This policy brief describes how State VR agencies are using and can use benefits planning services, as a VR agency-funded service, to help SSDI and SSI beneficiaries address concerns and fears about the potential loss of cash benefits and healthcare benefits (i.e., Medicaid and/or Medicare) as they move into jobs paying substantial wages. The…

Supporting youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the transition to adulthood is challenging. This article provides a description of how Project SEARCH, a model transition program for youth with disabilities, was used to help youth with ASD gain competitive employment. This article includes two case studies and a thorough description of the…

The Commonwealth of Virginia, as with other states, operates a panoply of programs whose objectives, either directly or indirectly, are to develop the state's workforce. Some programs enhance the skills of Virginians through training or formal education; whereas other programs, such as the Employment Service, attempt to facilitate the employment…

A benefit-cost analysis of a supported competitive employment program for severely disabled adults in Virginia during the period 1978 to 1986 indicated that the program was financially prosperous for both participants and taxpayers. (Author/JW)

The article presents an interim report on the progress of 39 mentally retarded students in a supported competitive employment training program implemented in 5 school systems and 3 geographical areas of Virginia. Among findings were that 74 percent of the students remained in their jobs longer than 6 months. (DB)

The Appalachian region of Southwest Virginia was selected as a surplus labor area in a pilot project to show the effectiveness of using financial assistance to increase mobility and reduce unemployment. Most of the workers were relocated in Alexandria, Newport News, Richmond, and Petersburg. Of the 920 unemployed workers interviewed, 200 were…

This publication reports a Virginia study of the structure of local education divisions, community colleges, and other organizations capable of delivering service to Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) clients. Its purpose was to determine how short-term-funded projects can utilize facilities and personnel with minimum disruption to…

Third in a series by the Rural Success Program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), the book provides a view of selected organizations and literature of potential interest to rural employment and training practitioners and planners. The book is divided into two sections. The first contains summaries of interviews with representatives of 26…

This study (the first part of a two-part study) analyzed the effectiveness of three mandatory welfare employment programs in serving different segments of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) caseload. Data were collected in evaluations of welfare employment initiatives in San Diego, Baltimore, and several counties in Virginia.…

A project was conducted to determine problems or barriers prohibiting awarding credit for Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) training in Virginia. Potential solutions and strategies for their implementation were to be identified. A variety of methods were used to obtain information required to produce a Plan of Action that presents…

This newsletter issue outlines the growth of the supported employment movement for individuals with mental retardation. Two research studies are described, dealing with employers' experiences with supported employment. The first study examined the initial and most recent or terminal evaluation forms of 125 workers with mental retardation. The…

This document provides a record of a series of three statewide Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA)/Education Workshops held in Virginia to encourage communication and cooperation between CETA and educational institutions. It contains a composite compendium of CETA education linkage information from presentations, panels, and work…

To improve Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) participant assessment systems in Virginia, a project identified assessment systems and techniques/tools used by prime sponsors and developed an assessment model. It also identified key personnel of educational institutions in the prime sponsor area. A mail survey was followed by on-site…

In response to strong political debate concerning the future of federal welfare policy and a push for welfare to work programs, the Bank Street College of Education's Center for Family Support held a conference to address the issue of welfare recipients as child care providers. The purpose of this meeting was threefold: (1) to stimulate thinking…

A study was conducted to examine federally assisted employment and training programs in the Tidewater, Virginia, area during fiscal year 1977. The General Accounting Office found forty-four programs with similar goals attempting to assist virtually the same people. These were authorized through sixteen separate legislative authorities, creating a…