Introduction
The DPN Initiative is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (DOL/ETA) and the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Office of Program Development and Research.
Training, Technical Assistance and Evaluation is provided under contract with the Law, Health Policy and Disability Center (LHPDC) of the University of Iowa College of Law to help build system capacity.
Since it’s pilot year 2002, the DPN Initiative was funded for approximately $80 million from ETA and $15 million from SSA. Currently 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have DPNs. By September 2007, there will be approximately 500 Navigator positions.
Getting Started:
One of the best ways to become informed in your new role as Navigator is by going through the steps of the Disability Navigator Program Checklist (WORD) .
The DPN checklist will assist new Disability Program Navigators (Navigators) in becoming knowledgeable about their role and its implementation within the Workforce Development System. The goal is to provide strategic steps in the form of a checklist of activities for the Navigator to complete. The checklist consolidates needed guidance and targeted links to resources in one easy to read document. The format of the checklist requires Navigators to "navigate" to specific existing resources by accessing the weblinks referenced.
The checklist is designed to be used in chronological order during the first steps, with the understanding that as the Navigator progresses through the checklist and in their work they will begin to engage in multiple activities within this checklist at the same time. Initially new Navigators will spend the bulk of their time in a learning and investigative mode, which the checklist is designed to facilitate. During this time Navigators will be collecting information to begin identifying and prioritizing issues within their local Workforce Development Area. This information can then be incorporated into an evolving strategic plan to address and meet the needs of job seekers with disabilities and local employers.
Connect:
Get connected to what is happening and interact with other Navigators on the National level.
Join the Navigator Listserv
The WIIA Navigator Listserv has been developed as a means to allow Disability Program Navigators, Workforce Partners, Social Security Benefits Planners and other interested parties to share their questions, ideas and practices. Another purpose of the Listserv is to support thoughtful problem solving. People new to the system and its implementation can quickly become connected to others across the state who face the same challenges, therefore shorten that dreaded "learning curve" time.
To subscribe:
Send a blank e-mail message to: join-WIIA_Navigator@lists.ia.gov
To remove your name:
Send a blank e-mail message to: leave-WIIA_Navigator@lists.ia.gov
To send an e-mail to the list:
Address it to WIIA_Navigator@lists.ia.gov . The address is not case-sensitive (remember the underscore between "WIIA" and "Navigator").
National Navigator Contacts:
National Training & Technical Assistance Law, Health Policy and Disability Center (LHPDC) of the University of Iowa College of Law
Contact: Laura Farah at laura-farah@uiowa.edu to:
- Receive contact information for your state technical assistance liaison. Your TA liaison is available to provide guidance to new Navigators, and to answer questions and assist in problem solving. Several of the TA liaisons were former Navigators.
- Subscribe to DPN national e-mail listservs, which include:
- One-Stop Toolkit Resources of the Week – These resources include websites and publications, as well as other information and tools that we hope will be useful as you work on systems change activities to help improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
- DPN Bi-Weekly Internet Scavenger Hunt – Today, the Internet serves as an important tool —a user-friendly way— to connect individuals to a vast array of resources. This is especially true when it comes to disability-related information. There are a lot of great resources posted to the DOL funded One-Stop Toolkit, the DPN section of the LHPDC website, as well as other key websites that Navigators should be both familiar with and accessing. The bi-weekly Internet Scavenger Hunt will be a fun way to introduce (or reintroduce) you to some of these important resources.
- DPN training updates and requests for information
To find contacts in Wisconsin or other states, download a copy of the National Navigator Program Leads List (WORD).
Resources:
- The Role of the Navigator (Powerpoint)
- Navigator Job Description
- Frequently Asked Questions (WORD)
- DPN Fact Sheet (WORD)
- Navigator Action Planning List (WORD)
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