The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46349

Craig Thornton, PhD, Mathematica Policy Research, PO Box 2393, Princeton, NJ 08543, 609-799-3535, cthornton@mathematica-mpr.com

This presentation describes the State Partnership Initiative (SPI) and its conceptual underpinnings. SPI tests ways to increase employment and economic self-sufficiency among people with disabilities, particularly those who receive Social Security disability benefits. Currently, fewer than 7 percent of these beneficiaries work each month, and only a tiny fraction of them ever earn enough to leave the rolls. Improvements in work can help these beneficiaries increase their total income and live more independent lives. The low rate of beneficiary employment reflects, in part, four major barriers to employment: (1) inadequate understanding of available work incentives, (2) difficulty obtaining comprehensive services, (3) a need for more marketable skills, and (4) employer misperceptions about disabilities and abilities. The 18 projects funded under SPI test various policy combinations for addressing these barriers. Interventions include improving information about work incentives, instituting new work incentives, changing service systems to emphasize employment outcomes, providing better access to vocational supports, and working with employers. The projects have already enrolled over 4,300 people, and may double that by the demonstration’s end in 2003. While people with all types of disabilities have been enrolled, the most frequent disabling condition among enrollees in mental illness. SPI is the first of several recent initiative designed to promote employment among people with disabilities. These include the Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach, Protection and Advocacy Grants, Ticket to Work, Work Incentive Grants, and the Medicaid Infrastructure Grants. Collectively, these initiatives address the four barriers and offer considerable promise to people with disabilities.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will be able to

(
• understand the policy goals and structure of the Social Security Administration’s State Partnership Initiative, the first of a series of large scale employment-promotion initiatives being undertaken by SSA and other federal agencies, and (
• have a better understanding of the barriers to work faced by people who are receiving disability benefits and how those barriers can be addressed.

Keywords: Disability Policy, Federal Initiatives

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. - State Partnership Initiative Project Office
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Project Director, SSA Contract