Wisconsin Pathways to Independence Project
Pathways History and the State Partnership Initiative (SPI) Project
The Wisconsin Pathways to Independence, State Partnership Project is a result
of 5 years of study and pre-testing providing social security beneficiaries in
four disability categories (severe mental illness, AIDS/HIV infection, physical
disability and developmental disability) with comprehensive help in securing and
maintaining gainful employment.
The project was designed to make better use of existing work incentives, and
add new assurances of health and long term care coverage regardless of earnings.
Further, the vocational and employment service models in use for all
participants were team based and consumer centered, with benefits analysis and
planning integrated into the process. Pathways is noted for its ability to
reduce service delivery "fragmentation" and assure participants are
better off as a result of employment.
The two lead agencies, The Department of Health and Family Services and the
Department of Workforce Development solicited service provision proposals from
public and private organizations that acted as the Pathways access points. These
20 partner agencies establish local networks which bring all the necessary
pieces together to support a participant's employment goals. This included
health and employment counselors, state Vocational Rehabilitation staff, representatives from housing
and transportation, prospective employers; mental health professionals and case
managers for long term care services. The local organizations gave advice about
available work incentives (1619, Impairment Related Work Expenses, PASS, waiver
protections etc.), helped develop employment goals, assess skills, facilitate
access to the state's Medicaid Buy-in, recruit employers and match employees to
jobs. The project involved significant outreach, coordination of services,
counseling, and follow-on support.
As a means of addressing policy barriers (e.g. loss of health coverage and
precipitous drop in cash benefits as earning rise), the Pathways policy staff
successfully designed and gained state approval for a Medicaid buy-in under the
Balanced Budget Act. Waivers of SSI program features relating to the earning
offset formula, asset accumulation and the continuing disability review process
were granted following development and submission by the Pathways team. After
Title II (SSDI) waiver authority was restored by the Ticket to Work-Work
Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, Pathways submitted a package of waivers
designed to complement those obtained for SSI and consistent with the intent of
TWWIIA. The Project continues to investigate a HUD waiver and transportation
supports.
The following links provide more background information on Pathways and the
State Partnership Initiative.
About Wisconsin Pathways to Independence
Pathways Program Description
State Partnership Initiative (SPI), Research Presentation, August 2003 (PDF, 193 KB)
Pathways
Final Research Report Summary
Factors
Related to Participant Success
Last Revised: October 24, 2008
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