If you’re a vocational rehabilitation (VR) professional, you’re aware of the many ways employment services can support people with disabilities in finding and maintaining jobs. One valuable resource is the Partnership Plus program, which is part of the Ticket to Work initiative. This program connects state VR agencies and Employment Networks to help individuals with disabilities achieve long-term employment success. Here’s a simple breakdown of how Partnership Plus works, why it's important, and how to get involved.
What Is Partnership Plus?
Partnership Plus is a collaboration between state VR agencies and Employment Networks. The goal is to help people with disabilities get jobs and stay employed over time. VR agencies provide up-front services to help someone get a job, and once the person is employed, Employment Networks offer ongoing support to help them keep their job or move up in their career.
This partnership is crucial because many individuals benefit from ongoing help to maintain employment, which the Employment Networks provide after VR services end.
How Does It Work?
- VR Services: VR helps the individual prepare for and find a job. This includes things like job training, resume building, and interview practice.
- Job Placement: Once the person is employed, VR closes their case after they have worked for 90 days.
- Hand Over to Employment Networks: After VR closes the case, Employment Networks can step in to offer ongoing support. They help with job retention, career advancement, and benefits counseling to ensure the person stays employed.
Why Is It Important?
The Partnership Plus program benefits both VR professionals and their clients:
- Continuity of Support: Often, people who receive VR services need additional help to keep their job. Employment Networks can provide that long-term support, preventing a "revolving door" where people lose their jobs and come back to VR for help repeatedly.
- Specialized Help: Employment Networks focus on providing services like benefits counseling and career planning. They also help clients understand how working affects their Social Security benefits, which is a major concern for many.
- Collaboration: VR professionals and Employment Networks work together, referring clients back and forth when necessary, to make sure each individual gets the right support at the right time.
Benefits for VR Professionals
By working with Employment Networks through Partnership Plus, VR professionals can:
- Maximize their impact: Instead of seeing the same client repeatedly, you can focus on helping new clients, knowing the previous ones have ongoing support through their Employment Networks.
- Support client success: With the ongoing support of Employment Networks, your clients are more likely to stay employed, achieve financial independence, and reduce reliance on benefits.
- Receive additional payments: Under certain conditions, state VR agencies can receive cost reimbursement when a client remains employed, providing an extra incentive to refer clients to Employment Networks.
The Role of Employment Networks
Employment Networks play a significant role by offering services such as:
- Work Incentive Benefits Counseling: They help clients understand how working affects their disability benefits, which reduces fear and confusion.
- Career Advancement: Employment Networks offer ongoing career advice and support, even years after initial employment.
- Retention Services: If someone loses their job, an Employment Network can quickly step in to help them find a new one without having to return to VR.
How to Get Involved
Whether it’s through a formal agreement, a simple handshake deal, or sharing information with your clients, Partnership Plus offers a flexible way to extend the support you provide. If your VR agency doesn’t yet participate in Partnership Plus, it’s easy to get started.