GRANTEE:

Maine Department of Labor

ADDRESS:

54 State House Station

Augusta, ME  04333

AMOUNT:

$599,992

DURATION:

24 months

POPULATION SERVED:  Jobseekers with physical or psychological disabilities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:  The grant will be used to fund salaries, fringe benefits, travel, supplies, subcontracts, rent, an assistive technology (AT) fund, and indirect costs.  Positions funded include two full-time program navigators, an assistant, and a part-time project lead.

Research shows that many with disabilities are unaware of CC services, or believe that the services are not accessible to them.  The proposed program navigators – whose services would be new to the state -- will conduct outreach to, and coordinate with, community service providers who work with the disabled.

According to the 2000 Census, 258,000 citizens of Maine (nearly 20%) are disabled.  In addition, the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services currently provides statewide vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to 6,500, and approximately 1,435 are waiting for services.  Unemployment ranges from 3% in the southern part of the state to 11% in its northeastern region.  Statistics show that 165,120 are disabled and are unemployed or underemployed.

AbleME is a statewide initiative that includes the Maine Jobs Council, all 23 One-Stop career centers (CCs), and the state’s four local Workforce Investment Boards.  The goals of AbleME are to improve the career center system for disabled jobseekers; improve access to career center services; facilitate coordination and collaboration of the various providers; and improve employment outcomes for the disabled.

Strategies include:  implementation of program navigator strategies; increase in outreach and marketing to the disabled; increase in outreach to businesses; increase in the capacity of non-VR staff to more effectively serve disabled customers; and replacement of outdated AT.  AbleME will also seek to better inform disabled customers about employment and benefits.

With the proposed funding, plans include staff training and development; the integration of existing benefits specialists into the career care system; assessment, upgrade, and implementation of AT; the assessment and improvement of physical accommodation at CCs; and linkage of transportation initiatives to CCs.

GEOGRAPHIC AREA TO BE SERVED:  State of Maine

CONTACT:

Larinda Meade

207-624-6390