Annual Reports Annual Reports Menu Outreach Workgroup Members Beth Pinkham, Co-chair PARI Susan Shapiro, Co-chair RI Office of Rehabilitative Services Susan Babin RI Department of MHRH DDD Anne Boyd East Bay Mental Health Center Rory Carmody Cranston ARC Dianne Cook RI Department of Human Services Aleatha Dickerson RI Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Jon Dupree Mental Health Consumer Advocate Vicki Ferrara Rhode Island College Steven Florio RI Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Elaina Goldstein Executive Director, Rhodes to Independence Mitch Henderson RI Mental Health Consumers Advocacy Association Mary Lou McCaffrey RI ARC Kathy Partington RI Department of Labor and Training  Arthur Plitt Governor's Commission on Disabilities Cheryl-Ann Ring Kent County ARC Michael Spoerri RI Department of Health Nancy Wooten URI College of Pharmacy 2004 Accomplishments Most of the Workgroup's activity in 2004 was a continuation of outreach and marketing campaign deliverables launched in the 2003 Rhode to Independence marketing campaign. Accomplishments and products include the following: Printing and distribution first Rhodes to Independence Newsletter The inaugural issue of the RTI newsletter was mailed to 1500 individuals and organizations in June 2004 and additional copies have been distributed at a variety of conferences and venues. Articles covered diverse issues and activities including information on Medicaid Buy-In legislation, Rhodes to Independence goals and activities, the launching of the Rhode Island Ticket to Work, etc. Future issues will be produced in-house on a semi-annual basis. All newsletters will be posted on the Rhodes to Independence website. Development of the Rhodes to Independence Website In 2003, the Rhodes to Independence contracted with the public relations firm Cote & D'Ambrosio to create a RTI website that would feature all activities, reports and related initiatives as well as links to services, advocacy groups and important benefits' information. The website went "live" in the last quarter of 2004. The website will be continually updated throughout 2005. Development of the Rhodes to Independence Trade Show Booth In October, the RTI Trade Show booth made its debut at the Partnerships to Employment conference. Developed by Cote & D'Ambrosio, the trade booth will serve as a portable informational resource. In the coming year, staff will utilize it at conferences, trade shows and meetings. It will serve as a primary information and outreach vehicle to the public along with commentary by staff and Steering Committee members. Facilitation of the formation of a RI Business Leadership Network In 2004, Rhodes to Independence staff, Steering Committee and Outreach Workgroup members provided support for local businesses in creating a Rhode Island Business Leadership Network. Since its inaugural information-sharing breakfast meeting last March, a core group of Rhode Island employers are building the organizational foundation for the RI Business Leadership Network (BLN). Currently, there are BLN chapters in 38 states, all sharing the same objective - to increase employment for people with disabilities. The BLN is a business-led initiative of the US Chamber of Commerce working in concert with the federal government, advocacy organizations and others seeking to improve the lives of people with disabilities through work opportunities. A priority of the Rhodes' project since 2003, representatives of businesses such as Citizens Bank, Manpower, RI Bureau of Investigations Security, the Providence Journal, AIPSO, Raytheon, CVS and Electric Boat-General Dynamics have organized a series of breakfast meetings featuring speakers on a variety of topics concerning hiring and retaining workers with disabilities. Rhodes to Independence Executive Director Elaina Goldstein, the RTI staff, Outreach Workgroup members, and Vicki Ferrara of the Paul V. Sherlock Center helped organize and facilitate these events, as well as the monthly meetings of the RI BLN Steering Committee. At the end of 2004, the Steering Committee was finalizing RI BLN goals, parameters of affiliation to the national BLN, employer recruitment strategy, development of a budget, and other key formative issues. A final successful BLN breakfast meeting attended by more than 50 businesses was held in December. Funding support for further development of the BLN has been budgeted in the 2005 Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, and RTI and Sherlock Center staff will continue to facilitate BLN Steering Committee meetings and events. Production of a Rhodes to Independence BLN brochure An ancillary product of Outreach Workgroup's BLN priority is the development and printing of a BLN informational brochure. This colorful tri-fold describes the overall goals and principles of a business leadership network as well as specific information regarding the local chapter currently forming. This brochure will be broadly distributed among Rhode Island employers as well as related state and national conferences. Informational consumer-directed postcard regarding the Medicaid Buy-In At the beginning of 2004 Cote & D'Ambrosio with significant input from Outreach Workgroup members, RTI staff and key community stakeholders developed an informational postcard to be sent to Rhode Islanders with disabilities and their families describing the purpose of a Medicaid Buy-In and the ways in which it could provide medical coverage support for those who wished to attain or retain employment but might hesitate due to lack or fear of losing health coverage. Though educational in nature, and a component of the CMS Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, there were concerns that such a marketing tool distributed concurrently with pending Buy-In legislation might be perceived as "lobbying" and not an educational tool. This postcard, therefore, was not printed and mailed. Formation of a Rhodes to Independence Consumer Grassroots Campaign For the purposes of consumer education concerning issues and activities relevant to workers with disabilities and individuals considering seeking employment, a Grassroots Campaign was formed to share information on key activities, relevant legislation and current policies. The group met several times through the spring and summer of 2004. Development of a Rhodes to Independence Informational Brochure A brochure that provides basic information on the objectives and activities of the Rhodes to Independence was produced. This tri-fold brochure will be a key communication tool and be broadly distributed at state agencies, the One-Stops, the Aging and Disability Resource Center, state service centers, schools, colleges and universities and at diverse events and activities throughout the state. Production of a Rhodes to Independence Employer Packet An Employer Packet with multiple informational inserts was developed by the Outreach Workgroup and Cote & D'Ambrosio. This "tool kit" is intended as a resource for employers requesting information concerning all aspects of hiring workers with disabilities. Not only does it provide specific information intended to dispel the misconceptions and myths regarding the employment of people with disabilities and broad resource information, contact information is included to facilitate support in tapping available state and national information and peer support resources. Large and small businesses will find this Employer Packet useful; in particular, it will serve as an important resource for the many businesses lacking a Human Resources Department. In 2004, the Outreach Workgroup completed its marketing campaign products that were components of the 2002 and 2003 Outreach Workgroup Annual Report including the above-cited deliverables. Over the first half of the year, crossover of marketing products occurred between the Outreach, Employee Retention and Youth-In Transition Workgroups. In addition, formation of the Business Leadership Network moved beyond a more hands-on Outreach Workgroup facilitation to an employer-led initiative with support as-needed from RTI staff. Because its recommendations and associated activities have been completed, this Outreach Workgroup ceased to function in 2004. Communication activities will continue in the year ahead via existing Workgroups and Steering Committee activities, as well as any new workgroups that may be formed. 2005 Communication Goal and Activities Activities in 2005 will address gaps in communication to the general public (including employers, advocacy groups, consumers and families, et al.) of Rhodes to Independence initiatives/programs and need for increased advocacy for consumers, as well as lack of broad, factual and consistent information for people with disabilities concerning available employment-related supports, programs and benefits. Over the past three years, the Outreach Workgroup has succeeded in promoting of RTI initiatives. Nonetheless, many Rhode Islanders including consumers and employers remain uninformed about relevant programs, activities and available resources. 2005 Communications' activities will promote deeper and broader understanding of RTI initiatives for all stakeholders and the general public, disseminate information concerning available work incentives and supports so that individuals with disabilities can maximize their employment and career advancement potential through the following proposed projects : Proposed Activities Organization of a RTI Speakers Bureau that will offer presentations and distribute relevant materials to advocacy groups, employers, educational, civic and religious organizations, etc. regarding all aspects of related initiatives. RTI staff and Steering Committee members will develop presentations for diverse audiences and distribute RTI materials. Presentations will be made available to civic groups (e.g. Rotary Club), business entities (e.g. Chambers of Commerce), advocacy groups, physicians' associations, etc. In addition, a Peer-to-Peer Mentoring program will also be developed. Design and implement a strategic plan targeted to transitional youths and their families to communicate the available programs that provide training for and acquisition of assistive technology necessary for transition to employment or higher education. The Youth in Transition workgroup will work with its critical partners in the community as well as colleges and universities to bridge this communication gap Completion of an informational Consumer Packet (similar to the RTI Employer Packet) providing descriptions and locations of local and national resources available to people with disabilities seeking employment and related supports. These Consumer Packets will provide a comprehensive resource tool for Rhode Islanders with disabilities. Advocacy groups will help develop an effective distribution plan. Organize and implement a large-scale bi-annual conference concerning all aspects of the Rhodes' project. This half-day conference will communicate to the general public information on initiatives that support the competitive employment of people with disabilities including the impending Buy-In. The first conference will take place in October, 2005, during National Disability Employment Awareness month, following a Real Choices conference scheduled for September. Multiple community workshops concerning RTI initiatives, available information, resources (notably the Buy-In), job training, counseling, etc. for people with disabilities who want to become competitively employed or retain employment will be the outcome(s) Develop, produce and disseminate informational brochures and other resource materials relative to available work incentives and supports including the Buy-In, 1619(a) and 1619(b) for youths in transition, their families, counselors, and other professionals. There is widespread ignorance concerning the availability and nature of work incentives and supports that are currently available to working people with disabilities and students with disabilities attending college. Production and effective targeted dissemination of this information will increase awareness among stakeholders of available work incentives / supports / relevant college supports / initiatives / eligibility determination processes.  Steering Committee | Executive Summary | Employment Retention | Housing Workgroup Outreach Workgroup | Transportation Workgroup Youth in Transition Workgroup | Annual Reports Menu About Us | Researchers/Publications and Toolkits