Volume 10, Number 2
Governor Signs Executive Order Promoting Employment of People with Disabilities
By Mary Ellen O'Brien Wright, Working Healthy Senior Manager
On August 26th, Governor Mark Parkinson signed Executive Order 10-10, calling upon state agencies to assume the lead in promoting competitive and integrated employment of youth and adults with disabilities “to help ensure Kansans with disabilities thrive in the workplace and in the community.” In the Executive Order, Governor Parkinson directs state agencies to develop a shared employment vision and mission statement for Kansas, ensure that state and strategic plans, mission and vision statements are consistent with employment as a first option, identify and revise policies and procedures that are a disincentive to employment, implement changes necessary to coordinate employment programs across agencies, determine methods for obtaining employment data, and report progress annually to the Governor.
The signing of the Executive Order is a culmination of a four-year effort that began during the process of developing a Strategic Plan to Support the Competitive Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, led by Working Healthy staff and Advisory Council, and later supported by the Kansas Employment First initiative. Based on the input of individuals with disabilities, advocates, and other stakeholders, Goal I of the Strategic Plan, included the following:
"Currently, there is no clear vision or mission regarding employment of people with disabilities in Kansas. Several state agencies bear a major responsibility for the employment of people with disabilities, while others have a peripheral role. No central body exists however, that is responsible for establishing employment goals in Kansas, determining the number of people with disabilities who are employed and unemployed, ensuring that employment initiatives are coordinated across state agencies, that these initiatives result in increased numbers of people becoming employed, and resources are allocated to the best advantage. In order for a comprehensive employment initiative to be successful, it will be crucial for state programs to establish a shared vision for employment of people with disabilities and for a coordination of efforts with the goal of eventually achieving that vision. Ideally, to ensure participation and accountability, this initiative should be carried out under the auspices of the Governor."
Individuals with disabilities, their families and other stakeholders are encouraged to continue to provide input as state agencies move forward on this very important initiative.
Meet Jolynn, Our Newest Benefits Specialist
Jolynn Foltz joined the Working Healthy team on July 5, 2010 as a Benefits Specialist serving the Northeast region of the state including Republic, Cloud, Ottawa, Saline, Washington, Clay, Dickinson, Marshall, Riley, Geary, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, Brown, Jackson, Shawnee, Doniphan, Atchison and Jefferson counties. Jolynn is based in the Topeka SRS Service Center and looks forward to traveling Northeast Kansas, working with customers and promoting Working Healthy. Prior to Working Healthy, she determined eligibility for Medicaid (including Working Healthy), Food Assistance, and General Assistance. Her knowledge and experience are valuable
additions to our team. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running, boating, and watching Iowa Hawkeye football. Jolynn may be reached by phone at 785-296-5816 or by e-mail to Jolynn.Foltz@srs. ks.gov. Please join us in welcoming Jolynn to Working Healthy.
Benefits Specialist Corner
This issue features Working Healthy Benefits Specialist Sherri Sherman. Sherri covers the Northwest portion of the state including Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Norton, Phillips, Smith, Jewell, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Rooks, Osborne, Mitchell, Wallace, Logan, Gove, Trego, Ellis, Russell, Lincoln, Rush, Barton, Ellsworth, and Pawnee counties. She can be reached by phone at 785-628-1066 ext. 268 or by emailing Sherri.Sherman@ srs.ks.gov.
As I approach the beginning of my 8th year as a Benefits Specialist for Working Healthy, I realize how lucky I am to be a part of such a knowledgeable and caring team. Numerous changes have occurred during the last 8 years. Some of my fellow Benefits Specialists are no longer with Working Healthy due to moving out of Kansas or taking different jobs. They were all talented, professional and passionate individuals. However, as new Benefits Specialists were hired, we found that each brought their own unique talents, skills and ideas to our team.
Our WORK program duties became so time consuming that KHPA began looking for another agency to take over the premium billing in 2007. KATCO became that agency and continued through June 2009. Beginning in July 2009, HP Enterprise Systems (formerly EDS) began doing the premium billing for Working Healthy. With HP doing billing, consumers can now choose from the following how they will pay their monthly premiums:
• Mail a check or money order to a post office box in Dallas, TX
• Manage Working Healthy premium bills on the Internet
• Set-up recurring automatic payments
• Make immediate payments online or over the phone
• Pay using drafts from a checking or savings account.
Although no longer handling premiums, KATCO remains our fiscal agent for the nearly 200 WORK participants. They continue to work with budgets and payroll to ensure that the program runs smoothly. One of our most recent changes or additions involves the “Think Beyond the Label” media campaign. In February 2010, Working Healthy, along with nearly 30 other Medicaid Infrastructure Grantd states (MIGs), rolled out a national media campaign that targets employers, encouraging them to hire people with disabilities. Hopefully, you have seen the campaign in major print, television, and online media outlets. If not, please visit the Think Beyond the Label website. I remain inspired and encouraged by my interactions with individuals who are able to improve their quality of life through participating in Working Healthy and WORK.
-Sherri Sherman, Benefits Specialists, Hays
Independent Living Counselors' Training
By Nancy Scott, WORK Program Manager
On November 1st we will see the availability of the WORK Independent Living Counselor’s on-line training. This training was long-awaited and will soon be found on the KS-Train website. The training will be one of the requirements for individual case managers who wish to provide WORK Independent Living Counseling. The training is comprised of three modules: 1) Independent Living History and Philosophy, 2) Self-direction training, and 3) Overview of Working Healthy and WORK. We are setting a deadline for March 1, 2011 for current Independent Living Counselors to have completed the training.
New Faces Provide Support for WORK Assessments
By Nancy Scott, WORK Program Manager
Bcause of program growth, the decision was made to add an agency to assist in the assessments for Work Opportunities Reward Kansans (WORK) and re-assessments. On August 1, the WORK program added some new faces to provide these assessments and re-assessments in the western half of Kansas. Disability Planning Organization of Kansas (DPOK) is a Community Developmental Disability Organization (CDDO) that has done assessments for the Developmental Disability waiver program and is skilled in that assessment process. DPOK is closely tied to Independent Connections/OCCK and has the Independent Living philosophy, values and beliefs that are such an important part of the WORK program. WORK participants in the eastern part of the state (from Manhattan and west) will still be assessed and re-assessed by staff from Independence, Inc. in Lawrence. We appreciate the great efforts the WORK assessors have provided to program participants.
Working Healthy is published quarterly by the University of Kansas CRL, Division of Adult Studies and the Kansas Health Policy Authority. Additional copies and copies in alternate formats are available upon request by writing the University of Kansas Division of Adult Studies, Attn: Noelle, 1122 West Campus Rd.. JRP Hall Rm. 517, Lawrence, KS 66045, by phone 785-864-7085, by emailing: pixie@ku.edu
KU Research Team:
Jean P. Hall, Principal Investigator
Michael Fox, Co-Principal Investigator
Noelle K. Kurth, Project Coordinator and Editor
Shawna Carroll & Emily Fall, Graduate Research Assistant
Emily Tonsfeldt, Student Assistant
Kansas Health Policy Authority:
Mary Ellen O'Brien Wright, Senior Manager
Nancy Scott, WORK Program Manager
Steve Curtis, Benefits Specialist Team Leader
Many people with disabilities want to work but worry that doing so could jeopardize their vital health and long term care coverage. Working Healthy offers people with disabilities who are working or interested in working the opportunity to get or keep Medicaid coverage while on the job. Through Working Healthy people can earn more, save more, achieve their career goals, and still maintain their health coverage.
Working Healthy is a Medicaid program. To qualify for this program, a person must:
- Have a disability determined by Social Security;
- Be no younger than 16 and no older than 64;
- Be employed;
- Have total income of less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level;
- Not be receiving Home and Community Based Services;
- Not be living in a nursing facility; and
- Have resources that are less than $15,000.