Minnesota Employment Center (MEC)
InCommons Collaboration Challenge
Minnesota Employment Center (MEC)
With a grant from the Minn. Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), MEC started in 1994 and was designed to exclusively serve people who are deaf or hard of hearing, one of the first specialized programs in the nation. At that time, it was estimated that 54% of the adult deaf or hard or hearing population was unemployed(compared to 5.1% national unemployment rate). Local experience showed us that typical job placement and supported employment agencies serving people with disabilities were not meeting the unique needs of this traditionally underserved population. In addition, the majority of people served have a minimum of three other related disabilities or barriers to employment in addition to their hearing. Specialized staff, many of whom are deaf or hard of hearing themselves, assist MEC participants prepare for, obtain, and maintain meaningful employment in the community while addressing, reducing, or eliminating communication and related barriers. We later received a federal grant from the US Dept. of Education/Rehab Services Administration Office to fund supported employment services for those who needed ongoing support.
About You
About You
First Name
Beth
Last Name
DePoint
Country
United States, MN, Ramsey County
About Your Organization
Organization
Rise, Inc.
Organization Website
Organization Phone
763-786-8334
Organization Address
8406 Sunset Road N.E. Spring Lake Park
Organization Country
United States, MN, Ramsey County
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Your Story
Collaboration Title
Minnesota Employment Center (MEC)
Country your work focuses on
United States, MN, Ramsey County
Describe your locally-based collaboration and the problem it sought to address
With a grant from the Minn. Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), MEC started in 1994 and was designed to exclusively serve people who are deaf or hard of hearing, one of the first specialized programs in the nation. At that time, it was estimated that 54% of the adult deaf or hard or hearing population was unemployed(compared to 5.1% national unemployment rate). Local experience showed us that typical job placement and supported employment agencies serving people with disabilities were not meeting the unique needs of this traditionally underserved population. In addition, the majority of people served have a minimum of three other related disabilities or barriers to employment in addition to their hearing. Specialized staff, many of whom are deaf or hard of hearing themselves, assist MEC participants prepare for, obtain, and maintain meaningful employment in the community while addressing, reducing, or eliminating communication and related barriers. We later received a federal grant from the US Dept. of Education/Rehab Services Administration Office to fund supported employment services for those who needed ongoing support.
Tell us about the community in which this collaboration took place
Deaf/hard of hearing is considered a low-incident disability so it's difficult to attract qualified staff who understand deaf culture, communication, and technology. From its St. Paul office, MEC serves people throughout the Twin Cities area. We also use advanced communication technology (i.e., video phone conferencing) to bring services to rural Minnesota where staff and services are scarce.
Issue Selector
n/a
Partnership
Who was involved in co-creating or implementing your collaboration (other organizations, leaders, community members, etc.)?
As the fiscal agent for MEC, Rise originally collaborated with Lifetrack Resources, Inc., the Human Resources Development Institute of the AFL-CIO (no longer involved due to funding) and the Minn. Div. of Rehab. Services. Staff and management from these agencies contributed their own areas of expertise to ensure the program was innovative, responsive, and would best serve people's specific needs.
To what extent does your collaboration involve partnerships that are outside or cross traditional organizational or sector boundaries?
MEC is a free-standing program managed by both Rise and Lifetrack who share all functional responsibilities. Staff from both agencies are full, equal partners in regard to management, development, hiring, and all decisions about program services. Rise is the fiscal agent and MEC are on its payroll; staff work in Lifetrack's offices and are supervised by its management. Referals from Rehab Services
Innovation
What makes your locally-based collaboration innovative and unique?
Three strong and viable agencies were able to come together and share their resources and expertise without regard to "territorial" issues, but instead, concentrate on how can we best serve people whose employment and self-sufficiency issues have been underserved or ignored for so long. We each embrace the same philosophy that everyone deserves to find and maintain meaningful employment in the community and be productive members of our society. With the trust that we've built over the past 16 years together, we each work to put this collaborative partnership above our own self-interests. We proudly share our resources and expertise as well as co-equally the power and responsibility for setting the direction and running the MEC program.
Did you take risks in establishing this collaboration? Explain
Admittedly, it took a little time to find our way to being completely collaborative in all aspects of managing this ground-breaking program. We had to risk sharing our "trade secrets" in regard to fiscal management, development, human resources, etc. We also had to build trust with each other to address day-to-day staff and program management issues. But we realized the risks were well worth it.
How did this collaboration differ from the normal way of doing your work?
The collaborating agencies' lines of communication, management, finances, and staff support/management are completely intertwined with each other. We had to create a synergy among the agencies which would enable us to make decisions that were foremost responsive to the needs of the MEC program and the people it served. We didn't have any successful models to follow; we had to follow our instincts.
Impact
How do you know your collaboration has been effective?
Since its inception, MEC staff have served close to 2,000 people in their pursuit of a good job which suits their skills and interests. Year after year, MEC has been one of the State of Minnesota's top-performing Extended Employment programs. In 2009, MEC participants worked an average of 28 hours per week at an average wage of $9.77 an hour for total annualized earnings of $682,882. We created and pioneered the "occupational communication specialist" staff position; MEC staff are always happy to provide technical assistance to agencies across the country to help them train and develop OCSes. Programs similar to MEC have been set up in other agencies and MEC staff are willing to assist in their development, providing expertise. We present at state and national conferences to share info.
What progress or impact has been made?
MEC has continued to develop additional collaborative partnerships with other area agencies, including the VECTOR program with School District #287, providing vocational and career planning, job placement, and support services to high school students with hearing disabilities. We also helped develop the Deaf to Work program nationwide with Home Depot which have led to great retail jobs for many.
Next Steps
How would you go about continuing, expanding, or replicating this collaboration?
We have learned much about successful collaboration since the inception of MEC 16 years ago, and have taken that knowledge and experience into other program service areas. For instance, Rise and Lifetrack have established other equally successful program partnerships together as well as with other local agencies, most notably in the welfare-to-work area serving refugees and immigrants, whom the government considers "the most difficult to serve." We have also established collaborative partnerships involving AmeriCorps and have just entered our seventh program year. Close to 150 AmeriCorps members have served hundreds of people seeking meaningful employment which will lead to their self-sufficiency. This program is collaboratively administered by Rise (fiscal agent) plus AccessAbility, Catholic Charities, Hunger Solutions, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Lifetrack, and Project for Pride in Living. Rise also works collaboratively with several area school districts to provide school-to-work transition services for special education students. We just completed a four-year Mental Health Treatment Study with the Social Security Admin.; research findings will lead to federal changes.
Describe the current stage of implementation and desired next steps
Minnesota Rehab Services, Lifetrack Resources, Inc., and Rise, Inc. are confident that the need for MEC services will only continue to grow. We are working with legislators and policymakers in an attempt to keep the vital funding and support for services available for those who need them the most. We continue to work with area employers and businesses to help educate and make them aware of what a beneficial contribution MEC participants can make to their workforce. And we, as always, continue to work with other related service agencies who can help address their unique communication and employment issues and build a community which is more accepting of all its citizens. We will continue our efforts to assist others in replicating MEC-type services, both in Greater Minnesota and across the country. We envision having satellite MEC offices in many areas of Minnesota, partnering with the local social service and voc rehab agencies. This model of cooperation is sound and we know that thousands of others could benefit from it. In addition, the need for communication occupational specialists is obvious. We strive to work with educators to help design standardized curriculum to train OCS professionals. There is still much to do in the field of deaf and hard of hearing employment and we are willing and able to lead the way to more effective and responsive services.
| 134 weeks ago Beth DePoint updated this Competition Entry. | |
| 135 weeks ago Beth DePoint submitted this idea. |
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