Institute for Economic Empowerment

Drawing on input from the Employment Data Workgroup and discussions with the Institute and a wide range of Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs), Catoctin Consulting, LLC has drafted an Employment Database System Concept Document.

The Employment Database will provide employment data at the individual worker level, to track individuals and outcomes over time. This will result in:

• Greater understanding of the nonprofit agency (NPA) workforce and the results achieved by the AbilityOne Program
• Design and evaluation of Institute research projects targeted to the needs of the NPA community, including identification of NPAs to participate in particular demonstrations
• The ability for NPAs to document outcomes achieved, benchmark their results against other organizations, and identify areas where there might be best practices based on the quantitative data.

The data analysis found that the core of the employment data resides in the payroll and other systems of the NPAs, and that some of the agencies have a need for an improved case management system to support their operational needs.
 
The system concept is to work with the NPAs to plan interfaces to their systems that will extract the data, remove personally identifiable information, and send it to the Employment Database. NPAs will be able to access their own data and compare it with aggregate data of other NPAs.
 
The Employment Database will not contain social security numbers or other personally identifiable information. Individuals will be known only as anonymous research subjects, thus avoiding any concern over compromise of privacy or identity theft. 
 
The development and implementation of the system will begin in 2010 with the first group of NPAs and system interfaces. Additional NPAs and interfaces, and software at the NPA level will be phased in over time. Gathering data at the worker level from NPAs who have varied automation environments is a complex endeavor and will take time.

The document includes:

• The system concept for a system for the Institute, referred to as the Employment Research System (ERS), supported by an Employment Database (EDB)
  
• The system concept for a Submission System at the CRPs, to interface with payroll and other systems at CRPs and provide input to the EDB
• A concept for a new Case Management System for those CRPs desiring such a system, and an
• Implementation Strategy.

In addition, it includes appendices including a Data Dictionary describing the data to be collected.

The document is available for download and review:

Employment Database System Concept Document [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 400.05 KB].

 

The Institute for Economic Empowerment (The Institute) seeks support from one or more contractors in conducting research and in identifying and/or developing and testing both employment and ongoing employment support strategies that are responsive to the short and long term employment needs of severely disabled veterans who have been identified as having a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Institute seeks a contractor(s) that is experienced in:

• Designing and conducting field research, including interviews and focus groups
• Identifying career goals, employment interests and employment support needs of persons with severe disabilities, particularly persons with TBI and/or PTSD
• Analyzing potential employment opportunities and related Federal Government procurement opportunities
• Designing employment support strategies
• Communicating with veterans with severe disabilities
• Designing mental health service and support strategies and systems

Documents:

Solicitation INST-RFP-200902 [Word Document - 156.5 KB]

NISH Non Disclosure Agreement  [Word Document - 731 KB]

Questions and Answers [Word Document - 33 KB]

Response Date: 

August 14, 2009, 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time

 

The Institute for Economic Empowerment is pleased to announce the award of a contract to Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Mathematica will be working with the Institute in implementation of two Institute research priorities.   
 
1. New Employer Payroll Tax Incentives
In order to dramatically expand employer demand for workers with severe disabilities, the Institute will explore the creation of a new Employer Payroll Tax incentive that links employment of a specific percentage of persons with severe disabilities within the employer's workforce to a specific reduction of the employer's overall Federal payroll tax rate.
 
2. Budget Scoring Model for AbilityOne Contracts  
In order to increase the use of the AbilityOne Program and thus increase job opportunities for people with severe disabilities through the Program, the Institute is funding the development of a budget scoring model for AbilityOne contracts.
 
Mathematica was chosen through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process that included an initial bidder's conference, panel scoring, and follow up interviews.  Both projects will involve work with NISH producing Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs). Interested CRPs are encouraged to subscribe to the Institute's newsletter, Empower, for updates. See the subscription box on the right side of the home page of this website.

It takes a team to reach new summits, whether in climbing or in employment. Pioneer Adult Rehabilitation Center (PARC) is a Community Rehabilitation Program administered by Davis School District (DSD) in Clearfield, Utah.  For over 30 years businesses have relied on PARC for their production needs, large or small, short term or long term. The 40,000 square foot production area at PARC is fully equipped with a clean room, wet room, and multiple loading docks.

PARC is an industry leader in the federal government AbilityOne contracts. Over 300 Hill Air Force Base buildings are cleaned around the clock daily by PARC employees. Serving the Air Force for nearly 11 years, this contract employs over 178 people and grosses $5.7 million a year for PARC.

PARC is always open to new and innovative ways to improve their business practices. PARC has implemented numerous solutions which are in are worthy of being shared in this Quality Work Environment (QWE) Clearinghouse:

• The PARC Pre-Employment Determination (PPED) Process identifies a person's passion, capabilities, desired environment, etc., and matches them with the work environment and supports needed for them to be successful.
• The Employment of Choice Program and the Jigs and Motivational Support Team (JAMS Team)  helps to ensure that people with more severe disabilities get to make choices with regard to work, personal growth, and social growth, also improving project productivity.
• Systematic Instructional Training, is a methodology in which people are trained through demonstration and assistance, rather than through verbal explanations.
• PARC is developing AbilityOne supervisors through an intensive AbilityOne Intern Program.
• PARC has implemented RFID for laundry sorting, which enables people to sort laundry without needing to be able to read.
• In addition to Safety Training for Staff and Workers, which has resulted in a decrease in safety incidents and thus a decrease in workers compensation costs, PARC has implemented a Safety Incentive Program, which achieves cost savings from a reduction in lost labor hours due to on-the-job accidents, fostering an environment of "Safety First" thinking.
• PARC has qualified for the OS1 Green Cleaning Certification since 2006, making a commitment to the environment.
• PARC teamed with Ogden Climbing Park to provide Teambuilding through Outdoor Adventures for its workers and staff.