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California Health Incentives Improvement Project (CHIIP)
Interwork Institute/San Diego State University

Background

The Interwork Institute’s 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.  CHIIP is funded by a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) appropriated through 2011 as a part of Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The grant has been administered by the San Diego State University Research Foundation since May 2008 (previously administered by DHS in 2002 and Sonoma State University 2003-2008).  CHIIP’s budget is based on 10% of the Medicaid expenditures of people in the 250% Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program.  CHIIP staff members are collocated in Sacramento within the EDD and DHCS as well as at the Interwork Institute in San Diego and one staff member in Sonoma County.  Named in AB 925 (Statutes of 2002) as a partner with the Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, CHIIP’s funding and activities have been tied to the Comprehensive Strategy for Employment of People with Disabilities since 2005.

Looking Towards 2011—Goals and Activities

Successful social marketing campaign--Talent Knows No Limits.

Aims to change social norms around employment of people with disabilities and to increase the number of people using work incentives such as the 250% Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program.  Primary target of campaign is employers and potential employees with disabilities throughout California.  Secondary targets include youth and adults with disabilities, family members, service providers, advocates, government agencies and educators.

Activities:

• Website: www.talentknowsnolimits.info
• Promotional Videos, PSAs, and web vignettes. [Employer Video; We Include Video; I Can Work]
• Local campaigns in Kern County and San Diego County
• National campaign with other MIG states:  Think Beyond The Label
• Earned media placements, media training, blogging and new media
• Traditional print media ads and bus placards

Sustainable disability work incentives and benefits planning technical assistance.

This goal recognizes a need for ongoing benefits planning technical assistance in California.  On-line tools developed and maintained by the World Institute on Disability are at the core of MIG planning. 

Activities:

• Support of Disability Benefits 101 website: www.disabilitybenefits101.org.  DB101 is a plain language resource on all public and private disability benefit programs in California.  Also a multi-state effort including Minnesota, New Jersey and Michigan.  Version 4.0 in 2010 based on usability research adapting to the different needs for consumers and service providers. 
• In development:  Calculators for veterans and TANF.
• Work incentives brochures (highlighting 250% WDP) in 7 languages
• Regional in-person consumer and service provider trainings on work incentive benefits.  Heavy focus on Los Angeles County due to low 250% WDP enrollment. 
• State/County specific training on how to use DB101 and work incentive programs awareness.
• Monthly webinars on benefits planning topics based at the Interwork Institute.
• Periodic benefits counseling summits sharing best practices and other information.
• Train-the-Trainers Club and Benefits Planning Advisory Group

Sustainable disability employment tools & training.

Activities:

• State as a Model Employer Initiative. 
• Way to Work!: Service provider disability employment on-line training for the One-Stop System.
• New Perspectives in Business: Self-Employment
• Update City of Los Angeles Disability awareness training and port to SDSU
• Update of Windmills training.
• “Second Chance” on-line training for working with parolees. 
• Training and support for Disability Program Navigators.
• UC Davis Teaching Case Studies

Sustainable disability youth transitions activities.

Activities:

• Transition Toolkit targeting youth with disabilities aged 12-21+: Things are About to Change.  Topics: About transition, healthcare, employment (+benefits planning), education, social/recreation, financial, independent living
• CA Youth Leadership Forum for high school juniors and seniors with various disabilities
• YO! Disabled and Proud Initiative
• UCEDD Youth Leadership Initiative targeting youth with developmental and intellectual disabilities. 
• GRADS pilot social marketing project at the transition of college graduates into competitive employment.  Pilot with Fresno State, SDSU, UDC, and U of Maryland. 
• CHIIP Youth Transition Advisory Committee
• Co-sponsoring conferences with the California Workforce Association (CWA) and the California Postsecondary Association on Education and Disability (CAPED).

Improved disability/employment data collection.

Activities:

• Support of USC/UCLA data warehouse study
• New data systems in development within EDD, DOR and DSS
• Potential for legislation to remove barriers for EDD to share data. 

Research & education on work incentives policy topics.

Activities:

• Telephone survey of individuals in the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program (UC Berkeley)
• Expansion of CalPERS Long Term Care Insurance to people with disabilities (UC Berkeley)
• Research on disability & employment in California (UCSF)
• Research on IHSS (UCSF)
• Public education on AB1269 and AB1213

 

Contact us to request more information

last updated 7/5/10