Resource of the Week

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

http://www.nfcc.org/

The NFCC promotes the national agenda for financially responsible behavior and builds capacity for its Members to deliver the highest quality financial education and counseling services. This website has several tools to help consumers plan and manage their credit.

Resource of the Week

Social Security Online

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/getservices-change.htm

SocialSecurity.gov is a listing of resources, in both English and Spanish, for people currently receiving benefits.  This site contains links to services such as replacing a Medicare card, checking benefits, requesting a proof of income letter, changing phone number or address, and scheduling payments.

Resource of the Week

Career One Stop Worker ReEmployment Portal
http://www.careeronestop.org/reemployment/

Worker ReEmployment is your one-stop site for employment, training and financial help after a layoff. This site contains information on applying for Unemployment Benefits, job
searching, food support and housing assistance for people who have lost their jobs.

Resource of the Week

Asset Development 30-Second Trainings
http://www.dpnavigator.net/pages/AssetDev30sec.html

With tax season underway, this is an perfect time to put our minds towards asset development and financial literacy. This week we're excited to share one of our favorite resources: 30-Second Trainings from the DPN Technical Assistance Program. You only need 30 seconds to learn new information and resource that can help you and your customers gain strategies about financial stability.

It's so simple: Just go to the Asset Development 30-Second Training page and scroll down to presentations 11-20 tailored for One-Stop staff, service providers, and disability partners. This series was created by Miranda Kennedy, Laura Gleneck and DJ Diamond of the DPN Technical Assistance team, NDI Consulting, Inc., and Kevin Nickerson, DPN, NY State.

Resource of the Week

Lenscrafters Gift of Sight Program
Stonestown Galleria
3251 20th Ave.
(415) 566-9292
(415) 566-9187 (FAX)

For someone who needs new glasses, time is of the essence. There are great programs like the California Vision Program and Project Homeless Connect who do offer vision services for low-income individuals, sometimes the wait can be months before receiving the much needed exam or glasses. This week, the DPN learned about an incredible resource from of CVE's excellent service coordinators: The Lenscrafters Gift of Sight Program.

Through this program, an agency may refer one person per week to receive a free pair of glasses and eye exam. To refer someone, fax a letter to the Gift of Sight Program. The letter must be on agency stationery, and contain the person's name and the agency's 501(c)3 federal tax ID number. The advocate should call to schedule an appointment by calling the above number.

Resource of the Week

Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR)
http://askjan.org/soar/index.htm

Ever worked with someone who you think is an excellent job candidate, but because of their disability, you feel helpless about finding the right job for them? Well, here's the resource to provide a little bit of hope in the scenario -- or at least some options you may have not already considered: accommodations. The DPN has posted a number of Resource of the Week posts about Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and that is just because they are that good. SOAR, or the Searchable Online Accommodation Resource, is a wonderful resource provided free by JAN and it should be your first stop when faced with the previously described situation.

Let's consider someone who has a back condition that inhibits them from reaching overhead. SOAR suggests a 4-step process which includes 1) surveying materials and supplies 2) rearranging storage areas 3) raising or lifting the individual 4) considering products like lifts, reachers and ladders. If you have any question about the accommodations, you can speak with a JAN consultant that offers technical assistance about the job accommodations and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Resource of the Week

San Francisco Food Bank -- Emergency Food Box Program
http://www.sffoodbank.org/programs/get_food.html

In these tough times, we can all use some extra help. As the DPN, we know that everyone faces barriers they must overcome sometimes before making the step towards employment and today we look at our most important basic need: food. The San Francisco Food Bank has a crucial, but little-utilized program called the Emergency Food Box program. This program allows people in emergency food situations to obtain assistance in the form of a food box with a three-day supply for food. They also receive along with referrals for long-term food needs. The boxes are an emergency supply and individuals can receive it once in any one year span. Sounds good, right?

To request an emergency food box for a customer, contact their social worker if they have one. If not, call 2-1-1 to find out the nearest pick-up location. Evictions, cut of stolen benefits, unemployment, sudden illnesses, domestic violence, or release from prison are all emergency situations that your job-seekers may be facing. This type of resource can be a huge relief in a time of challenging circumstances and help address basic needs so that they can move towards employment.

"DPN Recommends"

TrainGreenSF
http://www.oewd.org/TrainGreenSF_Academy.aspx

TrainGreenSF is the Office of Workforce and Economic Development's Green Academy offering comprehensive vocational training for San Francisco Bay Area residents interested in entering the emerging Green Collar Industry. Through collaboration with Goodwill, Jewish Vocational Service (JVS), and City College of San Francisco, participants can gain green jobs training in one of five areas:

•  Recycling and Reuse
• Green Transportation
• Green Administration/Office Skills
• Energy Efficiency
• Solar Thermal

In addition to classroom and hands-on training in a chosen area, participants will receive gain assistance via job readiness training, case management, career advising, and job placement to aid in their future success. This is an incredible opportunity to job-seekers, and we highly recommend sharing the orientation schedule and program guide with your One-Stop customers.

For more information, call (415) 401-4889 or visit the TrainGreenSF website.

Webinar Alert!

Join the California Health Incentives Improvement Project (CHIIP) for a FREE online training webinar entitled...

Show me the MONEY!!: Work Incentives, Programs and Online Resources for Youth, Students and College Graduates with Disabilities

  

Date: Tuesday, December 21st

When: 2:00-3:30 PM

To register for the webinar, please click on the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XKQFCGJ 

This FREE online training webinar will cover the following topics:

·        NEW Youth Transition Toolkit

·        Disability Benefits 101

·        Student Earned Income Exclusion

·        Plan to Achieve Self-Support

·        Ways to keep Medi-Cal while working

·        Learn more about the GRADS Program: Peer to Peer Support for California College Students and Graduates with Disabilities

This training is mainly geared toward service providers (including Medi-Cal county eligibility workers, Department of Rehabilitation, Independent Living Center, Regional Center, One-Stops, benefits planners, etc.) but consumers are also welcome to attend. 

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credits will be available for attending this webinar and passing a short quiz.

Please note that the webinar will be closed-captioned.

Technology Information

During registration, you will be provided with instructions on how to access the webinar. Once you complete your registration, please keep a copy of the instructions on the second page of the survey.

If you are within a state building, most IT departments require at least a week notice to set up the Webinar technology. Your IT department may also need to unblock access to the Webinar site from your computer or install the plug-in for you.

Technology requirements and instructions for participating in this Webinar can be found at: http://interwork.sdsu.edu/webinar/chiip/

Webinar Technology Test

On Tuesday, December 14th from 2:00-3:00 PM we will also hold a webinar technology test so you can check to see if your equipment is webinar-ready. Note that there will be limited technology support on the day of the conference. Therefore, we recommend you make it a point to attend this test meeting.

Resource of the Week

City College Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS)
www.ccsf.edu/dsps
(415) 561-1005
(415) 452-5481 Ocean Campus

City College offers a wide range of programs and services for students with disabilities. Do you have customers who want to work but need to gain extra skills? Do they need some extra resources in order to be ready to start a job search? They can enroll now for Spring 2011 classes at City College campuses throughout the city. For more information about these classes, contact Robert Fitch at rfitch@ccsf.edu. These classes are geared specifically towards students with disabilities:

• DSPS 4014 Arts & Crafts for the Disabled
• DSPS 4017 Drama for the Disabled
• DSPS 4022 Computer Skills - Disabled
• DSPS 4023 Job Search Skills, Disabled Lab
• DSPS 4028 ABI-Cognitive Retraining
• DSPS 4033 ABI-Language Reintegration
• DSPS 4035 High Tech Comp.Assess/Disabled
• DSPS 4038 Community Living Skills
• DSPS 4050 Lifeskills for the Disabled
• DSPS 4101 Communication for the Blind
• DSPS 4210 Management of Hearing Loss
• DSPS 4302 HS Level Learning Strategies (see description below)

High School Level Learning Strategies
A course in learning strategies designed for students with disabilities who are taking high school level classes.
For more information, Contact Phil Magalong (415) 561-1001
Coping Strategies for Students with Acquired Brain Injuries
Designed to assist students with a mild acquired brain injury (ABI) regain the skills necessary to achieve their academic or vocational goals. Call (415) 561-1005 for more information.

For customers who can't commit to a whole semester-long course, CCSF also offers shorter classes in partnership with community organizations:

Stroke Survivor - Communication Classes
Two locations: John Adams Campus, 1860 Hayes St. and Stonestown YMCA Senior Annex
For more information: (415) 561-1005

Lipreading Class
Students will learn how to maximize communication through lipreading, stress reduction, creative problem solving, and assertiveness in supportive group environment. Call for times and locations: (415) 561-1005. Locations include CPMC, Kaiser, Hearing & Speech Center of No. California, Stonestown YMCA, and JCCSF.