Oregon Employment First

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Oregon’s Employment First initiative is a catalyst for state agencies to work together to improve community job outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The podcasts are short discussions with various state experts, as well as policy makers, employers, people with disabi…

Oregon Department of Human Services: Oregon Employment First


    • May 20, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 18m AVG DURATION
    • 44 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Oregon Employment First

    Episode 44: Compass Project – Employment / DSA / Transportation Changes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2022 20:02


    This episode, we are discussing the Compass Project which is a developmental disabilities or ODDS System Change designed to make the system more person centered. Specifically, today we're going to talk about a few changes that are happening for the employment and day support of activities or DSA part of the system change. This will focus primarily on eXPRS and plan of care changes and this podcast will hopefully be most helpful for case management entities. This podcast and conversation is going to focus primarily on eXPRS and plan of care changes and hopefully will be most helpful for case management entity team members looking for a high level overview of what is coming. Joining me today is Gene Rada and Stephanie Ronkel, both talented subject matter experts for the Employment First and special projects team at ODDS.Download full script by clicking here.Links:The Compass Projecthttps://www.oregon.gov/dhs/Compass-Project/Pages/index.aspx

    Episode 43: Training Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 17:57


    This episode, we are discussing trainings offered for employment professionals by the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. Joining me is Gene Rada, training coordinator and policy analyst with the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services.Download full script by clicking here.Links:Department Approved Trainings for CEC'shttps://www.oregon.gov/dhs/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/Documents/Department-Approved%20Employment%20Service%20Provider%20Training%20Courses.pdfEmployment Policy for Individuals with I/DDhttps://www.oregon.gov/dhs/EMPLOYMENT/EMPLOYMENT-FIRST/Pages/policy.aspxTraining and Technical Assistancehttps://www.oregon.gov/dhs/EMPLOYMENT/EMPLOYMENT-FIRST/Pages/training.aspx

    Episode 42: Supported Decision Making

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 24:49


    Welcome to the Oregon Employment First podcast. Please join our host Angela Yeager as she discusses supported decision making, which is an alternative to guardianship that allows people with disabilities to make choices about their lives with support from people that they trust.  This episode Angela is joined by Allison Enriquez, a policy analyst with the Office of Developmental Disability Services, and Sally Simich, education specialist for secondary transition at the Oregon Department of Education.  Download full script by clicking here.Visit the ODHS Supported Decision-Making website:https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/Supported-Decision-Making/Pages/index.aspx

    Episode 41: ODDS Benefits Counseling

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 13:44


    Welcome to the Oregon Employment First podcast. Please join our host Angela Yeager as she discusses the service called Benefits Counseling, which is offered by the Office of Developmental Disability Services and the Work Incentives Network or WIN. Angela's guests this episode are Alison Enriquez, a policy analyst with the Office of Developmental Disability Services and Sheila Barker with the provider agency Edwards Center.  Download full script by clicking here.ODDS Approved Benefits Counselors: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/EMPLOYMENT/EMPLOYMENT-FIRST/Policy/ODDS-Approved-Benefits-Counselors.pdfODDS I/DD Policy Page: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/EMPLOYMENT/EMPLOYMENT-FIRST/Pages/policy.aspx

    National Disability Employment Awareness Month

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 14:21


    Hello, and welcome to the Oregon Employment First podcast. I am Angela Yeager, communications officer with Employment First and the Office of Developmental Disability Services. Today, we are discussing National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which happens in October every year. I am joined by statewide Employment First coordinator, Acacia Maguire Anderson, as well as Kim Alejo for workforce and business coordinator with Vocational Rehabilitation and Morgan Rincon, business relations coordinator with the Oregon Commission for the Blind.

    How to Tell Your Employment First Success Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2021 25:12


    Rachel and her employment team discuss her job success at Cadence Academy Preschool in Portland. Download full script by clicking here.

    Rural Job Development

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2021 16:43


      Hi and welcome to the Oregon Employment First podcast. I'm Angela Yeager, communications officer with Employment First. This episode our guest is Diane Ashley, a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor in Eastern Oregon. Diane is discussing trainings she has developed for job development in rural areas. Download full script by clicking here.

    iLearn to Workday Transition

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 15:17


    Hi and welcome to the Oregon Employment First podcast. I'm Angela Yeager, communications officer with Employment First. This episode we are discussing the transition from iLearn Oregon to Workday Learning, happening June 16, 2021. Joining me on the show today is Steve Hastings, Organization and Employee Development Unit Manager with the Oregon Department of Human Services, Kristine Duffy, Quality Improvement Analyst, and Gene Rada, Training Coordinator and Policy Analyst with the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. Download full script by clicking here. Links: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/PROVIDERS-PARTNERS/Pages/iLearn-to-Workday.aspx https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/BUSINESS-SERVICES/Pages/iLearn2Workday.aspx

    Discovery Training and Tools

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 21:40


    Hi and welcome to the Oregon Employment First podcast. I’m Angela Yeager, communications officer with Employment First. This episode we are discussing new training, tools and resources available for the service called Discovery. Discovery is an employment service funded by the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. Joining me on the show today is Julie Huber, policy analyst with the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. Download full script by clicking here. Links: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/EMPLOYMENT/EMPLOYMENT-FIRST/Pages/policy.aspx

    Employment Online Training Modules

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 11:36


    On this episode host Angela Yeager, communications officer for the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services and Employment First, is joined by Gene Rada, training coordinator and policy analyst with the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. This episode we are discussing 32 new on-demand trainings developed by the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. Download full script by clicking here. Links: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/EMPLOYMENT/EMPLOYMENT-FIRST/Pages/policy.aspx https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/Documents/Department-Approved%20Employment%20Service%20Provider%20Training%20Courses.pdf https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/EMPLOYMENT/EMPLOYMENT-FIRST/Policy/Employment-Professional-Qualifications-Training-Worker-Guide.pdf

    COVID-19 Vaccines for People with I/DD and their Support Staff

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 11:28


    On this episode host Angela Yeager, communications officer for the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services and Employment First, is joined by Becky Simpson, CEO with Pathway Enterprises out of Medford, Oregon and Peter Hice, who received services from Pathway Enterprises. This episode, we are talking to people with intellectual and disabilities who have received a vaccine for COVID-19 and providers who support them. Download full script by clicking here.

    COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2021 14:09


    On this episode host Angela Yeager, communications officer for the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services and Employment First., is joined by Chelas Kronenberg, Case Management Services and Supports Manager for the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. They will be discussing the COVID-19 vaccine rollout for Oregonians with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their family members and support staff. Download full script by clicking here. Resources: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/Pages/ODDS-COVID-19-Information.aspx

    Impact Oregon Website Launches

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 15:56


    On this episode host Acacia McGuire Anderson, Statewide Employment First Coordinator, is joined byAngela Yeager, communications officer for the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services and Employment First. They will be discussing a new website that the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services launched, called Impact Oregon, found at ImpactOregon.careers. Download full script by clicking here. Resources: https://impactoregon.careers/  

    Employment Services during COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 25:12


      On this episode host Angela Yeager is joined by two guests from the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services’ Employment First initiative. Acacia McGuire Anderson is the Statewide Employment First Coordinator and Allison Enriquez is an employment policy analyst. They will be discussing how employment policies have shifted during COVID-19 to support providers and also keep people safe. Download full script by clicking here. Resources: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/Pages/ODDS-COVID-19-Information.aspx Questions? Email: employmenttraining.review@dhsoha.state.or.us  

    How to Enroll as a Personal Support Worker Job Coach

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 12:49


    On this episode host Angela Yeager is joined by two guests from the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services’ Employment First initiative. Gene Rada is a program analyst in charge of the coordination of employment training. Tim Acker is a project manager in charge of many employment initiatives, including interactive tools to help enroll new providers. Download full script by clicking here. Resources: PSW Job Coach Enrollment Tool Questions? Email: employmenttraining.review@dhsoha.state.or.us  

    Supporting Remote Work During COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2020 25:48


    On this episode host Angela Yeager along with guest Mer Stevens, director of supported employment with Community Access Services, will discuss some creative ways that employment specialists can support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to work during COVID-19. Download full script by clicking here.

    Student Summit 2019

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2020 17:54


    On this episode host Angela Yeager will discuss the Student Summit held in October 2019. The Student Summit brought together transition students from across Oregon to explore and engage in pre-employment skills and future planning. Joining Angela on the podcast today will be Michael Salatori, Director of Supported Education at Molalla River School District; Kriss Rita, who is a transition network facilitator, and Marilyn Morris, a youth transition program coordinator. We also have students Eddie, Cameron, and Destiny, who participated in the Student Summit. Download full script by clicking here.

    Taran’s Employment First Success Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2020 21:18


    On this episode host Angela Yeager will focus on Taran and his employment success with Palm Harbor Homes in Albany. Taran is a good example of someone who started with a carved job and is now working 40 hours per week. Joining Angela on todays podcast is Taran, employee at Palm Harbor Homes, his supervisor, Freddie; Darcy with Home Life; and Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, Kelly. Download full script by clicking here.

    ODDS COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2020


    Host, Acacia Maguire Anderson is joined by Lilia Teninty, Director of the Office of Developmental Disability Services and Michelle Patton who's an emergency services coordinator with Occupational Health, Safety and Emergency Services. They will be discussing COVID-19. Download full script by clicking here.

    Statewide Referral and Release: How it Works

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2020


    Host, Angela Yeager is joined by Allison Enriquez, policy analyst with the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services, and Melissa Glover, Coordinator of Student Services for Salem-Keizer Public Schools. They will be discussing the Statewide Release of Information and how it can be used to coordinate services or share information between Oregon’s social service agencies. Download full script by clicking here.

    LifeCourse Framework

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2020


    Download full script by clicking here. Host, Angela Yeager is joined by Ryley Newport, Communications Director with the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Nick Casa, a self advocate who has worked for organizations including Full Access and ARC of Lane County. They will be discussing LifeCourse, the tool to help individuals and families of all abilities and all ages develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports and discovery what it takes to live the lives that they want.

    Data and Outcomes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2020


    Download full script by clicking here. Host, Angela Yeager is joined by Acacia Maguire Anderson, statewide Employment First coordinator, and Andre Harboe, research and data analyst with Employment First. They will be discussing data and outcomes for employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Oregon.

    Road to Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2020


    Download full script by clicking here. Host, Angela Yeager is joined by Tim Acker, project manager, with Employment First, and creator of the Road Map, and Phil Matthews, a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the South Salem VR Branch. They will be discussing the new Employment First Road Map, called Road to Work and how this web tool can be used.

    Oregon ABLE Savings

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2020


    Download full script by clicking here. Host, Angela Yeager is joined by Kaellen Hessel, an advocacy and outreach manger with Oregon ABLE, to discuss the Oregon ABLE Savings Plan and how Oregon ABLE makes it possible for people with disabilities to save money without risking their benefits.

    Oregon Transition’s Everyone Can Work!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here. The Oregon Transition Podcast explores Employment First in Oregon this episode. In Oregon, we believe anyone can work with the right supports. Students, professionals and others will explore what it means to say “everyone can work.”

    Accommodations in the workplace

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here. Attorneys from Disability Rights Oregon discuss reasonable accommodations in the workplace and how workers are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. They discuss what accommodation an employee with a disability can expect, and how an employee can request an accommodation.  

    Benefits Counseling

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here.

    VR I/DD Counselor

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here. Mark Foster, Vocational Rehabilitation I/DD Counselor, joins host Angela Yeager to discuss Vocational Rehabilitation counselors who specialize in services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

    Behavior Support Services in the Workplace

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here. Stephanie Hunter, behavioral support professional with the Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon, joins host Angela Yeager to discuss her job, and how a positive behavior support plan can help a person succeed in the workplace.

    State as Model Employer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here. Acacia McGuire Anderson, Statewide Employment First Coordinator, and Clayton Jamison, office specialist with the State of Oregon join host Angela Yeager.

    A family’s employment journey

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here.  

    A Self-Advocate’s Employment Journey

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here. Guests: Gabrielle Guedon, Executive Director of the Oregon Self-Advocacy Coalition, and Julie Huber, policy analyst with the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services

    Retention Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here.

    Employer’s Perspective on Hiring People with Disabilities

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2019


    Collaboration Employment First

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2019


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    Behavior Services in the Workplace

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2019


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    Referring People to Vocational Rehabilitation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here.

    How to Tell Your Employment First Success Story

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here.

    Youth Transition Program in Oregon

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2019


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    What is ADL/IADL anyway?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2019


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    Pre-Employment Transition Services with Vocational Rehabilitation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2019


    Download full script by clicking here.

    Tips on Having the Employment Conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2019


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    Building an Employment Plan That Works

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2019


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    History of Employment First in Oregon

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2019 21:46


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