live. WORK. play. from communityworks, inc. in Overland Park, Kansas, United States "Employment and advocacy news delivered to your inbox!" for Wednesday, 7 September 2016

live. WORK. play. from communityworks, inc. in Overland Park, Kansas, United States "Employment and advocacy news delivered to your inbox!" for Wednesday, 7 September 2016
communityworks, inc. Awarded Five Year End Dependence Contract
Overland Park, KS: communityworks, inc. is excited to announce that it has been awarded a contract to find competitive integrated employment for 533 Kansans over the next five years by utilizing the evidence-based Individualized Discovery and Customized Employment Model. The agency will work with individuals in Wyandotte and Johnson counties and engage with three target populations:
Persons with disabilities being served through the Home and Community Based Services Medicaid waivers.
Youth with disabilities transitioning from high school to employment.
Persons with disabilities exiting Kansas Correctional facilities.
Individualized Discovery is a non-traditional assessment process that focuses on getting to know an individual with a significant disability in order to identify his/her strengths, interests, abilities, aptitudes, and learning styles by interacting with him/her in various home, work and community-based settings.
The agency has overwhelming support from regional leaders, including Timothy Keck, Secretary for Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services; Dr. Cynthia Lane, Superintendent of Kansas City, KS Public Schools; Dr. Jim Hinson, Superintendent of Shawnee Mission School District; Mary Ellen Wright, Senior Manager of the Working Healthy Program at Kansas Department of Health & Environment; Johnnie Goddard, Interim Secretary for the Kansas Department of Corrections; and KanCare Managed Care Organization CEOs including Laura Hopkins of Amerigroup and Timothy Spilker of United Health Care. Ms. Mary Ellen Wright states “I have found [Minds Matter] to be a valuable partner, with a strong interest in promoting employment initiatives on behalf of individuals with disabilities. I look forward to working with them as they continue to encourage and support people with disabilities transitioning to the workforce.”
Over the next five years, the End Dependence Kansas contract hopes to empower 2,000 Kansans with disabilities statewide to achieve competitive, integrated employment. The program also hopes to divert individuals with disabilities from becoming dependent on Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance as the majority of their financial resources, as well as develop effective extended support systems for people with significant disabilities after their Vocational Rehabilitation services end.
We are currently working to provide extensive training to our employment specialists and will let you know when we are ready to accept referrals. We are estimating a December 2016 launch.
If you have any questions for us in the meantime, please contact our Program Manager, Madeline Giesler, LMSW at madelineg@communityworksinc.com or913-789-9900 x 410.
About communityworks, inc.: Started in 1991, communityworks, inc. helps create effective models that promote consumer-driven, community-based rehabilitation and care. The company provides employment, training, consulting, and advocacy to individuals and organizations that wish to promote independent living solutions. communityworks, inc. is a go-to resource for administrators, therapists, policy makers, individuals and family members that work with individuals with disabilities. communityworks, inc. believes in a holistic, person-directed approach to care. communityworks, inc. is also the parent company of Minds Matter, LLC, a Kansas home health agency that supports individuals with a neurological injury to live independently in the community through a holistic approach to rehabilitative therapies.

Our mailing address is:
communityworks, inc.
7819 Conser Place

Kansas City, Kansas 64118, United States
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