Ticket to Work e-Training Update for ENs March 2005 Please disseminate to all your staff involved with Ticket to Work. "Training Resources for the Business of Ticket" In this issue: 1. Message from the Manager 2. WOTC and Ticket to Work 3. Free EN Capitalization Training Coming to a City Near You 4. Department of Labor Calls for 2005 New Freedom Initiative Award Nominations 5. Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Contact Hours Available for Ticket to Work Online Courses 6. Keep Your Contact Information Up-to-Date 7. Join the March 29th EN Teleconference Training 8. Meet the MAXIMUS Training Team Message from the Training Manager: Welcome to the March e-Training Update. I do hope you find this and future editions to be of benefit to your Employment Network. In this issue, we feature the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, and the benefits this legislation brings to Employment Networks and their clients. I invite you to participate in the training program we will be conducting on WOTC on March 29, 2005, at 1:00 PM EST. The teleconference is open to all Employment Networks. I have had the opportunity to meet a number of Employment Network representatives at the EN Capitalization Project Training Programs conducted through the last year. Sandy Smith will be conducting the next training session in Seattle, Washington, on March 17, 2005. I do hope I get to meet you then, or at a future EN Capitalization Project training session. The EN Capitalization Project has received overwhelmingly favorable reactions and evaluations from the over 500 Employment Network staff who have attended the 13 EN Capitalization training sessions, as well as the over 400 individuals who have received direct technical assistance from Sandy Smith. If you have any questions about the EN Capitalization Project, or would like technical assistance, please contact Sandy at Ext. 6671, or sandrasmith@maximus.com. Terry Martin, Ed.D. Training Manager WOTC and the Ticket Ticket to Work Program The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit created to incentivize employers to hire from nine targeted groups of job seekers. On March 2, 2004, President Bush signed into law the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, Public Law 108-203. Section 405 of this Act makes WOTC available to employers who hire Ticket beneficiaries referred by an Employment Network (EN) participating in the Ticket to Work Program. Previously, WOTC was only available to the employer if the referral came from state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies. Under WOTC, an employer can receive up to $2,400 in federal income tax credits for each WOTC-qualifying Ticket beneficiary hired. For an employer to qualify for WOTC, the Ticket beneficiary must be a SSDI or SSI (blind or disabled) recipient who is currently participating in the Ticket to Work Program and has established an Individual Work Plan (IWP) with an Employment Network. There are no restrictions on the number of qualified Ticket beneficiaries an employer can hire. WOTC is one tool in a diverse toolbox of flexible strategies designed to help people move from federal assistance to work and gain on-the-job experience. It joins other education and job training initiatives and targeted tax credits that help American workers prepare for good jobs; ease the transition from job to job; and create high performance workplaces. While current forms and the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) materials have not been updated to include the new target group, Ticket-holders will be included and treated the same as an individual who qualifies under the group who completed or is completing rehabilitative services with a state Vocational Rehabilitation agency. ETA released a Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL 15-04) to inform State Workforce Agencies (SWA) regarding the inclusion of the Ticket to Work Program to WOTC. Since the new provision was enacted in March 2004 and WOTC certification requires the employers to submit IRS Form 8850 to the SWA within 21 days after the individual begins work, the new provision will not apply to Ticket beneficiaries hired prior to March 2004. As the Program Manager, MAXIMUS maintains a database of eligible Ticket-holders who qualify as a target group under WOTC. MAXIMUS will verify certification requests from State and Regional WOTC Coordinators. Before starting the process, it is advised that prior to an employer submitting their first certification request to the State or Regional WOTC Coordinator, that the employer inquires about the process for submitting a certification request and the desired format. Each state may have a slightly different process for pre-screening and certification based on state guidelines. Since certification is based on eligibility and the submission of time-sensitive documentation, it is critical to know the process and to operate within those guidelines. This new provision provides Employment Networks with a marketing tool to offer employers an incentive to hire individuals with disabilities who receive employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services under the Ticket to Work Program. ENs may consider several options: 1. Hire Ticket-holders to your organization thus allowing you to qualify for the tax credit. 2. Coach Ticket-holders to market themselves as eligible for the tax credit when seeking job placement. 3. Provide technical assistance to employers in identifying new hires who are part of this target group. 4. Market your organization as an Employment Network who can qualify Ticket-holders so that employers can request the tax credit. By completing an IWP, the EN makes a Ticket-holder eligible as part of the target group. To receive comprehensive information about WOTC and to obtain a directory of State and Regional WOTC Coordinators, visit the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Web site at www.uses.doleta.gov/tax.asp. Upcoming EN Training Events: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Free EN Capitalization Training Coming to a City Near You! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Locations Dates . Seattle, WA March 17, 2005 Participants will be instructed in the use of the EN Capitalization Resource Directory as a tool for seeking and securing funding. The seminar will focus on developing strategic fund-raising processes. Particular emphasis will be given to accessing funding from foundations, and hands-on exercises to develop skills in fund-raising. The seminar will be conducted in two identical three-hour sessions. The morning session will be conducted from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM, and the afternoon session from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM. Participants may choose the most convenient location and session. There is no registration fee, and Certified Rehabilitation Counselors will be awarded 2.75 contact hours. EN Capitalization & Ticket to Work Training Registration Form or call 1-866-968-7842 ext. 6662 Department of Labor Calls for 2005 New Freedom Initiative Award Nominations The Department of Labor is calling upon non-profits, small businesses, corporations, and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in advancing the employment and workplace environment of people with disabilities to submit their entries for the 2005 "Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award." The Award recognizes public-private partnerships and programs that have had a positive impact on the employment of people with disabilities through access to assistive technologies, the use of innovative training, and hiring and retention techniques. It also recognizes organizations, businesses, or individuals who develop comprehensive strategies to enhance the ability of Americans with disabilities to enter and advance within the workforce of the 21st Century. Additional information on the award and specific nomination criteria are available in the February 10, 2005 Federal Register or at www.dol.gov/odep under the New Freedom Initiative tab. The information is also available by calling the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Education and Outreach Section, at (202) 693-7880. The deadline for receipt of nominations is May 27, 2005 (mailing deadline is May 22, 2005). The New Freedom Initiative contains a comprehensive set of proposals designed to ensure that Americans with disabilities have the opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their daily lives, and participate fully in their communities. ODEP has primary responsibility for implementing the employment-related aspects of the New Freedom Initiative. Article excerpts taken from the ODEP News Release: [02/10/2005] Release Number: 05-0221-NAT Note: Ticket to Work is a key component of the New Freedom Initiative Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Contact Hours Available for Ticket to Work Online Courses CRC Contact Hours are available for successful completion of any Ticket to Work Online Courses. To receive CRC Contact Hours, contact Andrea Stapleton at andreastapleton@maximus.com for enrollment information. Type "CRC Enrollment" in the subject field and include your Employer Identification Number (EIN). Keep Your Contact Information Up-to-Date In order to keep you updated on the latest Ticket to Work news and information, we need you to keep us informed of any changes to your contact information. You can e-mail, fax, or write us with updates to this information, including the services you provide, groups served, and service area. EN Capitalization & Ticket to Work Training Registration Form To register for an upcoming EN Capitalization & Ticket to Work Training session, you may either access the registration form at www.yourtickettowork.com and click on EN Capitalization Resources, or call 1-866-968-7842 ext. 6662 CD-ROM Training Now Available 1.IWP Process 2.Payment Process ENs may request these CDs from the Training Team Join the March 29, 2005 EN Conference Call Training Date: March 29, 2005 Time: 1:00 -3:00 PM Eastern Time Host: Terry Martin, Ed.D. & Dan Betts Topic: WOTC and Ticket to Work Topic Discussion: Employment Networks now armed with a new marketing tool to offer employers when a job candidate is a Ticket beneficiary - the potential to receive up to $2,400 in federal income tax credits for each qualifying SSDI and SSI (blind or disabled) beneficiary hired. This new marketing tool, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), is actually new legislation that was signed into law in March 2004. Now that WOTC has been fully implemented, it is a great incentive to offer employers! Join WOTC experts and other Employment Networks in reviewing this new legislation. Learn how WOTC impacts the Ticket to Work Program, and how to leverage this new legislation as an effective marketing tool to employers. We will also discuss strategies to incorporate WOTC into your marketing plan. The Forum will be conducted simultaneously via conference call and through the Chat Room on the EN Forum. Instructions will be mailed to those who register. Space is limited, therefore we suggest you register early. Depending upon the level of interest, additional sessions may be scheduled. Employment Networks can access the dial-in number and participant code by calling Michelle Grande at 1-866-968-7842 ext, 6618. For additional information on WOTC and the Ticket to Work Program, visit the Ticket to Work Web site at www.yourtickettowork.com, and click on "WOTC & Ticket to Work." Meet the Training Team Terry Martin, Training Manager Ext. 6602 terrymartin@maximus.com Andrea Stapleton, Training Coordinator Ext. 6616 andreastapleton@maximus.com Wendy Brodhead, Training Coordinator Ext. 6619 jwendybrodhead@maximus.com Michelle Grande, Training Coordinator Ext. 6618 michellegrande@maximus.com Damarie Rovnak, Training Coordinator Ext. 6707 damarierovnak@maximus.com Dan Betts, Operations Manager Ext. 6717 danbetts@maximus.com For more information, please call us at the Ticket to Work toll-free number 1-866-YOURTICKET (1-866-968-7842); fax us at 703-683-0957; or visit us at our Web site www.yourtickettowork.com