Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel
Quarterly Public Meeting

Woodin Suite Hotel
Emeryville, CA

Tuesday, August 17, 2004 – Day One

Danzell Cutler, Alternate Designated Federal Officer, called the meeting to order at approximately 9:07 AM and turned the meeting over to Chair, Sarah Wiggins Mitchell.

Presiding: Sarah Wiggins Mitchell
Welcome, Introductions and Review of the Agenda

Attendees
Advisory Panel Members
Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, Chair, Mary Katie Beckett, Libby Child, Berthy De La Rosa-Aponte, Thomas Golden, Andy Imparato, Jerome Kleckley, Bryon MacDonald, David Miller (via-phone), Stephen Start, Frances Gracechild and Torrey Westrom.

Advisory Panel Staff
Marie Strahan, Executive Director, Kristen Breland, Monique Fisher, Mayra Vasquez, and Jim Wiegel.

Alternate Designated Federal Officer
Danzell Cutler

Presenters
Patty Robidart, Martin Gerry, Pam Mazerski and Sue Sutter, Social Security Administration, Mary Satterfield, Maximus, Inc., Beverlee Stafford, Rehabilitation Services Administration; Carey Appold, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Denise Matta, Raymond Washington, Matthew Lichy, and Christian Dillon, California; Catherine Campisi, California Department of Rehabilitation; Teddi-Joy Remhild, L.A. County Personal Assistance Services Council; Brenda Premo, Western University of Health Sciences; Rice Russell, Goodwill Industries of Southern California; Tanya Gallagher, AOI Advisory Group; Tamara Allen and Barbara Butz, Capstone, Inc.; and Curtis Richards, National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth

Members of the Public
Andre Argabright, Dwight Bateman, Steven Brue, Sara Beckham-Henry, Julie DeVault, Clynda Dixon, Du Gavaldon, Susan Goodman, Anson Haughton, Bill Hickman, Marilyn Kohn, Dan Kysor, Matthew Lichy, Barbara Mann, Peter Mead, Abygail Medina, Sandra Moore, Mike Mundy, Rob Russo, Sharon Shreet, Anne Steiner, Michael Thomas, Raymond Washington, Susan Webb, and Dianne Whitman-Miner

Social Security Administration Updates
Presenter:  Martin Gerry, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Disability and Income Security Programs
Topic:  Feedback from the conversation with the Commissioner of SSA on contracts and consultant agreements (It was noted that all the items requested were approved); Ticket Program Evaluation Report

Presenter:  Sue Suter, Associate Commissioner, Office of Employment Support Programs
Topic:  Ticket Program Evaluation Report

Presenter:  Patty Robidart, Deputy Regional Commissioner, San Francisco
Topic:  Status Report of TTW at the California Regional Level

Presenter:  Pam Mazerski, Associate Commissioner, Office of Program Development and Research
Topic:  SSA Work Opportunity Vision

Presenter: Mary Satterfield, Vice President, Maximus, Inc. and Project Director, SSA Ticket to Work Program
Topic: SSA Operations Report/Update

Break

Rehabilitation Services Administration
Presenter:  Beverlee Stafford, Director, Program Administration Division
Topics:  Draft of the information memorandum; relationships with VRA agencies and the ENs; policies on comparable benefits and the Ticket to Work program; ongoing relationships with SSA

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Presenter:  Carey Appold, Technical Director Employment Programs
Topic:  CMS project program update and progress

Lunch

California Consumer Panel
Facilitator:  Tamara Allen, Consultant, Capstone Inc.
Presenters:  Denise Matta, Raymond Washington, Matthew Lichy, Christian Dillon
Topics:  Review of the interactions with SSA and CA State Rehabilitation Industries; SSA benefits for individuals with disabilities; the Ticket to Work experience

Break

Public Comment
Presenters:  Peter Mead, Disability Management Employer CoalitionRichard Gallo, BPAO/Independent Living Specialist Steven Bruce, People with Disabilities Foundation, Dan Kysor, California Council for the Blind
Topics: Private insurance industry commentary on the value of the Ticket to Work reforms; how to improve recruitment of ticket holders using companies in the private sector, e.g., insurance companies; how to work with the private sector to manage/leverage claims; how to reduce SSA overpayment confusion; how to ensure that the one-stop employment centers and the employment networks are fully accessible to individuals that are visually impaired; training and information sharing within the Ticket to Work program.

Update on Advisory of Incentives Advisory Group
Presenter:  Tanya Gallagher, AOI Advisory Group
Topic:  Report from the Adequacy of Incentives Advisory Group; blending of resources and braiding of funds; research findings and recommendations

Task:  Within two weeks, the AOI Advisory Group will compile all of the reports from the AOI Advisory with an Executive Summary for distribution to the Panel members.

Post Entitlement Workgroup
Facilitator:  Jim Wiegel, Institute of Cultural Affairs
Topics:  Designing the parameters for a working group to address the needs of the beneficiaries; what is the customer service level needed to ensure that the Ticket to Work meets the need of the customer; review of the consultants and other resources needed; outline the agenda for the meeting.

Action: The Panel decided to table the discussion until the next Business Meeting.

Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, Chair, adjourned the meeting at approximately 5:16 PM.

Wednesday, August 18, 2004 – Day Two

The meeting reconvened at approximately 9:01 AM with Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, Chair presiding.

California Workforce Inclusion Panel
Facilitator: Curtis Richards, Senior Fellow, Institute for Educational Leadership National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth

Presenters: Herb Schultz, Acting Director, Employment Development Department, California Labor and Workforce Agency

Catherine Campisi, Director, California Department of Rehabilitation

Teddie-Joy Remhild, Public Affiars Community Liaison, L.A. County Personal Assistance Services Council.

Topics:  California workforce development system; disability access policy coming of the age; statues and initiatives to reduce conflicts between healthcare and support service programs' eligibility criteria; how the California society can expand economic self-sufficiency; leveraging funds for disability programs; expanding employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities; transitioning young people with disabilities seamlessly into the workforce; overview of AB 925-employment of persons with disabilities; creating a sustainable strategy to employ people with disabilities.

Break

California Workforce Inclusion Panel (cont'd)
Presenters:  Maeve Gannon, Program Director, Berkeley Center for Independent Living

Rice Russell, Disability Program Manager, Goodwill Industries of Southern California

Brenda Premo, Director, Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions, Western University of Health Sciences.

Topics:  Overview of AB 925 from a benefits planning and outreach perspective; why is there an aversion to the Ticket to Work program – lack of understanding of how the ticket works; marketing campaign – “EmployABILITY” Partnership; jobs and careers for people with disabilities; work source California – network of employment service centers dedicated to helping individuals find jobs and advance their careers.

Lunch

Public Roundtable Discussion

Facilitator:  Jim Wiegel, Institute of Cultural Affairs
Topics:  What are the key insights and implications for policy and implementation as we go forward to the next several years of implementation of the Ticket to Work program; how to improve customer service; aggressively marketing the Ticket to Work to the consumers; review the payment structure of the ENs; how can SSA develop programs and assistance to support and raise capital for non-profit organizations who would like to become ENs; technical assistance and training for ENs; public education of Ticket to Work. 

Break

Business Meeting
July Meeting Minutes
 Motion:  The panel passed a motion to accept the minutes as prepared for the July 22-23, 2004 meeting

Suggestion:  There was a recommendation to the Chair to have presenters only utilize the time allotted for presentations which is 5-8 minutes and use the remaining time for questions and answers.

Administrative Update
Presenter:  Marie Strahan, Executive Director
Topic:   A review of staffing, budgets and consultants

Adopt Annual Priorities
Topic:  The Panel reviewed who is responsible for monitoring the priorities of the SSA Advisory Panel and updated the priority list.

Post Entitlement Workgroup – Follow up
Action:  The Panel decided to table the discussion until Thursday, August 19, 2004.

Other
Topic:  Review outstanding action items that require follow-up.

Action:  The Panel decided to table the discussion until Thursday, August 19, 2004.

Action:  The PDIE committee will conduct a conference call at 1:00 PM EST on Friday, August 19, 2004.

Action:  Thomas Golden, Libby Child and Torrey Wetrom will chair the NPRM Outreach Planning Committee.

Frances Gracechild acknowledged the hard work, leadership and dedication of Sarah Wiggins Mitchell as the Chair of the Panel on the Ticket to Work Program.

Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, Chair, adjourned the meeting at approximately 5:07 PM.

Thursday, August 19, 2004 – Day Three

The meeting reconvened at approximately 9:10 AM with Libby Child, Acting Chair, presiding.

Public Comment
Presenters:  Rob Russo, San Francisco, CA
Topic:  Experiences with SSA and the Ticket to Work program

Panel Discussions and Deliberations
Facilitator:  Jim Wiegel, Institute of Cultural Affairs
Topic:  Panel deliberation on discussion points from the public roundtable; PE seminar; SSA brochure; quarterly meeting review; Congressional briefing; 2004 & 2005 meeting dates; how to utilize the testimonies from the beneficiaries

Action:  The Panel confirmed November 17-19, 2004 as the dates for the next quarterly meeting. 

Motion:  The Panel passed a motion to change the dates of the February meeting. The new meeting dates are February 23-25, 2005.

Suggestion: The Panel should host a retreat for new panel members to assist with Panel orientation.

 Break

Panel Discussions and Deliberations (cont'd)

Facilitator:  Jim Wiegel, Institute of Cultural Affairs
Topic:  Continuation of Panel deliberation and discussion

Suggestion: The Panel should explore ways to utilize the testimonies of the beneficiaries, e.g., via the Internet and Maximus, etc.

Libby Child, Acting Chair, adjourned the meeting at approximately 11:30 AM.