Five Placements Are Better Than One:
The Power of Collaboration!
Working Together = SUCCESS
Building on Success and Expanding Employment
Opportunities
November 30, 2016
Speakers
2
Heather Mantell
Project Coordinator/Employer Liaison
Greater Merrimack Valley Employment Collaborative
Kristianne Widman
Project Coordinator/Employer Liaison
North Suburban Employment Collaborative
Historical Context for Collaboration
3
2008/2009
Governor Patrick Reached Out to Employers:
“Join me in becoming model employers of people with
disabilities. Tell me how state government can support
you to hire more individuals with disabilities.”
An Employer’s response:
“You need to streamline state and vendor employment
services. We need a more focused way to be able to
recruit and retain employees with disabilities.”
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Regional Employment Collaboratives (RECs)
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Central MA Employment Collaborative (CMEC) was one of five
“disability employment initiatives” initiated by a 2009 Medicaid
Infrastructure Grant (UMass administered – “Work Without Limits”)
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2013 decision to re-engage and expand the model of CMEC through
new funding initially provided by DDS. This funding allowed for four
more collaboratives throughout the state
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Due to the success of the five collaboratives DDS and DMH provided
funding to add one more Collaborative
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In 2015, 2016 MCB, MA Commission For the Blind (MCB) added
funding to Greater Boston Employment Collaborative (GBEC)
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The Mission
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 The REC’s core mission is to increase job opportunities for
individuals with disabilities
 The REC’s promote cooperation over competition
 Collaboration encourages improved coordination and
communication in engaging employers through a
partnership approach
The Model
6
The REC’s Collaborative Membership includes:
 Employment service providers and Community Based
Organizations (CBO’S) representing a wide variety of
individuals with disabilities
• State agency funding and representation; DDS, DMH, MCB
• Workforce development entities: Career Centers
• Employers: Regional, Large and Small across growing
industries
The Business Account Manager Role
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Business Account Managers:
 Meet with employers representing all Partners
 Provide assistance and consultation to Job Developers on
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employment related issues and convene Job Developer
Network (JDN) meetings
Assertively market labor pool of workers with disabilities to
businesses across region
Follow labor trends in Region, State, and Country
Identify population-specific needs
Do not provide direct services to individuals
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The Job Developer Role
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 Participate regularly in Job Developer Network (JDN)
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meetings
Develop and maintain their own employer relationships
Share job leads with the group
Support and mentor fellow job developers
Prepare job seekers for job search
Provide support to individuals placed in jobs and
employers
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Collaboration
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Why Collaborate?
 The JDN - Collaboration over Competition
 Bountiful Job Leads “ High Tides lifts all boats”
 Opening Doors at the Corporate and
Field/Regional Level
 Employment Practices and Trend sharing
Employer Quote
10
“I reached out to GBEC to fill an open position we had in a
medium size busy law practice. Their response time was
incredible and within a few days we had several candidates
interested in the position, one of which we hired and has
worked out very well for us and is now the newest member of
our family”
Noa Astor, Senior Paralegal
Dropkin & Matza LLP
Employer Quote
11
“I always know that when I get a referral from North Suburban
Employment Collaborative that I’m going to get a hardworking and motivated candidate who is ready to take on a
new challenge. We have had great success with this
partnership and really value the relationship that we have
built. I look forward to placing more amazing individuals.”
Heidi Havlerston, Human Resources Manager
Enterprise Holdings
Employer Quote
12
“We made the commitment to have 20% of our workforce
staffed with individuals with disabilities. We work with some
wonderful organizations -The Arc, Road to Responsibility,
Cardinal Cushing - we have some great partners. We opened
a store in Manchester last year, and we had these individuals
hired before that store opened – that’s how important they
are to our operation.”
Leo Vercollone, CEO
VERC Enterprises
REC Success
Finding Employment!
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Job Placements!
 In FY 2016 All together the six REC’s placed 805 individuals
 As of November 22nd 2016 (fiscal 2017) the total number of
placements for FY 2017 is 246
Employment Outcomes for FY 2016:
Thousands of job leads shared (approx. 500/week per Region )
 3474 resumes sent to employers
 4112 applications submitted
 1357 job interviews
 820 job offers
 805 job offers accepted
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Hiring Sectors
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 Auto Services
 Manufacturing
 Cleaning
 Sports Complexes
 Entertainment
 Non-Profit
 Grocery
 Retail
 Health
 Restaurants
 Hotel and Lodging
 Staffing
 Independent Contractors
REC Projects
15
RECs Job Training “Scholarship” Project
• Provides scholarships for short-term job training and
employment opportunities for individuals served by our
Partners such as:
• pharmaceutical technician
• certified nursing assistant
• home health aide/CNA
• office/administration
• computer technician
• solar panel installer
• HVAC technician
• Food service professions
• customer service/retail
• phlebotomy
REC Projects, Continued
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CVS and the RECs Store Training Program
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In June 2016, Five of the REC’S along with CVS
launched the pilot of the CVS and the REC’S Store
Experience Training Program
The pilot was well populated with 37 participants
Massachusetts only
5 of the 6 RECs participated
The pilot was successful in providing valuable insight
We are currently preparing for the second session
Success Stories
17
CVS and the RECs Store Experience Training Program
Pilot
 37 Total Participants
 64% Completed Soft Skills Training
 81% Who completed soft skills completed in store training
 78% Of participants that started the program completed the program
 62% Of the participants who started the program applied to CVS
 39% Of those who applied are pending hire
 39% Of those who applied have been hired
Contact Information
18
Heather Mantell, Project Coordinator, GMVEC
617-512-3983
[email protected]
Kristianne Widman, Project Coordinator, NSEC
617-352-2040
[email protected]
Stephanie Marks, Director of Employment Collaboratives
781-686-8146
[email protected]
Questions
19
What questions may we answer for you?