Training and Technical Assistance for Providers The Training and Technical Assistance to Providers (T-TAP)project is a five-year project funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) / US Department of Labor (DOL)designed to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. As part of this project, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) will be working with five agencies yearly to offer intensive Training and Technical Assistance to help providers develop competitive employment opportunities in the community for individuals who are currently in segregated or nonwork options. Five organizations will be chosen each year of the project for a total of twenty organizations. The Request for Proposal (RFP) for 2005 will be announced in January 2005. The RFP Application Package is available online. Ten organizations are currently receiving individualized training and technical assistance from the T-TAP staff and the CRP Leadership Network to help develop their programs from segregated work and non-work options to competitive employment opportunities in the community. The training and technical assistance includes program planning, marketing, budgeting, staff development, and financial planning. TA Sites 2004 Charles River Industries; Needham, MA Hi-Hope Service Center; Lawrenceville, GA Home of Hope, Inc.; Vinita, OK Humboldt Community Access & Resource Center (HCAR); Eureka, CA Magic Valley Rehabilitation Services; Twin Falls, ID TA Sites 2003 EmployAbility, Inc., Inc. / Employment Connections; Bartlesville, OK At Work; Issaquah, WA Babcock Center; Columbia, SC Cranston ARC; Cranston, RI NEVINSinc.; Charlotte, NC For additional information, you may contact: ODEP -- (202) 693-7880 T-TAP, Dr. Katherine Inge, Project Director kinge@atlas.vcu.edu or (804) 828-5956 Dr. John Butterworth, Director of Technical Assistance john.butterworth@umb.edu or (617) 287-4357 For more information on T-TAP, please visit: http://www.t-tap.org Frequently Asked Questions Q. What is T-TAP? A. T-TAP is a five-year project funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) / US Department of Labor (DOL)designed to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities who are currently in segregated or non-work options.The primary goal of the project is to increase the number of individuals in community-based employment making at or above minimum wage. The intended outcome is to decrease the number of people with disabilities in segregated work environments that are paid sub-minimum wage. One strategy to accomplish this outcome is to provide technical assistance and support to Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs) that provide employment support to individuals with disabilities. Q. Who can apply? A. Any Community Rehabilitation Provider (CRP) currently using DOL 14 (c) Sub-minimum Wage Certificates in its employment services for people with disabilities. Q. How will the five organizations be chosen? A. All grants will be reviewed by a panel and scored according to the information outlined in the grant application packet. General selection considerations will include the CRP’s need for technical assistance, the identified potential of the CRP to benefit from technical assistance, a demonstrated commitment to change, and evidence that the TA would impact the organization to make substantial changes. In making selections, geographic distribution and organizational characteristics (including rural, suburban or urban settings, size of organization and populations served) will be considered. Q. How many organizations will be selected? A. Five organizations will be selected to participate each year. Five CRPs were selected in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, we will select an additional five recipients. A total of twenty CRPs will receive this direct TA from T-TAP. Q. Will a TA recipient receive any money for participating in this project? A. No, your organization will not receive any money for participating in the project. However, there is no charge for the services and supports that you will receive from the project staff and consultants. Q.If my organization is selected, what will we receive? A. Each selected site will receive: Individually developed Technical Assistance (TA) plan; Assignment of a mentor organization from the CRP Leadership Network; On-site consultations with T-TAP’s Technical Assistance staff; Phone and email support;and Staff training, including the opportunity to participate in online courses, live Webcasts, conference calls, and discussions with other providers. Through the Technical Assistance activities, participating organizations will receive assistance in: Redesigning their service system; Restructuring customer supports; Connecting to employers utilizing affirmative techniques; and Linking consumers to jobs of their choice that offer competitive wages, benefits and opportunities for career advancement. Q. If my organization is selected, what are our responsibilities? A. The five organizations are selected for a two year period. Participation includes: host on-site technical assistance visits from T-TAP technical assistance staff and the Mentor CRP; provide up to three days release time and participate in travel funding for one or more staff to visit the CRP agency that is assigned as your mentor; support project data collection efforts including demographic and outcome data for a sample of consumers, qualitative interviews with key stakeholders to document the planning and change process, and data on staff time allocation. This data will be collected 4 times during your relationship with T-TAP. Participation also includes providing release time for staff to participate in online courses, live Webcasts, and other training as agreed to in your technical assistance plan. The Office of Disability Employment Policy,U.S. Department of Labor Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston Virginia Commonwealth University T-TAP is funded by the Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) cooperative agreement # E 9-4-2-01217. The contents of this product do not necessarily represent the interpretations or opinions of DOL. Virginia Commonwealth University, is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation, or disability. Privacy Policy. If special accommodations or language translation are needed contact Katherine Inge at: kinge@atlas.vcu.edu or Voice (804) 828 - 1851 | TTY (804) 828 - 2494.