Text of Jennings Economic Empowerment Presentation
Intro Slide 1 : New York Makes Work Pay Logo
Slide 2: Welcome to NYMWP Topical Training Session on Economic Empowerment and Financial Stability
Slide 3: Today’s Goals
• Increase your understanding of economic empowerment
– What is economic empowerment
– Why is it important to individuals with disabilities
– Review the work underway in New York state to identify and test economic empowerment strategies
• Learn how Buffalo is integrating the local disability community with the work of the larger prosperity coalition
• Identify opportunities to learn more
Slide 4: Presenters
• Elizabeth Jennings - Syracuse University Burton Blatt Institute
• Kevin Nickerson – Challenge, Inc.
• Melody Marchese - Belmont Housing Resources For WNY
• Todd Vaargeck – Western New York Independent Living
• Debbie Lawniczak – AmeriCorps Member - NY Self Advocacy Assn.
Facilitator
Mary Shaheen – United Way of New York State
Slide 5: Goal 6
Create linkages for New Yorkers with Disabilities to employment at livable wages through increased access to work incentives planning, health care and asset accumulation tools and strategies.
Slide 6: NYMWP Components that support Goal 6
• Economic Empowerment (Asset Accumulation)
• Work Incentive Information Network (WIIN)
• Medicaid Buy-In
• Customized Employment
• Entrepreneurship
Slide 7:
Under Goal 6, we look to Economic Empowerment as a path to increased employment and financial stability.
Slide 8:
Under multiple Federal guidelines, we also look to economic empowerment and financial stability…….
Slide 9:
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Olmstead Decision
• GAO Perspective
• CMS (Disables and Elderly Health Programs Group - DEHPG) Strategic Action Plan 2007-2009
• Statistical Perspective
Slide 10: The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
The Nation’s proper goals regarding individuals with disabilities are to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for such individuals;
42 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(8) (2005)
Slide 11: Olmstead Integration Mandate (1999)
• Improve availability of community-based living options with needed long-term supports
• Rebalance public resources
• Improve consumer self-direction
• Improve community participation
Slide 12: Government Accountability Office (GAO)
• Agencies and programs generally operate independently of one another;
• Difficulty communicating and coordinating with other programs serving individuals with disabilities (2005);
• A myriad of policies and procedures from other systems that do not work in concert with one another (2007);
• Fragmentation of federal disability programs;
• Patchwork of federal policy and program initiatives;
• Defining and articulating a common outcome will enhance and sustain collaboration among federal agencies (2008).
Slide 13: CMS Strategic Action Plan (2007-2009)
• Person-centered long-term support system
• Respect choice and state flexibility
• Provide individuals the tools they need to lead self-determined lives
• Support economic self-sufficiency initiatives
Slide 14:
“Historically, public assistance in exchange for enforced poverty and the absence of freedom is a bad deal - one that fails all parties to the arrangement; people with disabilities, their families, and the American people.”
(From: President’s Committee for Intellectual Disabilities: 2004 Report to the President)
Slide 15: WHERE WE STARTED
Slide 16:
• Nationally, in 2008, 25.3% of people with disabilities have an income that falls below the federal poverty level compared to 9.6% of people without a disability.
• In New York, 27.9% of people with disabilities have an income that falls below the federal poverty level compared to 9.8% of people without a disability.
Source: Erickson, W. Lee, C., & von Schrader, S. (2010). 2008 Disability Status Report: New York. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics. www.disabilitystatistics.org
Slide 17: Poverty
• Lack of money is a serious problem among 68% of people with disabilities:
– 39% of people with disabilities say that the lack of financial resources is the most serious problem they face. (NOD/Harris Survey 2000 and 2004)
• Public assistance represents 59% of the total income of people with significant disabilities and only 8% of the total income of people who have no disability. (Harris Survey 2002)
• Less than 10% of people with disabilities own their own homes compared with 70% of Americans with no disabilities.
Slide 18: Disability and Poverty
• People with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed and to live in poverty than any other single demographic group in the United States today.
• Public benefit programs for people with disabilities, especially Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are not aimed at increasing assets and independence for people with disabilities.
• More so then any other population on a fixed income, services and policies do not hold the expectation of economic self-sufficiency.
Slide 19:
• For millions of working age adults with disabilities a dependence on public benefits for income, health care, food, and housing becomes a trap that requires staying poor to stay eligible
Slide 20:
Under Goal 6, we look to Economic Empowerment as a path to increased employment and financial stability.
Slide 21: Economic Empowerment, What is it?
• Economic Empowerment is a series of strategies that has the potential to:
– help people with disabilities improve their economic stability,
– decrease stress and financial crisis in an individual’s life
– increase motivation to work and earn
– expand opportunities for community participation, and
– positively impact an individual’s quality of life experience.
Slide 22: Economic Empowerment is Also Defined by Human Capital
• Education
• Work Experience
Slide 23: Strategies
(Boxes are used to group lists of related strategies)
· Box 1:
o Financial Literacy
o Budgeting
o Credit Repair
· Box 2:
o Employment
o Use of work incentives
o Use of tax incentives
o Earned Income Tax Credit
· Box 3:
o Medicaid for Working People
· Box 4:
o Family Self-Sufficiency Programs
o Individual Development Accounts
o Assistive Technology Loan Funds
o Student Loans
o Retirement Accounts
· Box 5:
o Post-secondary education
o Self-employment
o Micro-Enterprise
o Home Ownership
· Box 6:
o Protection and Advocacy, Taxpayer Advocates, Credit Counseling
o Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, WIIN Members, WIPA
Slide 24: Economic Empowerment, Why is it important?
• The presence of a disability and the need to maintain a public benefit should not require one to forfeit their economic stability and live in poverty. Without knowledge, guidance and encouragement, individuals are not empowered to earn, learn, save and build.
• To a person with a disability, saving money and developing assets will produce choices that directly impact their quality of life, especially regarding:
o mental and physical health
o positive self-concept and level of community participation
o expectations and status with other community stakeholders
Slide 25:
• There is no single strategy or solution that will overcome multiple barriers to advance greater self-sufficiency for persons with significant disabilities.
Slide 26: Economic Empowerment, Financial Stability and New York Makes Work Pay
Slide 27: 2009 – 6 NY Communities Engaged
Communities were engaged through United Way of New York State.
Local United Ways led the initiatives with a designated Disability Partner.
• Albany, NY – United Way of the Greater Capitol Region / Wildwood Programs, Inc.
• Buffalo, NY – United Way of Buffalo / Western NY Independent Living, Inc.
• Ithaca, NY – United Way of Tompkins County / Challenge
• Rochester, NY – United Way of Rochester / Empire Justice Center
• Utica, NY – United Way of the Valley & Greater Utica Area / Resource Ctr. for Independent Living
• Wellsville, NY - United Way of Allegany County / Allegany ARC
Slide 28: Agreements with Communities
• Each community applied to create new partnerships and identified a disability partner at the onset.
• Each community set three goals that would increase the economic empowerment of local individuals with disabilities.
• Each community set a target of a 10% increase within at least one defined strategy.
Slide 29: Strategies
Image: a circle labeled “Empowering communities.” This circle is surrounded by smaller circles, connected by lines, each with a strategy listed, as follows:
· Asset summits
· Disability workgroup
· affordable financial services
· Financial Education
· Access work initiatives
· Access Tax Benefits
· Savings Options.
Slide 30:
Slide 31:
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Slide 33:
Slide 34: 2009 Outcomes
Collectively, the six grantees reported that 25% of their VITA clients (or slightly more than 6,200 people) had a disability or a family member with a disability.
Let’s also look at:
• Other asset development activities offered
• Lessons learned
Slide 35: 2009 Other asset development activities offered
• Eight presentations on free tax preparation, financial education and IDAs, presented by Buffalo CASH and their disability partners, targeted to persons with a disability, for 215 participants.
• Four new IDA accountholders with disabilities in Buffalo.
• Financial fairs, financial education workshops, bank account openings at VITA sites, lunch and learn session on EITC and other tax credits were offered by CA$H of the Capital Region.
• Benefits Advisement Training with a focus on Plans for Achieving Self Support for individuals receiving SSI or SSDI is being offered at various locations in Allegany County.
• Disability Awareness Training has been provided in Utica and Tompkins County for VITA volunteers, 2-1-1 call takers and United Way staff.
• In Rochester 63 VITA clients with disabilities used a portion of their tax refunds to purchase savings bonds; 1126 used direct deposit for their refunds and 52 of those used a CFR prepaid card,
Slide 36: 2009 Lessons Learned
• Broader coalitions achieve bigger results, create better opportunities and expand the pool of volunteers.
• Volunteer recruitment and training needs to be done early and training needs to be enhanced so they are better able to address the specific situations that affect persons with disabilities.
• 2-1-1 works – making it easier for individuals to find and schedule appointments at local VITA sites.
• Having the Asset Committee and Disability Initiative Committee working together produced positive results.
• VITA sites need more information on area disability supports and services.
• Disability services organizations are interested in partnering with CASH; even serving as VITA sites.
• Workers with a disability do not always identify/consider themselves to be a person with a disability.
Slide 37: 2010 - Awarded 3 Mini-Grants to:
• support a local asset development summit
• expand EITC outreach to include the disability community
• increase involvement of disability related organizations and their leaders
• build the capacity of asset partners to serve individuals with disabilities
• create informational material and/or product that identifies local/regional availability of asset building/financial literacy services for individuals with disabilities
Slide 38:
• 2010 – Awarded 5 mini-grants to:
Developing an Accessible Path to Prosperity
• Elements of a path to prosperity
• Sample MOUs between agencies supporting individuals through the path
• Unique elements of each community’s plan
• Track the impact of the work.
Slide 39: Accessible Path to Prosperity
• Nationally, there are several initiatives to encourage the use of IDA’s amongst individuals with disabilities.
• Usage is still low and primarily undocumented.
• Defining the local ‘Path’ will allow us to:
o better understand any barriers that may exist
o systems changes that are needed to more fully support these efforts
o promising practices
Slide 40: Elements of an Accessible Path to Prosperity
Flowchart. The Elements are arranged in a circle, each pointing to the next and the last pointing back to the first. Elements listed are (from top):
o Increase Employment/Increase Earnings
o Access work supports/work incentives
o Access tax benefits
o Improve money management
o Save Money
o Build Assets
Slide 41: What we Plan to Measure
Slide 42: Why? What is Missing?
A bridge to connect existing programs to other organized efforts to advance community inclusion and self-sufficiency.
Slide 43: Braiding of Resources
• IDAs, PASS, Family Self-Sufficiency and Housing Choice Voucher, EITC, and start your own microenterprise.
• The possible pathways to advance economic independence are greatly expanded.
Slide 44: Braiding of Resources
• Knowledge is power!
• What happens when you use all of these tools and strategies to advance your economic independence?
Slide 45: Cash Buffalo Disability Committee Early Success: Year 2009
(Images of partner logos: CASH Buffalo, Western New York Independent Living, Inc, & Belmont Housing Resources for WNY)
Slide 46: Each Community was asked to:
Integrate the local disability community with current available asset building programs by:
1. Planning and executing a local Asset building summit;
2. Increasing tax time outreach (VITA/EITC) to workers with disabilities;
3. Showing a 10% increase in local asset building efforts.
Slide 47: Asset Building for Persons with Disabilities Summit:
Purpose: to bring the asset building and disability committee together for Collaboration of outreach and the identification of gaps and barriers for people with disabilities.
• Breakout Sessions Held: Employment, Income Supports, financial Education, and asset building and Home Ownership
• 60 participants completed and returned postcards indicating that they wanted to be involved in further projects in regards to Asset Building for people with Disabilities. A CASH Disability Committee was formulated as a result of the conference.
Slide 48: CASH Disability Committee
Current Active CASH Disability Committee Members:
• CASH: Lead Agency
• WNY Independent Living: Disability Partner
• Belmont Shelter: Asset Building Partner
Agencies Represented:
• WIPA: Neighborhood Legal Services
• Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers (Local VITA program)
• Headway of WNY, Restoration Society
• Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (West Seneca Developmental Disabilities Service Office)
• Social Security Administration
• NYS Self Advocacy Association
• First Niagara Bank
• IRS
• NYAPRS
• Goodwill of WNY
• People, Inc.
Slide 49: Strategies and Outreach:
• VITA sites were evaluated according to an Americans with Disabilities Act (Title III) checklist to certify accessibility.
• A workshop called “Making Work Pay” was presented at the 2009 Developmental Disabilities Day Conference
– Topics featured: Asset building, Financial Education, Work incentive programs and IDA programs.
– Piggy banks were provided to workshop attendees.
• A Special Tax preparation event was held at the monthly Self-Advocacy of NYS regional meeting and at WNY Independent living.
• The CASH IncomeTAXI visited The Restoration Society, an agency in Buffalo NY that assists the Mental Health community.
Slide 50: Early Success: NY Makes Work Pay Action Plan:
Demonstration of a 10% increase in taxes filed for Individuals with disabilities
• Total Returns: 8,257 (TY08: 8,171)
• Total Refunds: $12,430,321
• Total EITC Clients: 3,073
• Total EITC Refunds: $4,753,573 Total number of clients served with a disability (self or in household):
1,190; Increase from TY 2008: 112%
Slide 51: Lessons Learned:
• Always keep the accessibility of services and programs in focus;
• Partner with established community fairs and events to market and share resources;
• Connect with local “Consumer Run” organizations (i.e. local Self Advocacy groups, Clubhouse Programs);
• Further Training is always needed for Volunteers and organizations.
Slide 52: 2010 NYMWP Funds:
DVD Sensitivity Training for VITA Volunteers:
– A DVD will be produced by our committee and presented during VITA Volunteer trainings.
– NYS Self-Advocacy Association will record the DVD at a local Public Access studio.
Financial Fairs:
• Two Fairs will be held- one prior to the tax season and one will be held after the Tax Season.
• A survey will be produced and released to organizations and individuals to gain feedback as to obtain the financial needs of our audience.
Slide 53: Pathway To Prosperity
Meet Debbie:
Debbie is an AmeriCorps Member for NY Self Advocacy Assn. Debbie and her husband live in a supported living apartment. She is working with her circle of support with a goal for Debbie and her husband to live independently. She is an active member of our Disability Committee
(Picture of Debbie)
Slide 54: Pathway To Prosperity
Image of a triangle divided into 5 levels. From the bottom to the top, the levels are labeled:
• Securing Economic Supports: A CASH VITA Volunteer corrected Debbie’s 2008 tax return and helped her to file her 2009 tax return; she was able to receive EITC for both years.
• Managing Money: Debbie Attended Belmont’s Financial Education Series in Spring 2009.
• Saving Money: Spring 2010: Debbie has opened a savings account and is making ongoing deposits with the goal to save for a security deposit.
• Making More Money: Debbie will be taking the GED test this Fall, she has passed the Predictor.
• Building Assets IDA
Slide 55: Refine and Reframe the Focus!
• Focus on “Advancing Self-Sufficiency” and raise expectations beyond community participation.
• Focus on income production, saving and asset building to advance the level and scope of community participation.
• Focus across federal systems of support to access tools to preserve income and build assets.
Slide 56: Opportunities to learn more…….
Slide 57: Free Webinars
• To build the capacity of WIIN members, a four part series on Economic Empowerment and Financial Stability will take place in October.
o Part 1 – Introduction To Economic Empowerment And Financial Stability
o Part 2 – Learning How To Become Organized On A Fundamental Level And Teaching Your Clients How To Do The Same
o Part 3 – Learning How To Create A Personalized Budget And Helping Your Clients To Do The Same
o Part 4 – Key Strategies To Enhance Financial Stability
• When: Thursdays in October 6, 13, 20, and 27
• Who can participate: Anyone
• How to participate: Watch your email, you will receive an option to participate through NYMWP.
Slide 58: Resources
• New York Makes Work Pay - www.nymwp.org
• OSC Financial Resources for New Yorkers with Disabilities – www.yourmoneyny.org
• Assets For Independence Resources to expand services to individuals with disabilities – www.idaresources.org
• National Disability Institute – www.realeconomicimpact.org
Slide 59: Question/Answer Session
Slide 60: Contact Information
• Elizabeth Jennings - ejennings@ndi-inc.org
Syracuse University Burton Blatt Institute – 1667 K St. NW, Suite 640
Washington, DC 20006 Phone 561.351.9140
• Melody Marchese - mmarchese@belmonthousingwny.org
Belmont Housing Resources For WNY - 1195 Main Street
Buffalo NY 14209 Phone 716.884.7791 ext. 105
• Todd Vaargeck – tvaarwerk@wnyil.org
Western New York Independent Living - 3108 Main Street,
Buffalo, NY 14214 Phone 716.836.0822 (Voice and TDD)
Slide 61: New York Makes Work Pay Partnering Organizations
New York State Office of Mental Health
Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University
Cornell University ILR School Employment and Disability Institute.
Note: New York Makes Work Pay is a Comprehensive Employment System Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (Contract No. #1QACMS030318) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the Office of Mental Health on behalf of New York State. It is a joint effort of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University and the Employment and Disability Institute at Cornell University with the collaborative support of the Employment Committee of the New York State Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council to develop pathways and remove obstacles to employment for New Yorkers with disabilities.
End of presentation