Kevin Nickerson, Technical Assistance Team National Disability Institute June 2014

1. Using American Job Centers to Support Ticket Holders: Are ENs Engaging with AJC’s?Operations Support ManagerSocial Security’s Ticket to Work program Kevin Nickerson, Technical Assistance Team National Disability Institute June 2014

2. Learning Objectives • Identify American Job Center (AJC) Resources • Explore AJC Staffing – Who you should get to know • History in serving people with disabilities • Discuss partnering with AJCs in your area • Identify next steps • Use of SAM and National Labor Exchange to identify Federal Contractors by region • Provide links to additional resources

3. Overview: American Job Centers • AJC’s are located across the country, and provide a variety of services to employers, and ALL job seekers, including individuals with disabilities • AJC’s provide many customer focused employment services, such as: • Workshops (Examples: Job Search, Interviewing, Basic Computer Skills, SSA Work Incentives, etc.) • Training funds, known as Individual Training Accounts (ITA, based on eligibility) • Resume development • Labor Exchange system – Electronic matching of job seekers with employers • On-the-job Training funds (also based on eligibility) • Labor Market Information • Employer connections and more To find a local AJC, use the AJC Locator: http://www.servicelocator.org/

4. AJC Staffing Structure At-a-Glance • Business Service Representative (BSR) or BSR Team -This staff is the AJC single point of contact for businesses • WIA Case Manager – Oversees the services of customers enrolled in intensive case management services and/ or short-term training • Employment Counselor – Most offices have a staff member who is able to assist a customer in developing a career path through use of assessments, which is also helpful for Ticket Holders who may be entering the workforce for the first time or require a change in career. • Targeted Populations – Most offices will have staff dedicated to serving customers with specific needs, such as: • Veterans Representative • Older Worker program • Disability Resource Coordinators (located in pilot regions of states receive DOL Disability Employment Initiative grants) 4

5. AJC History: Serving Customers with Disabilities • USDOL has supported the expansion of services for customers with disabilities through targeted initiatives, since the inception of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 • Disability Program Navigator Initiative (DPN) – 2003-2010 • Designed primarily to impact system change • More information: https://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001103676712177340/info • Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) – 2010 - present • Builds on lessons learned from DPN to further promote integrated services for individuals with disabilities, PLUS requires State DEI pilot sites to operate as Employment Networks (EN) • Must hire Disability Resource Coordinator at pilot sites • Funding provided for three years

6. Disability Employment Initiative Since 2010, there have been four rounds of funded grantees covering a total of 26 states: • Round 1 (2010-2013): Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Virginia • Round 2 (2011-2014):  California, Hawaii, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin • Round 3 (2012-2015):  Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Rhode Island • Round 4 (2013-2016):Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, New York, and Virginia DOL is in the process of publishing a solicitation to fund a fifth round of grantees. More information: https://disability.workforce3one.org/page/tag/dei_project

8. Discussion Opportunity • AJC services include listing customers in a statewide database, including job matching services to qualified candidates once registered. Questions for consideration: • Are ENs registering all Ticket Holders for AJC services? • What has been your experience in assisting Ticket Holders in utilizing AJC services?

9. Partnering with AJCs – EN Operations • What if both AJC and Community Based Organization (CBO) are ENs? • Understand the history of the AJC in serving customers with disabilities • This will require a shared vision and an alliance that draws upon the collective skills and resources of both the AJC and CBO (i.e. work incentive counseling, training, etc.) • This will require specific agreements with the AJC, likely in the form of written agreements • Revenue sharing will need to be clearly spelled out in this arrangement, as well as the timing of Ticket assignments and unassignments • It is possible that revenue will support the shared vision of the CBO and AJC (i.e. to maintain disability expertise in the AJC)

10. Next Steps in Partnering with AJCs Develop a process for referrals, both to the AJC, and to CBO, if not already established Develop relationships with AJC management (Center Manager, and WIB Director) – Discuss best processes for accessing job leads from Business Services Representative, or Team Explore EN partnership, either formal or informal, with AJCs NOTE: Remember that certain AJCs will not be familiar with the Ticket program and EN operations – It is also possible some will not be familiar with Section 503 amendments SOLUTION: Be prepared to offer your elevator speech on the Ticket program and the role of ENs and on Section 503 when discussing these issues with those who are unfamiliar 10

11. Discussion Opportunity We’ve talked a number of times about partnering with AJCs, and provided examples of some of these partnerships. Questions for consideration: • Have you identified the AJCs located in your service delivery area? • Has your EN been accessing the supports of the AJCs for your Ticket customers? • Have you connected with AJC manager and/or Business Service Representative and/or Team? (contact info usually listed on website) • Are there examples of functional partnerships with local AJCs, including shared revenue arrangements? • Are there examples of accessing job leads and/or utilizing services for Ticket Holders you are serving? • Are there examples of progress and/or experiences with these kinds of partnerships anyone would like to share?

12. System for Award Management (SAM) • What is SAM? • The System for Award Management (SAM) was created to combine Federal procurement systems and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance into one new system - This consolidation is being done in phases. • So what does this really mean? • This is where Federal contractors must register when “doing business” with the government, just as ENs need to do, in order to be paid • This site can also be used to search for Federal contractors within a geographic region • Where do I find it? • https://www.sam.gov

13. Using System for Award Management for Geographic Search of Federal Contractors

14. Using Advanced Search - SAM

15. Example of Geographic and Entity Type Search, Ithaca NY

16. National Labor Exchange (NLX) • The National Labor Exchange (NLX) is a sophisticated electronic labor-exchange network, created in 2007 in a partnership agreement between National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) and Direct Employers Association. Facts: • The NLX allows state job banks to seamlessly receive and exchange job openings collected by either state agency staff or DirectEmployers technology • All job openings are unduplicated, currently available and from vetted employers • The NLX collects and distributes job openings exclusively found on corporate career websites and state job banks. The NLX does not spider third party sites, job boards, etc., to avoid duplication and expired links and provide a better user experience and employment outcomes • Job feeds are refreshed and shared with states daily. The previous day's file is eliminated and replaced with a new one – ensuring currency of jobs NOTE: Facts taken from NASWA website. Home page for National Labor Exchange can be found at: http://www.jobcentral.com/

17. Labor Exchange Search

18. Examining Job Listings from Search Basic search using “Federal Contractor” and geographic location often yields search results that help you find local Federal contractors

19. Additional Resources: Have a question? Check these sites. • To review the Final Report on the Disability Program Navigator Initiative: https://disability.workforce3one.org/view/2001103676712177340/info • For more information about DEI: https://disability.workforce3one.org/page/tag/dei_project • To learn more about education and training options available through America’s Job Centers, see: http://www.doleta.gov/business/TrainingEducation.cfm • National Labor Exchange: http://us.jobs/national-labor-exchange.asp • System for Award Management, Advanced Search: • click here

20. Thank you! CONTACT INFORMATION: Kevin Nickerson Ticket to Work Subject Matter Expert National Disability Institute 1667 K Street, NW - Suite 640Washington, DC 20006 Ithaca Office: 607.589.7651 Email: knickerson@ndi-inc.org