Training Opportunities & Information Updates

From the Kentucky Supported Employment Training Project
January 8^th, 2025

Information Updates

SETP is growing!

Happy New Year! We are excited to welcome in 2025 by introducing 4 new members to the Kentucky Supported Employment Training Project.

Zac Sappenfield is a Training Facilitator. He brings 9 years of experience as an Employment Specialist, including certifications in MG&A Customized Employment. Prior to that, he worked in the public school system in Ohio. He will co-lead the SE Core Training Series, help reconfigure Customized Employment training (what we have called the Leadership Series), and lead additional training opportunities for Employment Specialists.

Melanie Lybarger and Lisa Carrico have joined the team as Technical Assistance Facilitators. They are available to provide small group and one-on-one training. This will include support to new Employment Specialists and help for experienced staff. We plan to begin new Communities of Practice and opportunities for professionals to connect and learn across our Commonwealth.

Melanie brings many years of professional experience as well as education in communications, counseling psychology, and career services to the team. She has provided direct supported employment services for 7 years. She has also provided pre-ETS, pre-vocational services, and employment and retention services, working closely with the OVR, families, agencies, and job seekers throughout the state. Lisa brings many years of direct supported employment experience as a direct provider and manager, including the closing of sheltered employment and past training with SETP on Job Development. In recent years, she has been a Quality Administrator within DDID and brings a wide range of knowledge around waiver services to our team. They will both focus on providing direct TA to Employment Specialists and SE agencies across Kentucky.

Amanda Hutchison joins us as a Curriculum Developer, with a focus on writing online training curricula and creating additional resources to spread information about supported employment to a wide range of audiences. Amanda has a diverse background, working in human resources as a job coach for youth in foster care, facilitating various HR and management courses in higher education, and having a passion for learning and development.

Along with the current team of Katie Wolf Whaley, Carolyn Wheeler, and Chelsea Bocard, we look forward to this growth and the ability to share more training and support so you – those who do the work every day – have the information you need.

Let us know how we can help! You can reach out directly (info below) or to this email address: setraining@uky.edu.

You can find contact information for all SETP staff here.

Olmstead Plan Survey – Your Input is Needed

Kentucky is reviewing its Olmstead Plan to make sure people with disabilities get the support they need to live in the community. Your voice AND the voices of those you support are needed in this process. Please take the Olmstead survey and learn more about the Olmstead Decision. PLEASE share this survey with the people you support, their families, and your colleagues. The survey remains open through January 15^th.

2025 Social Security Changes

We have posted the new 2025 SSI and SSDI Fact Sheets on our webpage. Scroll down to the SSI/SSDI Fact Sheets heading. You can find additional updated resources just below. You can find the 2025 Social Security Fact Sheet here.

OVR Documentation & Rate Changes to Supported Employment

On October 1st, OVR implemented new rates and rate structures for supported employment in Kentucky. You can find the new documentation, instructions, and flow of service documents on the SETP website Materials page. Click on Traditional or IPS for the services you provide. Find the revised Guidelines on the Purchase of Supported Employment (service fee memo). You can find an overview of the sequence of service, with hyperlinks, for Traditional Supported Employment here and IPS Supported Employment here.

Training Opportunities

Supported Employment: The Nuts & Bolts of the Work

First Thursday of the Month: February – June 2025, 10:00 – 11:30 am ET
Presented by the Supported Employment Training Project
Katie Wolf Whaley and Zac Sappenfield will present a 5-part webinar series digging into practical tips for offering quality supported employment services. Topics include:

Logistics & Tools – February 6
Discovery – March 6
Job Development – April 3
On the Job: SE Services & Extended Supports – May 1
Big Picture: Values and Disability Rights as part of our work – June 5

Register for the series here. Sessions will be recorded and made available afterward.

Kentucky Disability Benefits 101 Lunch & Learn

5^th Friday of the month in 2025: 12:30 – 1:00 pm ET (next one is Jan. 31)
Q&A to follow from 1:00 – 1:30 pm ET
An ongoing chance to learn how to use the Kentucky DB 101 website to show the positive financial impact of employment while still maintaining a person’s eligibility for Medicaid or Medicare.
Find out more and register for any & all of the Lunch & Learns in 2025

RETAIN Kentucky and Employment First – Employer Seminar Series

Promote Employee’s Mental Health and Wellness with Trauma Informed Leadership; January 14, 12:00 – 12:45 pm ET
Learn more and register

The Changing Nature of the American Disability Community: Implications for Return to Work; February 24, 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET
Learn more and register

Supported Employment (SE) Core Training Series

The Supported Employment Core Training Series is required of all new Employment Specialists but is open to anyone wanting a refresher. It continues to be virtual and free of charge.
Register for the Supported Employment Core Training Series

Resources

Kentucky is an Employment First state.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth of Kentucky that competitive integrated employment in the community shall be considered the first and primary option for persons with disabilities of working age who desire to become employed. Learn more and find resources to share:

Share this infographic about Employment First
Employment First Episode on the State of HDI Podcast (under 10 min listen)
Employment First video with overview and resources on employment supports (11 min)
Learn more about Kentucky’s Employment First Council

How to Get Help Finding a Job

How to Get Help Finding a Job. Share this flyer with people looking to go to work and not sure where to start.

Universal Employment Competencies

In 2019, the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) updated the Universal Employment Competencies. This is a useful tool for understanding best practices in our field, measuring how your agency lines up, using it as a tool in employee reviews, and more.

Impact of Wages on Benefits

Disability Benefits 101 – Kentucky
SETP’s Benefits Fact Sheets and additional resources (scroll to bottom 2 headings)

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

How to Describe Supported Employment Services

OVR & Supported Employment in Kentucky

Plain Language

Think College and AUCD developed a plain language flyer explaining the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 and Competitive Integrative Employment (CIE). Check out the WIOA flyer in plain language.

Employment Files

The Employment Files YouTube channel has lots of stories to share! This can be a useful tool in helping job seekers, family members, or other support staff think about employment possibilities.
Employment Files YouTube video series.

Short Videos about OVR, Supported Employment, and Pre-ETS

Are you looking for ways to share information about OVR, Supported Employment, and Pre-ETS with those not familiar with the agency or supports? The Human Development Institute (HDI) and OVR have partnered to create 3 short videos:

Transportation

If you’re looking for transportation options, check out resources from HDI’s Transportation Initiative.

ADA

ADALive! is a free monthly show/podcast broadcast nationally about the Americans with Disabilities Act. Moderated by the Southeast ADA Center.
Questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act? Call the Southeast ADA Center at 1-800-949-4232 for expert guidance.

Questions?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out! The Supported Employment Training Project is here to offer training and technical assistance to providers across Kentucky. We are available to bring trainings to your agency and for individual conversations. Contact Katie Wolf Whaley at kwolf@uky.edu (or reply to this email).

With our expanded team, we look forward to offering more events and to having the ability to meet one-on-one with agencies and Employment Specialists. Let us know how we can help and support you in this work.

Thank you for all you do to move Employment First forward and help people find successful employment.

Katie