ICI and the University of Massachusetts Boston are collaboratively designing, implementing, and evaluating the Minnesota Transformation Initiative Technical Assistance Center (MTI). MTI supports Minnesota organizations to increase competitive, integrated employment while ending their use of subminimum wages for people with disabilities.
MTI's goals are:
Develop and implement technical assistance plans with employment providers selected by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS)
Monitor and support provider progress toward project goals
Develop and implement mentoring strategies to support peer-to-peer mentoring with self-advocates and providers
Develop and implement a statewide training strategy to support provider transformation
Develop a family engagement program
Collaborate on a demonstration pilot project to introduce the LifeCourse Connect platform to individuals interested in moving from subminimum wage to competitive, integrated employment
Integrate equity, inclusion, and diversity into all project activities
Evaluate the effectiveness of MTI
Implement a management structure to ensure project oversight and continuous quality improvement
This issue features videos of a day and employment provider serving people with disabilities in rural Minnesota that decided to transition away from a center-based, subminimum wage service model …
This issue of Rethinking What Works spotlights leveraging assistive technology to support competitive integrated employment. The newsletter also features resources from MTI and its partners.
For decades, Udac offered center-based employment opportunities that paid subminimum wages to employees with disabilities, which is legal under federal law. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spurred …
Quality training is essential to retaining a highly-skilled, competent, and confident workforce. It can be difficult to find time to properly train new direct support professionals(DSPs) and …
Founded in 1963, Kaposia is a Minnesota nonprofit agency based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, providing customized employment services for people with disabilities and retirement …
Engaging with local employers is a necessary part of supporting people in finding competitive, integrated jobs. Building connections with employers and understanding their business needs is key to …
This issue features customized employment, a process that identifies the strengths and interests of the job-seeker and matches those with the needs of a business. The issue also shares upcoming trainings and resources.Published: March 2024
This issue of Rethinking What Works spotlights an ICI study that aims to identify what information and resources are needed for an online retirement education and planning resource for older …
This issue of Rethinking What Works spotlights the 2025 MOHR Spring Training Conference next month. MTI co-sponsors the Minnesota Organization on Habilitation and Rehabilitation conference and …
As a leader for decades in connecting people to competitive, integrated employment, Kaposia, an employment services provider in Minnesota, has upended the traditional job search process. Instead …
Presenters Danielle Mahoehney and Megan Sanders of ICI discuss how providers can use their data to inform workforce solutions techniques to recruit, select, train, and retain quality direct …
In this episode, Jill Eastman from our podcast partner, the University of Massachusetts-Boston's Institute for Community Inclusion, shares a story about supporting a jobseeker to customize a job …
In this episode, Jessica Stejskal from TSE, Inc. shares how she supported a jobseeker to look beyond working in grocery stores to pursue a job working with children and found an employer that is …
As many states consider the movement away from 14c subminimum wage usage for people with disabilities, there is emerging research emphasizing the need to better connect unpaid day activities to a …
This issue of Rethinking What Works spotlights LifeCourse Connect, a resource MTI offers free throughout 2025 to people with disabilities and their families. The newsletter also features other …
Starfire, of Cincinnati, Ohio, ran award-winning outings and day programs for decades. Beginning in 2010, the organization transformed from disability-centered programming to community-centered …
In this episode, Danny Brady from Reach for Resources shares a story about a job search that got off to a rocky start but eventually resulted in a job and better training for managers at a chain …
In the first episode of Job Match Makers, hosts Brian Begin and Sherry Healey introduce the podcast, explain the objective of the Minnesota Transformation Initiative, and talk about their careers …Published: 10/7/2024
Credentialing programs for direct support professionals and frontline supervisors are being researched and developed by states and provider organizations across the country, and for good reason. …
This issue shares the story and video of Udac, a Duluth employment service provider that won a national award for transforming its service model from center-based day and employment services to …
In this episode, Cynthia Capota from Reach for Resources shares how watching a jobseeker put together complicated Lego creations helped her recognize skills he had that filled a need of a furniture…
PHASE-Industries is a day and employment provider serving people with disabilities in rural Minnesota. In 2024, PHASE-Industries ended its center-based, subminimum wage service model and is …
Hosts Brian and Sherry are joined in the studio by their Institute on Community Integration colleague, Kathia Fernandez. Kathia shares a story from her time as an employment consultant when she …
Representatives of various Minnesota state agencies give a May 2024 update on statewide initiatives that support the transition of workers with disabilities from subminimum wage jobs to competitive…
In the second episode of Job Match Makers, Brian and Sherry are joined by their Minnesota Transformation Initiative colleague, Don Lavin. Don explains how he left his cousin Vinny behind in New …
Margie Webb MS, CRC, a Customized Employment Specialist with Vocational Rehabilitation Services, explains how we can improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities through Customized …
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and this issue of Rethinking What Works offers suggestions for honoring NDEAM and learning more about employment for people with …Published: October 2024
This issue features MTI's peer mentorship program which helps people with disabilities and their support networks as they explore job options. It also shares upcoming trainings and resources.
One of the most daunting parts of organizational transformation is planning for the financial implications, as shown in this webinar. Not only do organizations have to consider an approach to …
Jolene Juhl (Senior Employment Services Manager) and Lindsay Alexander (Regional Rehabilitation Supervisor) from Minnesota State-Operated Community Services discuss how they leverage assistive …
This issue features a video about a Twin Cities organization that shifted from subminimum wage work and center-based employment to competitive, integrated employment opportunities chosen by their …
Organizational Transformation can get messy. It is critical that organizations both understand and define their long-term vision and ultimately how success will be defined. Presented by Karen …
Organizations that transform from more traditional service models to those that prioritize competitive integrated employment outcomes successfully understand the importance of managing effectively …
Rise, Inc. is a Minnesota-based nonprofit agency that provides employment services in support of people with disabilities. In 2021, Rise decided to end piece-rate, center-based employment in favor …
Presented by Staci Jones of University of Massachusetts – Boston and Don Lavin of Strengths@Work, LLC, this free webinar gives an overview of the 10 Essential Elements of Organizational Transformat…
PHASE-Industries is a day- and employment-provider serving people with disabilities in rural Minnesota. In 2021, PHASE-Industries began the transition from a center-based, subminimum wage service …
Published: 2023
Topics
Employment and postsecondary education
Employment and workforce development
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