Oregon Developmental Disabilities Services in the News:
An Executive Order by Governor Kitzhaber is the next step in Oregon’s ongoing commitment to integrated employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and aligns with work already underway to implement Oregon’s Employment First policy. The Executive Order is posted online at: http://www.oregon.gov/gov/docs/executive_orders/eo_13-04.pdf
Oregon is a leader in providing supported employment services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in community residential settings and has set an example for other states by demonstrating its express commitment to the benefits of transitioning individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities into integrated, community residential settings.
Mike Maley has been appointed as the statewide Employment First Coordinator to oversee and coordinate the Department's employment services program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mike will be responsible for implementation of Oregon's Employment First policy, including all activities required by the Governor's Executive Order. He will be working with designated Office of Developmental Disabilities, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Oregon Department of Education staff to advance specific strategies to expand access to supported employment services, including all necessary planning and policy changes, training and technical assistance for providers, expansion of service capacity and development of quality assurance mechanisms, such as a centralized data system and monitoring.
He will also work with the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities, State Rehabilitation Council, State Independent Living Council, legislators and stakeholders to create a policy advisory group to make recommendations to the Governor and other officials about the implementation of Oregon’s Employment First policy, including recommendations on metrics designed to monitor performance.
In order to realize the vision of the Executive Order, the state will partner with a variety of stakeholders to develop a plan for successful implementation, and a major part of this plan will include statewide outreach and conversation with key partners.
The implementation plan will include:
· Developing strong inter-agency coordination between the Department of Education, the Department of Human Services and Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities to promote the development of coordinated policies and practices that are grounded in the expectations of Employment First.
· Developing strong coordination with the disability and workforce systems to ensure they leverage their efforts to benefit employers and job seekers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We will work with these systems to create more opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.
· Strengthening training to assist providers in developing the skills to make the shift from sheltered to competitive employment. Focusing on efforts to build needed capacity, we will work to assist providers of sheltered workshops to transform operations toward integrated employment and develop local Employment First Leadership teams in Oregon communities.
· Providing local communities with the resources and tools to make Employment First successful, through training and other technical assistance activities.
Mental Health Stigma and Prejudice Strong Around the World, Study Says
Although mental health awareness and understanding are high in countries around the world, stigma and discrimination are still prevalent.
By Laurie Sue Brockway, Everyday Health Staff Writer
Click below for the article:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/mental-health-stigma-and-prejudice-strong-around-the-world-8505.aspx
TOP DEMOCRATS DIFFER ON ENDING SUBMINIMUM WAGE FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/14697/top_democrats_differ_on_ending_subminimum_wage_for_workers_disabilities/
SAMHSA’s Report to Congress on the Nation’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Workforce Issues. A copy of the report can be found here: http://store.samhsa.gov/product/PEP13-RTC-BHWORK.
This report provides data on issues facing the behavioral health workforce as requested by Congress as well as information on SAMHSA’s and HRSA’s programs and activities. Questions regarding this report or SAMHSA’s Workforce efforts may be directed to Miriam Delphin-Rittmon via e-mail at: miriam.delphin-rittmon@samhsa.hhs.gov or (240) 276-2332. For questions regarding HRSA’s Workforce efforts, please feel free to contact Mariquita Mullan via e-mail at: Mariquita.mullan@hrsa.hhs.gov or (301) 443-6758.
Current Medicaid Population in the SAMHSA report is an underestimate:
CMS provides an alternate source for this information at: http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-State/By-State.html Totals in this source are the sum of Medicaid + CHIP.
CHIP enrollment by State is at: http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Childrens-Health-Insurance-Program-CHIP/Downloads/2010_enrollment_datapdf.pdf. This second source also presents Medicaid enrollment (excluding CHIP), as well as Medicaid + CHIP Totals.