Skip Navigation

Training Report

November 15, 2010 - Employment for ME Summit Rolls Out New Employment Policy

Photo: Commissioner Harvey gives Keynote address
Commissioner Harvey gives Keynote address
Commissioner Harvey gives Keynote address
On November 15th, nearly 300 people attended the “Employment for ME Summit” at the Augusta Civic Center. The theme was “building upon past success for the next decade.”

Go here to view photos

The morning session of the conference was for the leadership of case management agencies and advocacy organizations. At this session, the new Department of Health & Human Services employment policy was unveiled. The policy reads as follows:

“The Department of Health and Human Services will support career development and meaningful employment for all working-aged individuals receiving services through the Department. Employment is part of the natural course of adult life and provides opportunities for economic gain, personal growth and contributing to one’s community. The development of a skilled and motivated workforce is essential to meeting the needs of Maine businesses.”  View full policy (PDF format) or (MSWord format).

The keynote speakers were Brenda Harvey, Commissioner of the Department of Health & Human Services, and Laura Fortman, Commissioner of the Department of Labor. Both commissioners shared their vision of employment for all Maine citizens. Videos of the keynotes appear below.

Photo: Jim Schmidt (left) receives recognition plaque from Commissioner Harvey
Jim Schmidt receiving recognition plaque from Commissioner Harvey
Jim Schmidt receiving recognition plaque from Commissioner Harvey
At the start of the conference both Commissioners presented a special recognition of Jim Schmidt for his "remarkable contribution to the health and welfare of those who have been challenged with mental health issues." The full recognition letter can be read here (MSWord format).

Afterwards, DHHS Office Directors met in small groups with conference attendees to discuss how their office practices will support the new employment policy.

The afternoon session, titled “Providing a Bridge between Policy & Practice,” was for case managers, community integration workers and supervisors.  Bill Hughes from the Office of Adults with Physical and Cognitive Disabilities and Ron Welch, Director of the Office of Mental Health Services, opened up the afternoon with data regarding the success of people with disabilities who are working  [view data slides here]

Participants then broke into pre-selected workshops to receive more in-depth information regarding assisting people with disabilities to seek and obtain employment. Workshop topics included:

In addition to keynote speakers and workshops, there were seven informational tables that held valuable information about programs and services that are available throughout the state. They were:

Other Information that was contained in the day’s registration packet were:

The Summit was well received by those who attended with the majority of the participants rating their impression of the overall conference as being good or very good. Some of the comments from the evaluations were, “Having all DHHS Office Directors participation was excellent and necessary,” “ I came out of this day with lots of useful information,” and “Exceeded my expectations!”

View a participant list here (PDF format) or (MSWord format)

 

Videos from the Summit:

1) Commissioner Harvey's Keynote - Introduction to the DHHS Employment Policy
2) Commissioner Harvey's Keynote - Details on the DHHS Employment Policy Part 1
3) Commissioner Harvey's Keynote - Details on the DHHS Employment Policy Part 2

4) Recognition Award to Jim Schmidt by Commissioner Harvey

5) Commissioner Fortman's Keynote Part 1
6) Commissioner Fortman's Keynote Part 2

Pictures from the Summit:

*IMAGES BY SUSAN GATTI PHOTOGRAPHY

Click on the thumbnails below for a larger version.

Photo: Lisa Sturtevant (at podium) welcomes people to the summit.
Lisa Sturtevant (at podium) welcomes people to the summit.
Lisa Sturtevant (at podium) welcomes people to the summit.
Photo: Brenda Harvey, Commissioner Maine DHHS, gives Keynote Address.
Brenda Harvey, Commissioner Maine DHHS, gives Keynote Address.
Brenda Harvey, Commissioner Maine DHHS, gives Keynote Address.
Photo: Jim Schmidt (left) receives recognition plaque from Commissioner Harvey
Jim Schmidt (left) receives recognition plaque from Commissioner Harvey
Jim Schmidt (left) receives recognition plaque from Commissioner Harvey

Photo: Laura Fortman, Commissioner Maine Department of Labor
Laura Fortman, Commissioner Maine Department of Labor
Laura Fortman, Commissioner Maine Department of Labor
Photo: Sign promoting the EmploymentForME.org web site
Sign promoting the EmploymentForME.org web site
Sign promoting the EmploymentForME.org web site
Photo: Jim Beougher, Director, Office of Children & Family Services
Jim Beougher, Director, Office of Children & Family Services
Jim Beougher, Director, Office of Children & Family Services

Photo: Guy Cousins, Director, Office of Substance Abuse, leads small group discussion about how to put the employment policy into practice.
Guy Cousins, Director, Office of Substance Abuse, leads small group discussion about how to put the employment policy into practice.
Guy Cousins, Director, Office of Substance Abuse, leads small group discussion about how to put the employment policy into practice.
Photo: Patti Dushuttle, Office of MaineCare Services (left) and Ron Welch, Director, Office of Adult Mental Health Services (right) during the smaller group discussion.
Patti Dushuttle, Office of MaineCare Services (left) and Ron Welch, Director, Office of Adult Mental Health Services (right) during the smaller group discussion.
Patti Dushuttle, Office of MaineCare Services (left) and Ron Welch, Director, Office of Adult Mental Health Services (right) during the smaller group discussion.
Photo: Tony Marple, Director, Office of MaineCare Services (left) and Ron Welch, Director, Office of Adult Mental Health Services (right)
Tony Marple, Director, Office of MaineCare Services (left) and Ron Welch, Director, Office of Adult Mental Health Services (right)
Tony Marple, Director, Office of MaineCare Services (left) and Ron Welch, Director, Office of Adult Mental Health Services (right)

Photo: Panel- Office Director's report back from their smaller group meetings
Panel- Office Director's report back from their smaller group meetings
Panel- Office Director's report back from their smaller group meetings
Photo: Diane Scully, Office of Elder Services
Diane Scully, Office of Elder Services
Diane Scully, Office of Elder Services
Photo: Bill Hughes, Director, Office of Adults with Cognitive & Physical Disabilities (right), with Ron Welch (second from right), Lisa Sturtevant (second from left), and Christine Robinson (left)
Bill Hughes, Director, Office of Adults with Cognitive & Physical Disabilities (right), with Ron Welch (second from right), Lisa Sturtevant (second from left), and Christine Robinson (left)
Bill Hughes, Director, Office of Adults with Cognitive & Physical Disabilities (right), with Ron Welch (second from right), Lisa Sturtevant (second from left), and Christine Robinson (left)

Photo: Barbara Van Burgel, Director, Office of Integrated Access and Support Services (center), Jim Beougher (left), and Diane Scully (right)
Barbara Van Burgel, Director, Office of Integrated Access and Support Services (center), Jim Beougher (left), and Diane Scully (right)
Barbara Van Burgel, Director, Office of Integrated Access and Support Services (center), Jim Beougher (left), and Diane Scully (right)
Photo: Larry Glantz, Director, CHOICES CEO Project (left) speaks with Karen Fraser, Maine Department of Labor (right)
Larry Glantz, Director, CHOICES CEO Project (left) speaks with Karen Fraser, Maine Department of Labor (right)
Larry Glantz, Director, CHOICES CEO Project (left) speaks with Karen Fraser, Maine Department of Labor (right)
Resource table
Resource table
Resource table

Resource table
Resource table
Resource table
Resource table
Resource table
Resource table
Resource table
Resource table
Resource table



© Employment for ME