Spln Overview

An Introduction to theState Peer Leaders Network

June 6, 2008

2An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Webinar Classroom Layout

Select Full Screen to maximize

presentation; minimizes

chat feature

PresentationSlide Area

Use Chat box to communicate with chairperson and presenters

3An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Access to Webinar Materials

A direct link to the webinar materials, including web and audio content, will be posted on the NTAR Leadership Center website by 4:00 p.m. EST, Friday, June 6, 2008

www.ntarcenter.org

4An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Presenters

Nanette Relave, Center for Workers with Disabilities, APHSA

Damon Terzaghi, Center for Workers with Disabilities, APHSA

Moderator: Kathy Krepcio, Executive Director, John J. Heldrich

Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers University

5An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Agenda/Objectives

Provide an overview of the State Peer Leaders Network (SPLN) and the major activities planned for the Network

Discuss opportunities for technical assistance and how to request TA

Answer your questions

6An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

The NTAR Leadership Center

Established in September 2007 through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

A collaboration of partners with expertise in workforce and economic development, disability employment, financial education and asset building, and leadership development

Created for the purpose of building capacity and leadership at the federal, state, and local levels to enable change across workforce development and disability-specific systems that will increase employment for adults with disabilities

7An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

The NTAR Center: Major Activities

State Leaders Innovation Institute– An intensive leadership institute for three states (Connecticut,

Maryland, and Minnesota)

State Peer Leaders Network– An information exchange and peer learning network for a

select group of state and local leaders

Knowledge Development and Dissemination– Research briefs and other products

Knowledge Exchange– A dedicated NTAR Center website to support information

sharing and knowledge exchange

8An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Guiding Principles

Increasing partnerships and collaboration among and across generic and disability-specific systems

Increasing the use of self-direction in services, and integration of funding across and among systems

Increasing economic self-sufficiency through leveraging work incentives, financial education, or other strategies that promote profitable employment and asset building

Increasing the use of universal design in employment services and as a framework for employment policy

Increasing the use of customized and other forms of flexible work options for individuals with disabilities and others with barriers to employment

9An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

The State Peer Leaders Network

Recognizes the significant value to states learning from each other

Creates a dedicated forum for information sharing and exchange

Members: State leaders and teams that applied for the State

Leaders Innovation Institute (SLII) State and local leaders with a strong interest in peer

learning and the work of the NTAR Leadership Center

10An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Joining the State Peer Leaders Network

For states that applied to the SLII, team leaders are requested to designate members of the state team (can include expanded team members) to join the SPLN

Contact information for team members should be forwarded to Nanette Relave ([email protected])

New SPLN members will be added to a SPLN email list and given login information to the SPLN section of the NTAR Center’s website

There is no cost to states to join the Network For any questions, please contact Nanette at

[email protected] or 202-682-0100

11An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

SPLN: Information Sharing Activities

Teleconferences and Interactive Webinars– Based on our guiding principles, and with a focus on demand-

side strategies, we are developing a series of teleconferences and webinars that will highlight innovative strategies and promising state and local practices

– Potential topics include, for example:• Understanding Sector Strategies for Workers with Disabilities• Building Pathways to Greater Self-Sufficiency through Asset

Development• Collaborating Across Systems: Linking with TANF• Workplace Flexibility: Promising Strategies and Approaches

12An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

SPLN: Information Sharing Activities

Timely Access to NTAR Leadership Center Resources– SPLN members will receive first access to research, promising

practices, and other resources developed through the NTAR Center

– The SPLN email list will be used to disseminate resources as soon as they are available

Dedicated News about Learning Events and Other Resources– The SPLN email list and web page, as well as the NTAR Center

website, will keep the Network informed about new resources and special events such as topical webinars

13An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

SPLN: Learning Exchange Activities

Access to a Learning Exchange Between the SLII and the SPLN– The State Leaders Innovation Institute is likely to produce

tools, resources, and knowledge that will be of significant value to other states

– A Learning Exchange will facilitate the sharing of resources and knowledge among states in the Institute and those in the SPLN

– Learning Exchange activities will occur as the SLII and SPLN progress, and may include:• Conference calls• Webinars• Presentations

14An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

SPLN: Learning Exchange Activities

Access to Information Exchange through a Cooperative Inquiry System– To support learning exchange, members of the SPLN will be

able to submit questions/inquiries for a quarterly survey of the SPLN

– Survey responses will be compiled and shared with the Network as a whole

– Each quarterly survey will have a theme based on the questions/inquiries that are submitted

– We will begin the Cooperative Inquiry System in July 2008– We invite you to submit questions/inquiries for your peers on a

range of issues

15An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

SPLN: Leadership Development Activities

Given the importance of leadership development to promoting systems change, a virtual leadership institute (VLI) will be offered to SPLN members through a series of quarterly webinars

The VLI will assist participants in setting active goals and enhancing organizational performance in order to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities along with building a network of peers

The VLI is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year and will be led by the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware, a NTAR Center partner

16An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

SPLN: Technical Assistance Opportunities

Members of the SPLN will be able to request technical assistance from the NTAR Center, ranging from telephone and email consultation to short consultancy research to on-site support

On-site visits may include, for example:– Presentations at meetings or conferences – Facilitation of workshops – Specialized training in topical areas

Technical assistance will be provided as fiscal resources and project capacity permit

17An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

SPLN: Technical Assistance Opportunities

State-to-State Technical Assistance Resources permitting, the NTAR Leadership Center

may be able to facilitate and support state-to-state technical assistance

State-to-state technical assistance could include:– Telephone consultation or facilitated conference calls– Site visits whereby a state team visits another state to provide

information and TA in one of the NTAR Center’s targeted goal areas such as cross-system collaboration, demand-side strategies, universal design in service delivery, and others

18An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Requesting Technical Assistance: Criteria

The degree to which the areas of requested TA relate to the NTAR Center’s guiding principles

The degree to which the requested TA fosters knowledge, greater cross-systems learning, and enhanced information sharing

The extent to which the TA requested demonstrates value to the applicant and has value for other states, localities, and regions

The cost effectiveness of the requested TA and availability of TA resources

We will review TA requests from SPLN members based on the following criteria:

19An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

How to Request Technical Assistance

All requests for technical assistance from SPLN members will be accepted and reviewed on a continuing basis between June 2008 and July 2009

SPLN members will need to complete and submit our TA Request form that will be available online

Interested applicants are welcome and encouraged to telephone or email the NTAR Leadership Center to discuss their needs/requests before submitting the TA Request form

The NTAR Leadership Center will do its best to accommodate requests for technical assistance in a timely fashion

20An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Technical Assistance Request Form

The NTAR Center is creating an online TA Request form that will be available on the Center’s website

This short form will gather contact information and ask you to describe your technical assistance need and request

Once your TA Request form is received, an NTAR Leadership Center representative will contact you within five (5) business days to discuss your request

If you need help filling out this form, please contact the NTAR Leadership Center at 732-932-4100 x6330 or Nanette Relave at [email protected] or 202-682-0100

21An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Technical Assistance Request Form

22An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Technical Assistance Request Form

23An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Question and Answer Period:How to Submit Your Questions

Click Raise Hand to ask a question;

the chairperson will then call

on participants in the order that

questions were

received

24An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

Question and Answer Period

25An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

NTAR Leadership Center Contacts

Nanette Relave, Center for Workers with Disabilities– [email protected] or 202-682-0100, ext. 241

Damon Terzaghi, Center for Workers with Disabilities– [email protected] or 202-682-0100, ext. 265

Kathy Krepcio, John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers University– [email protected] or 732-932-4100, ext. 6306

Maria Heidkamp, John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers University– [email protected] or 732-932-4100, ext. 6313

26An Introduction to the State Peer Leaders Network

NTAR Leadership Center Website

www.ntarcenter.org