Work, Economy and Organizations Commons^™

Welfare Reform Policies And Their Effect On Poverty Rates Across The United States, Luke N. Welle

Political Science Theses and Capstones

We have all heard the arguments on the pros and cons of welfare reform, its effect on recipient’s lives, and its effectiveness in achieving its goals. In concluding whether or not it is effective in achieving its goals, the actual goals are broad and difficult to define. I consider the goal being reducing the number of citizens living in poverty. My research focuses specifically on how variations in the welfare system perform in reducing poverty rates across the United States. I investigate what governmental policies each state has in place and their effect on poverty. Those states, in which poverty …

Research To Practice: Collaboration Between State Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities Agencies And State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies: Results Of A National Survey, Heike Boeltzig, Jean E. Winsor, Kelly Haines

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

Do state intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) agencies collaborate with their vocational rehabilitation (VR) counterparts? If so, in what ways and how formalized are these collaborative efforts? This Research to Practice Brief provides answers to those and other questions.

Outcomes Of Policies For Displaced Workers: An American Perspective, Christopher J. O'Leary

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Data Note: Patterns Of State, County, And Local Id/Dd Funding Allocation, Jean E. Winsor

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

State, County, and Local ID/DD dollars are one of the largest sources of funds for day and employment services; additionally as a funding source that is directly controlled within each state it is one of the most flexible sources of dollars for day and employment services. The allocation of these funds varied based upon year and service category: integrated employment, community based non-work, facility based work, and facility based non-work.

Institute Brief: Access For All Customers: Universal Strategies For One-Stop Career Centers, David Hoff, Elena Varney, Lara Enein-Donovan, Cindy Thomas, Sheila Fesko

The Institute Brief Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

One-Stop Career Centers serve a diverse range of customers. These include individuals with a variety of educational and work backgrounds, people from diverse racial, linguistic and ethnic cultures, as well as individuals with a wide range of disabilities and support needs. One way of addressing the needs of this diverse customer base is to develop services and systems that respond to the needs of each of these groups. However, this can be expensive and labor-intensive. A more effective way to serve this broad customer pool is to provide One-Stop services according to the principles of what is known as "universal …

Institute Brief: Supporting Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Quality Employment Practices, Alan Kurtz, Melanie Jordan

The Institute Brief Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

It has been known for decades that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including those with significant impairment or who have behaviors that others find challenging, can work when they are given appropriate supports. It is also clear that individuals with ASD can benefit from employment. Benefits include improved emotional state, greater financial gain, decreased anxiety, greater self-esteem, and greater independence. Nonetheless, employment outcomes for individuals with ASD have traditionally been poor. Even those who do find work are often underemployed or do not hold onto jobs for a long period of time.

Data Note: Disability And Occupation, Frank A. Smith, David Clark

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

It is well-documented that people with disabilities have a significantly lower rate of employment than people without disabilities (36% versus 74% according to the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS). Less is known about the types of work they do. Using the occupational classification system within the ACS, researchers explored the prevalence of people with disabilities within occupational groupings and discuss its relationship to occupational growth. Future analysis will address variation across disability groups.

Tools For Inclusion: Self-Determination: A Fundamental Ingredient Of Employment Support, Lora Brugnaro, Jaimie Ciulla Timmons

Tools for Inclusion Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

Persons with disabilities should direct their own job searches, from determining their interests and goals to researching employment opportunities to starting a new job. Doing so increases their sense of empowerment and can contribute to their employment success. Employment professionals have a facilitating role to play in the process. Job seeker self-determination practices should drive employment services' coordination, funding, and implementation.

Data Note: Vr Rehabilitation Rates Of People With Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities (Mr/Dd) In 2005, Frank A. Smith, Alberto Migliore

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

Of the over 48,000 persons nationwide with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities (MR/DD) who closed out of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) system after receiving employment services in FY2005, more than half were successful closures, yielding a rehabilitation rate of 56.9%. This rehabilitation rate is calculated by dividing the number of successful closures, which is employment in any setting with the exception of sheltered workshops, by the total number of closures who received employment services.

Data Note: Employment Rates For People With And Without Disabilities, Frank A. Smith, Dana Scott Gilmore

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

Data show that people with disabilities are consistently less likely to be working than their non-disabled counterparts. In this data note, we compare the employment rate for working-age people with and without disabilities.

Data Note: Relationship Between Integrated Employment And State Unemployment Rates For Mr/Dd Consumers, Katherine Fichthorn, Dana Scott Gilmore

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

State mental retardation/developmental disability (MR/DD) agencies provided day and employment supports to over 466,500 people in 2001. Approximately 23% of individuals supported by MR/DD agencies nationwide were employed in integrated employment settings, with individual state outcomes ranging from 2% to 56%.

Data Note: Relationship Between Mr/Dd Consumers In Integrated Employment And Working Ssi Recipients, Katherine Fichthorn, Dana Scott Gilmore

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

State mental retardation/developmental disability (MR/DD) agencies provided day and employment supports to over 466,500 people in 2001. Of these, 108,981 individuals were supported in integrated employment settings. The percentage of individuals working in integrated employment varied widely by state, from 56% in Washington to only 2% in Alabama.

Research To Practice: The National Survey Of Community Rehabilitation Providers, Fy2004-2005 Report 1: Employment Outcomes Of People With Developmental Disabilities In Integrated Employment, Heike Boeltzig, Dana Scott Gilmore, John Butterworth

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

Where do people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities work? What are their hours, wages, and benefits? This brief covers partial results from a survey that gives a snapshot of the outcomes for recently employed people with developmental disabilities.

Research To Practice: Trends And Emerging Issues Regarding Ssa/Vr Reimbursements For Ssi/Ssdi Recipients, John Halliday, Dana Scott Gilmore, Katherine Fichthorn

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

This brief discusses the declining amount of reimbursement paid to public VR agencies from federal fiscal year (FFY) 2002 to FFY 2005 by considering the impact that fewer claims submitted and a rising SGA level may have on the amount of reimbursement paid.

Massworks: Creating Effective Business Partnerships: What Businesses Want Human Service Agencies To Know, Rick Kugler, Cindy Thomas

MassWorks Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

In October 2005, the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston hosted Mission: Employment II, a conference that brought together people with disabilities and workforce, rehabilitation, and employment professionals. Representatives from the Massachusetts Business Leadership Network (MassBLN) presented these tips on how employment service providers can better respond to companies' needs.

Data Note: Vr Outcomes For People With Spinal Cord Injury, Frank A. Smith, Dana Scott Gilmore, John Butterworth

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

An estimated 250,000 people are living with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Since 2000, the average age of injury has been 38, with almost 80% of new injuries affecting men. Approximately 7,154 persons with SCI entered the VR service system in 2004. In 2004, 2382 individuals with SCI achieved successful rehabilitation with the support of state vocational rehabilitation agencies.

Research To Practice: The National Survey Of Community Rehabilitation Providers, Fy2002-2003 Report 3: Involvement Of Crps In The Ticket To Work And The Workforce Investment Act, Heike Boeltzig, John Butterworth, Dana Scott Gilmore

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

This Research to Practice brief examines CRP participation in the Ticket to Work and the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Findings showed that CRPs were more involved in WIA than the Ticket program.

Research To Practice: Community-Based Non-Work Services: Findings From The National Survey Of Day And Employment Programs For People With Developmental Disabilities, Jennifer Sullivan Sulewski, John Butterworth, Dana Scott Gilmore

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

As community-based services for adults with developmental disabilities develop, one category remains underexplored: community-based non-work (CBNW). Findings from an ICI survey show that while CBNW is a growing part of the service mix, its definitions and requirements remain fuzzy.

Massachusetts Marine Trades Workforce Assessment 2005, Dan Hellin

Urban Harbors Institute Publications

In 2005, a partnership between the South Coastal Workforce Investment Board, the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association, Massasoit Community College and the Urban Harbors Institute (UHI) of the University of Massachusetts Boston, developed and distributed a survey focused on the status, needs and future challenges faced by marine businesses in the South Coastal region of Massachusetts. The Urban Harbors Institute analyzed the responses and prepared this report to present the results.

The overall aims of the 2005 Marine Trades Workforce Assessment Survey were: to determine the extent of the marine industry’s labor needs in the South Coastal region of Massachusetts; to …

Institute Brief: The 30-Day Placement Plan: A Road Map To Employment, Colleen Condon, Amy Gelb, Joy Gould

The Institute Brief Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

There are many steps to finding and getting the right job, and this process can be challenging. Many job seekers have found that breaking the job search down into a series of small, workable tasks makes the process much more manageable. It also gives the job seeker a sense of accomplishment when each task is completed. A 30-Day Placement Plan is one way to keep tasks in order.

Research To Practice: Employment Services And Outcomes Of People Receiving Welfare Benefits And Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Susan Foley, Jonathan Woodring

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

Poverty programs have undergone substantial reform in the past decade, and there has been a heightened interest in exploring the experiences of people with disabilities who receive welfare benefits. This report profiles people with disabilities who had TANF, GA, or both at application to VR services and completed these services in the year 2003.

Massworks: Developing Community Partnerships To Reach Underserved Diverse Populations, Institute For Community Inclusion, University Of Massachusetts Boston

MassWorks Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

This issue of MassWorks highlights an innovative approach to enhancing services for individuals from diverse communities. The high unemployment rate and barriers to employment experienced by people with disabilities are well documented. For people from diverse communities, these barriers are compounded by factors such as language, cultural norms regarding work and disability, and difficulty accessing services. Community partnerships can provide a unique opportunity to improve services for individuals from diverse racial, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds.

Data Note: Employment Outcomes For People With Diabetes In The Vocational Rehabilitation System, Jonathan Woodring, Susan Foley, Lauren Miller

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

Approximately 18 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. Diabetes in and of itself does not necessarily qualify any given individual for disability services. However, for some individuals, diabetes can be serious enough or can lead to secondary conditions that enable them to qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services.

Institute Brief: When Existing Jobs Don't Fit: A Guide To Job Creation, Colleen Condon, Lara Enein-Donovan, Marianne Gilmore, Melanie Jordan

The Institute Brief Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

Successful job development for people with disabilities is about meeting the specific and often unique needs of each job seeker. Job creation is a way to modify or restructure existing jobs or bring together a combination of job tasks that fill the work needs of an employer while capitalizing on the skills and strengths of workers with significant disabilities. This is the second issue in the new ICI Professional Development Series.

Institute Brief: More Than Just A Job: Person-Centered Career Planning, Colleen Condon, Kristen Fichera, Danielle Dreilinger

The Institute Brief Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

Sometimes counselors think that person-centered career planning has to involve a big meeting, or is only for people with the most significant disabilities. The first issue in the new ICI Professional Development Series lays out the principles of listening to job seekers to help them shape and achieve their career goals.

Tools For Inclusion: Four Strategies To Find A Good Job: Advice From Job Seekers With Disabilities, Jaimie Ciulla Timmons, Doris Hamner, Jennifer Bose

Tools for Inclusion Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

An ICI study with job seekers revealed four strategies that can make it easier to find a job.

Tools For Inclusion: Evaluating Your Agency And Its Services: A Checklist For Job Seekers With Disabilities, Jaimie Ciulla Timmons, Melanie Jordan, David Hoff

Tools for Inclusion Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

It is important to evaluate employment services and decide if you are getting the results that you are looking for. You should have high expectations! If you are currently using an agency for help with employment, this checklist can help you make sure you are getting what you need.

Tools For Inclusion: Starting With Me: A Guide To Person-Centered Planning For Job Seekers, Melanie Jordan, Lara Enein-Donovan

Tools for Inclusion Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

A person-centered approach can help individuals with disabilities make satisfying job choices. This brief guides job seekers through a three-stage career development process that includes assessing their interests, researching the job market, and marketing themselves to potential employers.

The Development Of Boston's Seaport District: Employment Opportunities And Community Strategies, O. Steven Quimby

Gastón Institute Publications

The development of Boston's Seaport District will create thousands of full-time employment opportunities over the next decade. To ensure equitable access to these opportunities for Boston's communities of color, it is imperative that organizations offering employment-training programs begin to take these opportunities into account now in their training efforts. The Center for Community Economic Development (CCED) at the University of Massachusetts Boston has prepared this report, The Development of Boston's Seaport District: Employment Opportunities and Community Strategies, as a step in becoming informed about these opportunities.

This study examines employment opportunities to be created in three industries projected to be …

Death And Disability In The Heartland: Corporate (Mis)Conduct, Regulatory Responses, And The Plight Of Latino Workers In The Meatpacking Industry, Anna-Maria Wahl, Steven E. Gunkel, Thomas W. Sanchez

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Death and disability remain serious problems in the meatpacking industry, which increasingly depends on Latino workers. Here we examine these problems and the dynamics that heighten and minimize the hazards encountered in meatpacking plants. Drawing from published and unpublished sources, we provide statistical profiles and ethnographic accounts to capture the health and safety risks Latino workers face in the meatpacking plants of Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. Guided by recent research in labor market segmentation and the politics of social regulation, we trace the increased risk of injury and illness for Latinos to three intersecting dynamics: corporate conduct and misconduct on …