Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Operating Manual

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Section 35 - Inter-Agency Co-Operation

Purpose

The purpose of inter-departmental, inter-jurisdictional, or inter-agency co-operation is to provide participants with a streamlined process for reducing duplication for easier service access.

 

Process

Co-ordination of the vocational process may involve service and funding supports from other service delivery systems. To be responsive to changing vocational training needs involving other jurisdictions, Manitoba Economic Development, Investment and Trade has established co-operative working relationships with the following delivery systems:

  1. The Department of Families' Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) Program has established a process that allows Case Coordinators to be responsive to situations where a person with a disability can access short-term mainstream programming. Short-term skills training generally refers to training programs of approximately three months or less in duration that leads to employment as part of the participant's action plan.

    This service access point does not replace the current referral process for education/employment services, but does make EIA more receptive and responsive to the needs of persons with a disability in accessing funding for educational or training needs excluding tuition or course fees.

  2. Manitoba Economic Development, Investment and Trade, via Provincial Services provides service needs assessments, employment counselling and negotiated financial assistance to eligible Manitobans. If appropriate, and when mutually agreed to between the participant and employment counsellor during the counselling process, Provincial Services will continue to refer individuals to third party funded projects or educational projects, to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.

    For persons meeting eligibility requirements, Provincial Services may consider authorizing up to 100% of the education training funding costs for persons with disabilities. This funding is negotiated on a case-by-case basis with vocational counsellors.

When participants are involved with other private or public insurers there is the possibility for partnership. It would be important to discuss with the participant and other parties what impact such partnerships may have on their entitlement to benefits.

 

Partnerships may be explored/considered where deemed advantageous to a participant’s vocational plan:

  • Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD) Vocational Rehabilitation Program. CPPD’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program may provide funding in situations where there is a high probability of full-time employment following relatively short term training. CPPD may be able to cover other costs and therefore, may be able to enter into a partnership or agreement to support participants who are eligible for both programs.
  • Other organizations, such as Manitoba Public Insurance and private long-term disability insurers (Canada Life, Blue Cross, Manulife Financial etc.) may also be able to enter into partnership agreements on an individualized case-by-case basis.
 

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