Welcome to the Alaska Works Initiative - employment training and technical assistance site
We have developed this site as a tool for people with disabilities, benefit planners, service providers, employers and others to access current information about employment and benefits planning services. We hope this site gives you good information to make your employment efforts a success.
We would love your feedback, if you have suggestions or need information that we do not currently have posted, please email our Project Coordinator at anjj@uaa.alaska.edu or call (907) 272-8270.
What services does Alaska Works provide?
The Alaska Works Initiative is able to provide a variety of services and supports as a vehicle to create systems change.
- Training and Technical Assistance for people with disabilities, staff of agencies, state organizations and employers
- Statewide Quality Assurance for the Alaska Benefit Planner Network.
- Self-Employment support for individuals beginning small businesses or micro-businesses.
- Direct support to individuals who receive Adult Public Assistance and Social Security benefits to begin employment or to increase existing employment.
- Direct support to individuals who need benefit planning services.
- Direct support to individuals on small business development
- Person Centered Career Planning for individuals with disabilities interested in employment.
- Other services and supports on request.
What is the purpose of Alaska Works?
The overall purpose of the Alaska Works Initiative is to ensure that Alaskans who experience disabilities are employed at a rate as close as possible to that of the general population.
For the past seven years, the Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education has been working with individuals with disabilities, state agencies and service providers to implement the Alaska Works Initiative, which is designed to increase the employment rate of Alaskans with disabilities. Together, stakeholders are working to address the major barriers that keep people with disabilities from working.
Barriers to employment include:
- Fear of losing health benefits
- Financial disincentives
- Fragmented systems
- Lack of comprehensive vocational services
- General lack of knowledge or use of existing work incentive programs
- Limited work opportunities
For more information about Alaska specific barriers to employment, take a look at the Barriers Survey Report conducted by the Initiative in 1999. An updated version will be available in Late 2004.
Alaska Works is also working with the business community and job placement agencies to develop a better understanding of the current incentives and benefits associated with employing people with disabilities, including:
- Tax credits for wages paid
- Tax credits for becoming compliant with ADAAG standards
- Improved customer service for a diverse customer base
- Job coaching assistance
- Trial Work period
- On-The-Job Training wage assistance
- Improved Job Center services
How is it funded?
The Alaska Works Initiative has been funded through a group of federal and state grants. The Rehabilitation Services Administration State Partnership Initiative, Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, SSA Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach Grant, The US Department of Labor Workforce Coordination funds, Workforce Investment Self Employment funds, Micro-enterprise Development funds and most recently, the state Transition and Mentoring project.
How is the Initiative being managed?
The Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education is managing the project, in coordination and collaboration with the Alaska Works Consortium and the Consumer Advisory Board. The Alaska Works Consortium is comprised of representatives of the Council, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Division of Public Assistance, the Department of Education and Early Development, the Division of Medical Assistance, the Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
How are grant funds used?
Goal One: Develop and implement a new five-year strategic plan for advancing sustainable systems change.
Goal Two: Transform disability support programs to emphasize employment and meet the needs of working Alaskans with disabilities.
Goal Three: Assist youth and adults with disabilities to secure and obtain employment in Alaska's labor market.
Goals and Objectives
- take a comprehensive approach to infrastructure development and systems change
- gather and use a variety of data and research to prioritize activities
- work within existing systems, initiatives and partnerships
- identify and leverage a variety of resources to strategically address areas of need
- build on what's learned.