Putting Faith to Work Exploring New Possibilities within Old Traditions Bill Gaventa Erik Carter And many, many others…

Putting Faith to WorkExploring New Possibilities within Old Traditions

Bill GaventaErik CarterAnd many, many others…

https://statedata.info/statedatabook/bluebook2012_final.pdf

75%are

unemployed

5%integratedsettings

19%participate in

the labor force

29%poverty

rate

Critical Need for New Approaches

Critical Need for New Approaches

• Persistent and pervasive problems of unemployment • Lack of other valued avenues for community contribution • Service systems beyond their capacities to meet deep needs• Natural support systems regularly overlooked

All Americans Americans with Disabilities

Employed

Employed

Equipping Natural Supports

More Than 335,000

CongregationsNationally

Average of186 Attenders

(200 million people of

faith)

The Need for Innovation

Formal Expertise, Resources,

and Services

Natural Supports,

Connections, and Personal Commitment

Meaningful Employment

The Call and Opportunity

The Goals of the PFTW Project

1. Extend the field’s understanding of the possibilities and potential challenges of engaging congregations in supporting employment for people with disabilities

2. Replicate and refine a practical and flexible model for congregations to address the employment needs of people with disabilities

3. Recruit, equip, and coach congregations to support up to 60 individuals with a disability to secure and/or maintain employment across 4 states

4. Evaluate the PFTW model’s impact, feasibility, and accessibility

5. Ensure project findings penetrate practice by disseminating broadly through prominent national disability and faith networks

Collaborators

www.faithanddisability.org

Putting Faith to Work Model

Invitations and EncouragementSupport and Guidance

Linkages to Services & ResourcesConnections to Other Congregations

Community Groups

Businesses & Employer Networks

Civic Groups Non-Profits

Other Churches

Synagogues Mosques

Schools and Colleges

Friends & Relatives

Other Associa-

tions

CongregationMembers

Access to Meaningful WorkFor People with Disabilities

Hmmmm...I should probably

ask

Operatesa day care

Is a frontline supervisor

Works at the university

Owns a landscaping

business

Is a vocationalrehab counselor

Works ina law firm

Coordinates a non-profit network

Does odd jobs around town

Works at the municipal offices Owns a nursery

Runs a local bank

Leads her HR department

Works at a restaurant

Is a construction contractor

Works ata grocery store

Runs a temp agency

From a prominent family in town

Volunteers with Habitat

Garden club member

In a book club (Jane Eyre)

Serves on thecity councilRotary club

member

Involved in a running club

Is a Chamber member

Golfs with the VP of Big CompanyAlways “knows a

guy” who...

Knows the mayor

Is a regular at the local

coffeehouse

Is the “real”mayor of Atlanta

Is a incredible “asker”

Interviews people everyday

Can keep just about anyone encouraged

Knows what itslike to be out of work

Has connections to disability agenciesWrites beautiful resumes

Loves helping people find their calling

Great at making introductions

Knows every doctor in town

Will mentor someone interested in her field

Could hire someone at the church

Would be great at leading a “job club”

Could hire someone at their business

Could drive someone to an interview

Willingness to Ask?

How likely would you be to draw upon the support of your faith community for help connecting to employment?

Inviting Faith Communities• Building an initiative project around one

person• Person with disability and/or family member

asking• Word of mouth among disability networks• Helping a young adult with transition• Beginning a new ministry in line with mission• Expanding scope of current employment

ministry or Job Club• Expanding scope of inclusive or “special”

ministries• Tapping gifts of members in a new way• Agency invitation for collaboration…start with

one.• And ways yet to be found…..

Congregations and Faith Networks

Disability Organizations

Individuals with

Disabilities and Families

Employment Providers

Inviting Faith Communities• General

announcements• To congregations with

disability ministry initiatives• To families impacted

by disability• To agencies providing

disability services• To faith-based

networks

Inviting Congregation Members• Bulletin inserts• PowerPoint

announcements• Social media• Newsletters• Personal invitations• Other approaches

Conversations About WorkQuestions to Answer• Which strengths, gifts, and passions

should we consider when thinking about a meaningful job?

• Which prior experiences should we remember when considering possible jobs?

• What types of job responsibilities might be a really great fit?

• What are possible businesses and organizations in our community where these types of jobs exist?

• Who should we talk to in our congregation (or beyond) who may have connections to such employers?

• What supports do we think will be needed to promote success?

• What are our next steps as a group?

Conversations about Work

A Glimpse into this Work

One Page Profiles

Reverse Job Ads

80070FamilyMembers

Friends andClose Companions

Acquaintances(Coworkers, Neighbors)

People Paidto Be There

Anticipated Project Outcomes• A flexible, step-by-step model is available for use by virtually any

congregation• Multiple, diverse exemplars of congregational supports will be

compiled and disseminated• Congregations, service systems, and employers increase their

capacity, confidence, and commitment to work in concert• Individuals with disabilities gain access to a broader range of

natural supports to draw upon to find and maintain employment• 67 UCEDDs in every state have access to guidance on how to

engage new partners in improving employment outcomes • Relationships between faith communities using the model and with

private and public sector employment resources are enhanced.• A model of ministry in this area is articulated to help congregations

catch a vision for this work

Some Clear Challenges

• New territory for some individuals, congregations, and service providers • Congregations often move at a

different pace• Developing a flexible model that works

for diverse communities is difficult• Sustaining efforts beyond the life of the

grant• Many others…

Working Committee on Employment:• Statement of Solidarity• Expanding Employment Opportunities for

People with Disabilities: Suggested Steps for Congregations• Bulletin Insert:

Expanding Employment Opportunitiesfor People with Disabilities

http://www.aapd.com/idac-statement-of-solidarity.pdf

ArizonaTemple Emanuel of Tempe, AZCaliforniaCongregation Beth AM - Los Altos Hills, CAKalsman Institute on Judaism and Health, HUC-JIR - Los Angeles, CANational Council of Jewish Women, California State Public Affairs Committee - San Diego, CATemple Beth Hillel - Valley Village, CATemple Ramat Zion - Northridge, CA Temple Sinai of Oakland, CAZiegler School of Rabbinic Studies - Los Angeles, CAConnecticutAll Abilities Ministry, Inc. - New Haven, CTCongregation B'nai - Bridgeport, CTCongregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek - Chester, CTGishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation - Southington, CTFloridaPresentation Brothers - Kissimmee, FLGeorgiaCentenary Unitied Methodist Church - Macon, GAJewish Family and Career Services of Atlanta, GATemple Beth Tikvah - Roswell, GATemple Sinai of Sandy Springs, GAThe Amit Program - Atlanta, GAIllinoisLutheran Social Services of Illinois - Des Plaines, ILNational Council of Jewish Women, Illinois State Public Affairs Committee - Chicago, ILTemple Jeremiah - Northfield, ILIndianaAnabaptist Disabilities Network - Goshen, INFirst Baptist Church of South Bend, INTemple Beth-El - South Bend, INMassachusettsAndover Newton Theological School - Newton Centre, MAFalmouth Jewish Congregation - East Falmouth, MAJewish Vocational Service - Boston, MATemple Emunah - Lexington, MAMaineHenderson Memorial Baptist Church - Farmington, MEMarylandBrown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church - Baltimore, MDJewish Social Services Agency - Rockville, MDShaare Tefila Congregation - Olney, MDUniversity Baptist Church - College Park, MDMichiganChristian Reformed Church in North America - Grand Rapids, MIMinnesotaJewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis, MNLutheran Social Service of Minnesota -

Saint Paul, MNNorth CarolinaBeth Meyer Synagogue - Raleigh, NCNew JerseyAmerican Baptist Churches of New Jersey - Trenton, NJCongregation Beth Mordecai - Perth Amboy, NJJewish Vocational Service of MetroWest - East Orange, NJLiving Word Baptist Church - Toms River, NJNational Council of Jewish Women, New Jersey State Public Affairs Committee - Elizabeth, NJOr Chadash - Flemington, NJState Association of Jewish Federations - Union, NJTemple Beth-El - Hillsborough, NJTemple Emanu-El - Westfield, NJTemple Ner Tamid - Bloomfield, NJNew YorkCapital Regional Ecumenical Organization - Malta, NYCentral Conference of American Rabbis - New York, NYCongregation Rodeph Sholom - New York, NYCongregation Sons of Israel - Upper Nyack, NYJewish Labor Committee - New York, NYTemple Israel of South Merrick - Merrick, NYTemple Sinai of Roslyn - Roslyn Heights, NYOhioJewish Family Service Association of Cleveland, OH Jewish Family Services of Columbus, OHOhio Jewish Communities - Columbus, OHPennsylvaniaCongregation Dor Hadash - Pittsburgh, PADevelopmental Programs Division of Catholic Social Services, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, PAInternational Association of Jewish Vocational Services - Philadelphia, PAJEVS Human Services - Philadelphia, PAJewish Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, PA Jewish Family Service - Wilkes-Barre, PALinks of Love Disability Ministry - Lansdale, PAOffice for Ministry with Persons with Disabilities Diocese of Allentown, PA Paul's Run Retirement Community - Philadelphia, PATexasCongregation Agudas Achim - Austin, TXCongregation Beth El - Missouri City, TXCongregation Emanu El - Houston, TXJewish Family Service - Houston, TXNational Council of Jewish Women, Texas State Public Affairs Committee - Austin, TXVermontFirst Baptist Church of Bellows Falls, VTVirginiaTemple House of Israel - Staunton, VA Temple Israel of Norfolk - Norfolk, VAWashington, DCChurch of the Pilgrims - Washington, DC

Georgetown Presbyterian Church - Washington, DCTemple Micah - Washington, DCWest VirginiaNational Volunteer Caregiving Network - Wheeling, WVWisconsinBethesda Lutheran Communities - Watertown, WI Wisconsin Jewish Conference - Madison, WI

Putting Faith to Work Partners

• Opportunity to start and work with four state project before the funded project ends• Use own funds and/or staff resources• Access to resources, materials and lessons learned thus

far through technical assistance by phone and web• Willingness to provide feedback and learning into the

wider project• Willingness to sign Partnership Agreement related to

mutual responsibilities

Contact Person: Bill Gaventa, [email protected]

Partners to Date

•Elim Christian Services•Christian Horizons, Ontario

To Learn More

www.puttingfaithtowork.org

www.faithanddisability.org

Team Contact Information• Bill Gaventa

[email protected] • Erik Carter

[email protected]• Courtney Taylor

[email protected]• Milton Tyree

[email protected]• Harold Kleinert

[email protected]• Derek Nord

[email protected]• Joe Timmons

[email protected] • Penny Seay

[email protected]