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April 2020 Monthly News and Updates
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Spotlight: Essential Workers
Tony has worked in the Nutrition Services Department at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown since 2013. His normal job duties include, washing dishes, taking out the trash and bringing food trucks back to the kitchen after meal times.
During the COVID crisis, Tony is still able to do all his normal job duties with a few modifications for his safety. When he arrives on shift, hospital staff takes his temperature and he must wear a mask during his shift. He is also required to take his temperature twice a day at home. Two wings of the hospital are reserved for COVID-19 patients. Kitchen employees are not allowed to enter those floors, so, food trucks are brought out to Tony when they're ready to be returned. In addition to only having a few entrances to dictate flow of visitors and employees, some parking lots are closed due to construction. Meritus is working on a $12 million dollar addition that will add 20 beds to an infectious disease wing.
Tony and his job
coach, Seth Dodson, from the Arc of Washington County, noted the helpfulness of his coworkers, especially his boss, Joe. This includes reminders to wash hands or making sure Tony understands the new precautions during these uncharted times. Tony is a hard worker, always eager to help out
and loved by his coworkers for his witty sense of humor.
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Help Highlight Essential Workers with Disabilities
We know that during this time of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, many people with disabilities who are employed may be at home. However, many people with disabilities are deemed as essential employees and are continuing to report to work. DDA, along with our Employment First partners, would like the opportunity to highlight those employees, along with their support staff, by sharing stories in this newsletter.
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Meaningful Day Minimum Service: Guidance
Please see the attachment below in reference to the suspension of requirements of minimum hours service delivery per day of Meaningful Day Services. Note that guidance information is effective as of March 13, 2020.
COVID-19 #17: DDA Meaningful Day Services - Minimum Service
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DDA's Employment Data Initiative: Update
Twice a year, since 2014, DDA p
roviders of Meaningful Day Services
have been submitting data regarding various
employment
and community outcomes for people they support. Those outcomes are uploaded and housed into DDA's
Employment
Outcome Information System.
Typically, DDA's next employment data tracking period would fall in the month of May, but due to the COVID crisis, the DDA is working with the State Employment Leadership Network to create a temporarily modified employment data tracking survey, to potentially take place in June or July. Information collected will include whether a person has experienced reduced hours, a furlough, lay-off or termination due to COVID-19. This survey will be shorter and will be designed to provide critical baseline data as people in services and their providers look toward future employment outcomes.
As details about the upcoming survey become finalized, the information will be shared with stakeholders.
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Griffin-Hammis: Upcoming Webinars and Virtual Discovery Guidance
In response to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Griffin-Hammis Associates has created a series of free webinars dealing with the impact of the novel coronavirus on Customized Employment. These webinars began in April and will continue for the remainder of the COVID-19 crisis.
If you or your organization are interested in learning more about our webinars, please visit their website, where you can read about past and future webinars in detail.
To view a full list of webinars open for registration, please visit our webinar registration page. If you see a webinar that interests you, only register if you plan on attending - spaces are limited, and they tend to fill up fast!
Griffin-Hammis Associates has also made the following resource available on
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New Transition Podcast
University of Maryland's Center for Transition and Career Innovation (CTCI)
, in collaboration with the MD Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), has launched a new podcast series, entitled, Work-based Learning Experiences: How-to Successfully Implement this Evidence Based Practice to Improve Student Outcomes. CTCI staff, along with industry experts, share best practices and lessons learned from Maryland's RSA-funded model demonstration project, Way2Work Maryland.
In this 1st podcast in the series, key Way2Work collaborators: Matt Elburn, Transition Coordinator with Worcester County Public Schools, Malorie Marti, Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Specialist with MD DORS, and Sarah Pryor, from Goodwill Industries of Monacacy Valley, joined Technical Assistance Specialist for Way2Work Maryland, Meredith Gramlich, to discuss "Working Together: How Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Community-based Organizations Collaborate to Deliver Quality Work-based Learning for Students."
Click here to view the first podcast:
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Strategies for Providing Remote Employment Supports: Recording
If you missed the webinar sponsored by Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
highlighting
strategies for providing remote employment supports,
you can access the recording here.
How do we continue to support and promote Employment First during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis? Does this create opportunities for us to try new ways of doing business to assure the health and safety of supported workers, their employers, and direct support workers?
Presenters on the webinar:
- Judy Warth, Certified Employment Supports Professional (CESP). Employment Training Specialist with the Center for Disabilities and Development, University of Iowa Healthcare and Iowa APSE.
- Justin Blumhorst, CESP. Operations Leader with Capabilities, Inc. Ohio APSE
You can visit APSE at https://apse.org/ |
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DORS: Updated Guidance on the use of Teleconferencing to Provide Services
Updated Information from our partners at Division of
Rehabilitation
Services:
Guidance previously provided from Division of Rehabilitation Services noted specific platforms that may be accessible and HIPPA compliant. Recently, it was brought to DORS' attention through MSDE that there are issues surrounding the use of Zoom --- specifically security/privacy issues.
Therefore,
DORS
does not recommend
the use of this platform by our providers in the provision of approved employment services (job development, job coaching, and job development prep). It is DORS
'
recommendation that providers explore alternative tele-conferencing platforms
that are accessible and HIPPA compliant.
If providers choose to continue to use Zoom, they must use the password feature and make all consumers aware of the issue outlined above.
Each web-based service has advantages and limitations and your agency should determine what works best for your situation. In selecting a virtual format, we strongly recommend that you consider:
- Security vulnerability - is the platform encrypted
- Confidentiality - will confidentiality be maintained during meeting
- Accessibility - will that platform be accessible for all abilities
- Reliability - confidence in the ability to provide the service when agreed upon
- Connectivity quality - will your agency be able to handle the connections;
- User friendliness - will use be easy to use or understand by all involved
- Affordability - is it free or not a financial burden to your agency, as DORS will not reimburse for such services
Additional Considerations:
The use of teleconferencing practices is being permitted as a temporary measure that may be provided during the COVID-19 social distancing period. These practices do not reflect a change in service provision for periods other than this unique situation.
Teleconferencing (including the use of telephones) may be provided with the verbal consent of the individual. The consent will be documented on the report of the email that demonstrates the individual's knowledge and permission.
The use of audio only (telephone) services cannot be used to expand and grow programs. These services are approved to allow individuals who are already approved to receive services continue their pursuit of competitive integrated employment and/or maintain their position.
The information presented in this document is intended to be applied to the three services outlined above (job development prep, job development, and job coaching). If there are questions about services not outlined in this document, please seek guidance from DORS prior to providing those services.
Questions:
Inquiries specific to the provision of services for the Office of Blind and Vision Services may be directed to Toni March at
[email protected]
Specific guidance for Vendors (not CRPs) will be provided on a case by case basis. Please contact Darlene Peregoy at
[email protected]
.
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The Lead Center: The ABLE Act and Employment:
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Webinar: Unemployment Compensation for Individuals
Affected by COVID-19
If you missed last week's webinar providing guidance
for states regarding unemployment compensation
flexibility
related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), you can find the materials, including the recorded webinar at this link.
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The DDA Educational Series Webinar Recordings
The DDA Education Series webinars are available to view at the DDA archived webinar page. You will find a complete list of webinar topics on the right side of the page. Below is a list of topics in the series.
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Want more information about Employment First?
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Maryland Department of Health
201 W. Preston St. | Baltimore MD, 21201
The Maryland Department of Health promotes the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management, and community engagement. The State of Maryland pledges to provide constituents, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with quality customer service. Take our Customer Satisfaction Survey.
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