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The California Health Incentives Improvement Project (CHIIP) is a multi-agency collaborative effort working to remove barriers to employment and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities, particularly health care and personal assistance barriers. The CHIIP project is administered through San Diego State University's Interwork Institute with approval by the California Department of Health Services. It was created in 2002, and is funded by a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Sonoma State University administered the grant from 2003 to 2008. In 2004, CHIIP successfully competed for a comprehensive employment opportunity award which provided a broader mandate and increased funding for the grant period, 2005-2008. In 2009 there was a competitive solicitation and CHIIP was again awarded the grant.

 

In 2005, the CHIIP worked closely with the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities to develop a Comprehensive Employment Strategy consistent with state law, the Workforce Inclusion Act (AB925, Aroner, Chapter 1088, Statutes of 2002). The Strategy, recently approved by the Committee, sets the course for project activities as well as coordinated efforts of state departments serving Californians with disabilities. With this intergovernmental structure in place, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved a budget modification from the CHIIP to enhance the State's ability to advance its priorities for bringing the employment rate of people with disabilities as close as possible to that of the general population. California's Strategy addresses three central themes: Meeting the Needs of Business; Preparing and Supporting People with Disabilities; and Aligning Systems.

 

In 2006 and 2007 the California Health Incentives Improvement Project is supporting implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy through core outreach & training activities, research, policy analysis/development & sustainability goals:

 

1. Build state and local intergovernmental infrastructure to remove healthcare and other barriers to employment for people with disabilities:

• Extending local demonstration projects designed to inform statewide planning for services for youth with disabilities. This partnership with the California Workforce Investment Board ensures that outcomes and lessons-learned from three local intermediary pilots will benefit state planning even though U.S. DOL funding was eliminated;
• Working with the Department of Health Services and local agencies to connect Medicaid Administrative Activity resources and community-based organizations that conduct Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program outreach and education;
• Supporting existing local cross-program steering committees in education and public awareness activities around employment and healthcare access for people with disability.
• Convening meetings for cross-program discussion of performance measurement.

2. Increase the number of participants utilizing the Medi-Cal Working Disabled and In-Home Supportive Services in the Workplace programs through outreach to people with disabilities, service providers, eligibility workers and employers:

• Create and implement a public information campaign on work and access to healthcare and services. The campaign strategy will be designed in 2006 with local stakeholders in 2 counties and piloted in 2007. Adjustments will be made for statewide roll-out in 2008.
• Conduct direct mail activities to people in other Medi-Cal eligibility categories. A series of 4 mailings are taking place in 2006. Informational materials on the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program are being mailed to Medi-Cal recipients in Share of Cost, Blind and Disabled categories, and a follow-up mailing 2 months later is intended to boost response rates to an enclosed survey. Another direct mail outreach effort will support the use of Personal Assistance Services at Work among Medi-Cal recipients who are currently approved for In-Home Supportive Services and are within particular demographics. This effort will also include a brief survey and be repeated to increase likelihood of survey responses.

3. Strengthen labor force connections for people with disabilities by expanding and supporting the disability benefits counseling and training infrastructure of state and local program administrators, front line staff and community-based organizations who assist people with disabilities in achieving successful employment outcomes and economic self-sufficiency

• Support user testing of the db101 Benefits Planning sessions developed by World Institute on Disability under contract through the Social Security Administration.
• Host at least three additional Town Hall Forums on emerging issues in disability, employment and benefits planning subjects. Forums provide an opportunity for professionals to discuss breaking news and new resources in sessions across the state, and will especially benefit a network of benefits planners as new grants are awarded.
• Conduct regional cross-program training series in 3 new areas. Enrollment in the Medi-Cal Working Disabled program increases in counties where this type of training has occurred and front-line workers become more informed and better-connected. By the end of 2007, 21 counties will have hosted this training supported by db101 web resources.

4. Improve employment and earnings levels of Medi-Cal Working Disabled participants by evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of, and developing improvements in, health incentives and other supports for people with disabilities related to employment, including for the Medi-Cal Working Disabled and In-Home Supportive Services programs

• Conduct evaluation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy together with Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities subcommittees.
• Study mechanisms for access to private Long Term Care plans for people with disabilities at high risk of using public systems upon retirement.
• Analyze policies, laws and regulations that conflict with goals of employment and self-sufficiency of Californians with disabilities and make recommendations for change.

To help accomplish its mission, the CHIIP is overseen by a steering committee comprised of consumers, community-based organizations, and representatives from state and county government that help to guide the work of the project. This group has been meeting quarterly since 2002. The CHIIP Steering Committee also meets quarterly with the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, as the two organizations share a common vision and goals.

 

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last updated 11/3/2008