May 30, 2006
SUBJECT: Authorization for Department of Employment Development (NOVA) to Apply for Continued Disability Program Navigator Funding not to Exceed $84,738
REPORT IN BRIEF
NOVA’s current funding for its Disability Program Navigator ends on June 30, 2006. The State of California Employment Development Department recently announced the possibility of continued funding for this project. Staff recommends that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the seven NOVA consortium cities, concur with the decision of the NOVA Workforce Board and authorize submission of a request for fourth-year funding to the State of California totaling up to $84,738 to provide for the continuation of Disability Program Navigator services through June 30, 2007.
BACKGROUND
People with disabilities often face enormous challenges when they seek or obtain employment. Complex rules surrounding entitlement to federal, State, and local government programs can make the decision to seek employment even more difficult. In 2003, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) recognized the one-stop career centers as a significant component of the service delivery system that offers Social Security beneficiaries and other individuals with disabilities essential job training, employment, job retention, and career advancement services. Therefore, DOL and the SSA provided funding to 17 states, including California, for Disability Program Navigator (DPN) positions to be established in one-stop career centers to serve as disability resource specialists and to leverage relationships with local service providers and employers to facilitate outreach, effective employment linkages, and seamless service delivery for individuals with disabilities.
NOVA was awarded funding in 2003 to hire a Disability Program Navigator and received funding in subsequent years to carry the funding through June 30, 2006. The Employment Development Department has recently announced the possibility of funding to sustain the DPN positions through June 30, 2007. Existing grantees must submit a request detailing their efforts in enhancing the capacity of the one-stop centers to improve service delivery to individuals with disabilities.
EXISTING POLICY
The proposed activities are consistent with the City of Sunnyvale's Socio-Economic Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services within constraints of operative, federal regulations and available federal funding, to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.
DISCUSSION
NOVA’s Disability Program Navigator has been located at the CONNECT! Job Seeker Center for the last three years. This position enabled the CONNECT! Job Seeker Center to adopt a service delivery model that more effectively responds to the needs of job seekers with disabilities. The Navigator is our local expert on the services provided by partner organizations and is responsible for coordinating these services to create an integrated approach to service delivery. The Navigator also conducts individualized assessments of clients with disabilities and provides these clients with referrals to the most appropriate partner organizations, given the type and severity of the disability and the services required.
This year the Navigator focused on staff training to insure both physical and programmatic access to all our services. She developed resource materials and held training sessions for staff at the Job Seeker Center as well as for the career advisors who provide more intensive services. She produces an innovative monthly e-newsletter that highlights a particular disability and includes a headline story, tips on disability etiquette, information on workplace accommodations, and a fun or interesting fact related to that disability. She also organized a series of in-service presentations by other organizations so staff is better informed about their disability services and can make appropriate referrals.
In addition, the Navigator actively promotes our services to job seekers with disabilities and creates linkages with employers to promote the hiring of individuals with disabilities. She helped develop marketing collateral that features diversity employment services and works closely with the NOVA business liaisons, making presentations when requested for their business clients.
The NOVA Workforce Board, at its May 24 meeting, authorized the submission of a request to the State of California for funding to continue the Disability Program Navigator position.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no fiscal impact to the City because funds received will offset program expenditures.
CONCLUSION
NOVA’s funding from the State of California for its Disability Program Navigator position expires June 30, 2006. The State has announced the possibility of continued funding for programs that can show that the Navigator has made a difference in the ability of individuals with disabilities to access one-stop career centers. NOVA seeks authorization to submit a request for funding not to exceed $84,738 to continue the position through June 30, 2007.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City's official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City's web page and the availability of the report in the Library and City Clerk's Office.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Council authorizes submission of a request for fourth-year funding to the State of California not to exceed $84,738 to provide for the continuation of Disability Program Navigator services through June 30, 2007.
2. Council does not authorize submission of a funding request.
3. Other action as determined by Council.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by staff that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the NOVA seven-city consortium and in concurrence with the NOVA Workforce Board, adopt Alternative 1: Council authorizes submission of a request for fourth-year funding to the State of California not to exceed $84,738 to provide for the continuation of Disability Program Navigator services through June 30, 2007.
Reviewed by:
Michael J. Curran, Director
Department of Employment Development
Prepared by:
Jeanette Langdell
Employment Training Manager
Approved by:
Amy Chan