A Scribe Log

Nickname - Message

<hutcheson From Guest32673: Do you recommend converting your entire system all at once or incrementally? What are the pros and cons of each?

<hutcheson I recommend a solid plan that lays out a conversion plan for the entire organization that is done incrementally with strong fiscal sections as well as staffing and marketing plans.

<hutcheson From Guest17870: Suzy What would you tell a workshop wh says I wantto convert but financially I can't Chris APSE

<hutcheson I would tell them to meet with funding sources to see if dollars could be identified for conversion. In order to make that work they would have to have a strong plan of what they could do.

<hutcheson From Guest33213: Thanks for the information today. Where do you begin the conversion process?

<hutcheson With the commitment of the organization that the belief system is there to begin planning. This can start at any level within the organization. Direct Services staff can take a plan to management or vice versa.

<hutcheson From Guest17870: When I did a full conversionin Texas. I thought I could use Workshop staff as job coaches. It turned out to be a mistake because their expectations were to low. What knowledge and skills do you look for in an employment consultant

<hutcheson Varied experience, good attitude, good people skills, belief system, answers to scenarios that we pose to them during the interview.... we also include consumers in the interview and their reaction and attitude towards the consumer means alot.

<hutcheson From Guest32673: Did the National Conversion Institute (not sure re: title, but I'm speaking of Pat Rogan and Debra Martin's affiliation) offer technical assistance and training to your organization in order to help you get started? If so, what were your impressions with this group?

<hutcheson I think Pat Rogan and Debra Martin along Paul Wehman and Karen Flippo and Dave Mank are some of the brightest minds and best contacts you can find. These were the people we worked with and continue to work with.

<hutcheson From Guest33213: How do you deal with resistance from staff?

<hutcheson Continue to give them information that encourages employment services, give them the opportunity to succeed, if that doesn't work..find new staff. WE had a 50% turnover in staff when we started.

<hutcheson From Guest32673: My state (MD) is changing it's employment policy to be focused on SE. It seems as though technical assistance and training on conversions is a key component that we will need to consider for our providers. Is there someone at the state level who has dealt with some of these same issues that you could recommend I chat with?

<hutcheson T-TAP is getting ready to release an RFP for community rehab providers to receive TA around conversion. Tentative information is available on the T-TAP website, www.t-tap.org

<hutcheson From Guest34535: We are a small agency in a high unemployment city with many overqualified people. We "fear" taking the risk to convert because of expected cash flow difficulties. Wondering about people we could contact with experience?

<hutcheson We have a list of CRP's leadership network of providers who will be able to answer questions, please see the CRP leadership network information on our website, which has email addresses, also contact us if you need to.

<hutcheson From Guest17870: What organizations would you reccommend belonging to keep on top of conversion efforts?

<hutcheson APSE....state and national chapters (see websites apse.org)

<hutcheson From Guest33213: How do I get my agency involved in the TA?

<hutcheson Watch for the rfp announcement...should be out next week. all agencies who have 14c cert. will receive a direct mailing.

<hutcheson From Guest32673: Do you pay non-traditional people to help find jobs, i.e., family, friends, neighbors, staff in residential services, etc. If so, how did you handle paying them; through a fiscal intermediary?

<hutcheson We don't do that. I don't have an answer for that.

<hutcheson From Guest76060: What percentage of your clients have severe multiple disabilities?

<hutcheson You have to believe in the abilities of all people to work....based on our definition more than 70%

<hutcheson From Guest34535: Our agency is in Canada. Somewhat different political issues as discussed in webcast. We also work with people with a broad range of disabilities. Is your focus primarily in supported employment for people with developmental disabilities?

<hutcheson It started out that way, now probably 75% have DD 25% have MH or other issues. Then we provide Employment services utilizing a job coach to a large # of people with a variety of disabilities and welfare to work recipients.

<hutcheson From toni: Please tell me what TA stands for in the firsst question

<hutcheson Technical Assistance

<hutcheson From Guest32673: What are the best approaches to get family & Board buy in? I found that those were the hardest two groups to convince re: the importance of conversion

<hutcheson Values clarification, success stories, out-of-state experts from the field, direct contact with consumers who are working, eg. bring a consumer who has a job to a board meeting, I do it every month!

<hutcheson From Guest32673: I've often recommended to our providers that they consider seeking alternative funding (besides just state dollars) and have given examples such as county and federal grants, Charity organizations such as the United Way, and that they consider expanding services for other populations to increase revenue. Are there any funding sources that I may have missed?

<hutcheson great advice, they might also try something like a capital campaign, and also collaborating with other agencies

<hutcheson From Guest34535: We (small agency) are working at partnering with the local community college for upcoming RFP. We would like them to take majority of the cash flow risk but they might have union issues which would be a barrier to this. Again, any experience or suggestions?

<hutcheson If the issue is who employs the staff involved in this rfp possibly you could have them contract with you, for staff services, but have the funding run thru them.

<hutcheson Thank you. Please post your questions in the bulletin board this week.