Wednesday January 11, 2023 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
The National Employment First Community of Practice (CoP) Webinar Series augments the technical assistance areas of Employment First systems change (Capacity Building, Provider Transformation, School-to-Work Transition, Employer Engagement, and Policy/Funding Alignment). CoP participants benefit from national subject matter experts (SMEs) presenting information and resources to support Employment First efforts. This Webinar takes a deeper dive into apprenticeships, providing opportunities to learn its benefits, systems of successful implementation and possible funding sources. Join ODEP and Subject Matter Experts working with ACCSES, as they share insights and narratives from successful community based apprenticeship models, and learnings from on-the-ground training and technical assistance given to providers pursuing apprenticeships as part of their Competitive Integrated Employment offerings. Webinar Objectives:
Learn about the apprenticeship model of employment opportunity creation and how it benefits members of the Intellectual and Developmental Disability community and local business alike
Become familiar with successful models of implementation for providers interested in pursuing apprenticeships for those they support
Understand what funding sources and opportunities are available for those interesting in pursuing apprenticeships as part of their employment programs
Receive information about other resources available to help providers to create effective apprenticeship programs.
***Register for the Webinar Here*** Please email any accommodation requests to NEON@econsys.com
Facilitated By
Rachel Pollock Senior Program Advisor & Former COO Job Path Inc. Rachel Pollock, J.D., is the Senior Program Advisor and formerly Chief Operating Officer, at Job Path Inc, a not-for-profit provider agency in New York City (NYC) that provides competitive integrated employment and a range of individualized day and residential supports services for people with developmental disabilities. She has extensive experience, in the implementation of employment and day services, with a particular focus on program development and the effective use of funding streams to develop quality programming. Through federal and state initiatives, Ms. Pollock has provided technical assistance to states and individual providers, in the areas of strategic planning, braiding and blending funding, rate reimbursement, State as Model Employer, staff restructuring, workforce development and recruitment, customized employment, job development, community- based day supports, and stakeholder engagement. Ms. Pollock also is the parent of a young man with autism who is working in a job in New York City.
J W Gibbs Apprenticeship Development and Alignment Coordinator Institute for Community Inclusion - UMass Boston JW Gibbs has spent over two decades in the finance and consulting space and has dedicated the last ten years in the Provider space. In 2017, working with a small but passionate team, set up an employment provider program based on the Registered Apprenticeship, Pre-Apprenticeship, and Vocational Rehabilitation Employment services. He has worked as a Community Living Director, Director of Employment Services, and provides Subject Matter Expertise in the area of Apprenticeship and workforce development strategies focused on creating an Inclusive workforce. JW Gibbs is a father of a son with Autism and actively pursues opportunities for advocacy.
Kate McSweeny President and CEO ACCSES
Since May 2016, Kate has led ACCSES’s national advocacy efforts, including legislative and regulatory policy and member advocacy. Prior to joining ACCSES, Kate practiced law at the law firms of Chadbourne & Parke (now Norton Rose Fulbright) and Dilworth Paxson in Washington, D.C., while also legal research and writing as an adjunct law professor. Kate’s pre-law career was spent in the broadcasting industry, including many years as Vice President of Programming and Development for Turner Broadcasting in Atlanta. Kate moved to Virginia in 1996 to take an executive position at America Online, and later had a successful consulting practice in broadcasting and media. Kate is magna cum laude graduate of George Mason University School of Law (2004), and a cum laude graduate of Boston College (1980). Kate has served on several boards including the Historical Society of the Courts of the D.C. Circuit board, the Woolly Mammoth Theatre board (secretary), the George Mason University School of Law Alumni Association board (president), and the George Mason University Alumni Association board (vice president of advocacy). In December 2021, Kate was named President & CEO of ACCSES.