the final selection will be based on the qualifications of the 7

8 candidates and not of the agency recommending them. For this reason, agencies should propose only their best and brightest employees for this position. Proposals should put forth no more than three (3) highly qualified candidates for the position of Career Transition Professional, with resume(s) and rationale for the agency s selection of the candidate(s). Proposed candidates must be current employees of the applicant agency. In addition to a history of successful outcomes in their efforts to help individuals with disabilities secure employment, Career Transition Professional candidates should have demonstrated competencies in: training; assessing employment-related processes and accommodations; written and oral communication; interviewing; creating collaborative relationships within and across systems (including but not limited to relationships with schools); experience working with young adults who have different types of and/or multiple disabilities (including individuals with sensory challenges); developing and maintaining successful working relationships with businesses; and developing and maintaining rapport with clients. Proficiency in ASL is a plus. Agencies that conduct business in multiple counties and/or multiple states are encouraged to share their focus areas. It is the proposing agency s responsibility to recruit each Career Transition Professional candidate, confirm that s/he possesses all relevant qualifications, thoroughly explain all aspects of the job, ascertain that the candidate is willing to accept the position if it is offered, and verify that the candidate has no job-related impediments to fulfilling the job s requirements. Due to the nature of the position, the proposed candidate must possess a high comfort level in a corporate environment and have demonstrated capabilities in Human Resources and/or Social and Community work focused on case management, lifecoaching, strategic employer relations, and job development. [A complete Job Description, including job responsibilities and qualifications, is attached to this Request for Application as Appendix A.] This position will interface with senior company personnel as well as line staff; the selected candidate will demonstrate the ability to manage up as well as down. Because this project aims to affect system change while refining the role of Career Transition Professional, this position requires a self-generating entrepreneurial candidate with the ability to think creatively, strategically and systemically. The selected candidate will demonstrate the courage and ability to tackle difficult and/or sensitive 8

9 issues related to employee behavior and corporate policy/culture with professionalism, clarity, tact and effectiveness. 4. Proposal Questions a. In up to three pages maximum, please describe your agency s mission, goals, strategies, and successes (agency must have and provide their 501c3 designation form). b. Describe your agency s depth of experience and competencies in the area of job coaching for young adults with disabilities. c. What population(s) does your agency serve? Specify numbers of persons served, their various types of disabilities, and numbers of young adults served. d. Describe your candidate(s) for the Career Transition Professional role with particular attention to the qualities described above and the requirements of the Job Description. You may propose up to three candidates for one position. e. Share several anecdotes about each candidate s skills and abilities in working with individuals with multiple disabilities and in creating networks within and across systems. f. Attach each candidate s resume, which must include contact information, a chronological work history, a brief outline of responsibilities in each position held, educational attainment, and professional certifications/licenses. g. Who will be supervising your candidate, if s/he is selected? What is this person s current employment relationship with the candidate? h. Does your agency employ any innovative strategies that are transferrable to the work of the Career Transition Professional? i. Does your agency conduct business in more than one county/state? If yes, please list locations. 9

10 Cover Sheet: Cover Page Address: Website: Executive Director: Phone Number: Primary contact name: Phone number: 10

11 11 Budget Information (your current agency budget with proposed project budget) 11

12 12 Evaluation Participation and Photo Agreement [Name of Agency] agrees to comply with all evaluation requirements if its candidate is selected as Career Transition Professional for the. United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania (United Way of Allegheny County) will decide upon the specific elements of this evaluation in consultation with the agency awardee. An independent evaluator will assess the success of the project with input from participating organizations, and give recommendations for improvement. Participating organizations will not bear the costs associated with implementing the evaluation components. I understand that the evaluation information may be shared broadly to inform the replication of this project. I also understand that the dissemination strategy will not include any identifying information for specific participants. Our agency agrees to authorize use of photographs taken of the Career Transition Professional by affiliates of United Way and/or Kessler Foundation for use in United Way and/or Kessler Foundation publications, including but not limited to printed and digital publications and communications. The agency is responsible for obtaining releases and the privacy protection of the individuals they serve. Program Director (or other person responsible for implementing this project) Date Agency Executive Director Date 12

13 13 APPENDIX A CAREER TRANSITION PROFESSIONAL JOB DESCRIPTION JOB SUMMARY: The Career Transition Professional (CTP) increases employment opportunities for targeted young adults with disabilities and provides ongoing support to all Company employees with disabilities through provision of employment-related services. The CTP works closely with school systems, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and other collaborators to recruit young adults who are interested in employment, and maintains relationships/communication with Company staff, prospective employees, and outside agencies to achieve effective transition to the workplace. RESPONSIBILITES: The Career Transition Professional provides employment services to include the following activities: - Contacts collaborating agencies to develop and maintain relationships leading to referrals of young adults for employment program - Conducts training sessions/resource fairs related to employment program with collaborating agencies when/if appropriate - Reviews current job openings at the Company and communicates directly with specific personnel to determine current needs of identified position(s) - Informs young adults and other appropriate parties of available identified positions and provides application information - Assists with pre-employment activities to include application assistance and preparation for job interviews as needed - Confirms submitted application to appropriate company personnel - Maintains communication with appropriate parties to determine outcome of interview - Contacts appropriate collaborating agencies to coordinate services to facilitate successful placement (including state and non-profit agencies such as Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Office of Intellectual Disabilities as appropriate) regarding necessary supports - Meets with referred young adults to identify preparedness for employment, appropriate skill-based placement positions and location(s), and to assess potential employment support needs - Observes a new employee orientation and partners with the Company management to gain knowledge and understanding of employment policies - Attends and assists with on-boarding and orientation as needed 13

14 14 - Provides job coaching/employment support, as appropriate and if and when needed, to facilitate successful learning of job tasks in conjunction with appropriate company personnel - Maintains follow up, company and support systems to assess progress and satisfaction with employment - Facilitates a training program for existing Company staff to provide a general understanding of the Career Transition Professional s role and scope, and a broad overview of the nature of disabilities and issues related to disabilities - Maintains contact with appropriate transition personnel, during employment and provides supports by giving feedback on any issues necessary for successful on-going placement - Creates and specifies the design for checkpoints with the Company leadership team for client evaluation and assessment - Assists Company staff on implementation of methods to intervene if an individual with a disability requires assistance - Creates a culture of inclusion and universal design within the Company - Conducts evaluation of effectiveness of as required - Provides assistance, as requested, to recruiters and Company on effective strategies of working with candidates with disabilities - Participates in scheduled Team meetings to update progress made QUALIFICATIONS: - Knowledge of variety of disabilities and their potential impact on work performance in various positions and environments - Organizational skills to manage a varying caseload independently - Creates and manages record keeping with a provided data collection tool (in Excel) - Ability to self-schedule daily activities to promote program goals - Must be results-orientated, self-motivated, and able to motivate and inspire others; works with little supervision - Verbal and written communication skills to relate effectively with all parties involved in the job placement and retention processes - Manual and mechanical skills to assist and/or work with new employees (i.e. Job Coaching) to facilitate learning of job tasks and procedures - Computer skills to include MS Office - Knowledge of behavioral management techniques and the ability to utilize these techniques effectively - Well-developed interpersonal and relationship building skills, particularly the ability to establish and maintain rapport with the Company personnel and other systems related to scope of work - Must be able to travel to multiple locations including the Company location(s), agencies, etc. Access to reliable motor vehicle is essential 14

15 15 EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE and CREDENTIALS: The ideal candidate will have demonstrated capabilities in human resources and/or social and community work specifically with individuals with disabilities. Work experience should focus on case management, employment support, life-coaching, strategic employer relations and job development. Certification in American Sign Language (ASL) is an asset. Required experience includes: - Varied and relevant work experience and knowledge of community resources, labor market and employment services available to individuals facing employment barriers - Experience in adult educational instruction and/or workshop delivery Other required experience and academic credentials: - Post-secondary diploma or degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Human Resources, Adult Education, Psychology, Career and Work Counseling, or a related discipline coupled with a minimum of 2 years related experience including sales/marketing, file management, recruitment and job coaching END 15