Scheduled for Friday at Charles W. McDowell Center
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2015) — The Workforce Development/Financial Empowerment Collaborative (WD/FE), designed to improve employment and advancement opportunities for people with disabilities in Louisville, will meet from 9-11 a.m. on Friday at the Charles W. McDowell Center, 8412 Westport Rd.
The partnership was formed following Louisville’s Economic Advancement Assembly in May 2014. Sponsored by National Disability Institute’s (NDI) LEAD Center, with the support of Louisville Metro Community Services and Bank On Louisville, the assembly focused on identifying and advancing opportunities to improve the financial capability of Kentuckians with disabilities. Bolstered with the knowledge that one in three Americans with disabilities live in poverty, attendees saw firsthand the critical need to continue working together to increase our community’s awareness for greater access and coordination of services.
At Friday’s event, time will be spent reviewing tools and resources, which include:
- Expanded provider training and the development of a train-the-trainer series to further embed financial empowerment strategies into service delivery models.
- Development of a Financial Health Assessment Tool, which includes a series of questions designed to aid service providers in engagement of their clients in financial empowerment services.
- Creation of the Louisville Community Financial Empowerment Resource & Referral Guide. From banking to first-time home buying, to benefits counseling, front line staff will be able to direct clients to the agency with the appropriate services and supports they need.
- Creation of the Kentucky Disability & Accessibility Resource and Referral Guide which lists resources at the local, state and federal levels to help appropriately meet the accommodation needs of clients.
Presenters will be: Katina Whitlock, director of Louisville Metro Community Services; Michael Morris, executive director of National Disability Institute; and Angelisa Harris, regional manager, Community Affairs, for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Chicago Regional Office.
Presenters will discuss efforts underway locally and nationally to integrate financial empowerment strategies into the workforce development system, and look to the future on ways of improving employment goals and financial behaviors for individuals with disabilities.
“Community Services is proud to work with so many outstanding partners through this collaborative—and grateful for NDI’s support—to help educate and prepare our residents in building and securing brighter economic futures,” said Tina Lentz, executive administrator of Community Services’ Advocacy and Empowerment Division and chair of the Workforce Development/Financial Empowerment Collaborative. “Together we have opened doors to ensure everyone can take concrete steps toward financial independence.
Along with Community Services, collaborative members include the Center for Accessible Living, Goodwill Industries, Jewish Family & Career Services, KentuckianaWorks, Kentucky Office for the Blind, Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehab, Community Services’ Office for Aging and Disabled Citizens, Options Unlimited, ResCare, and the Zoom Group.
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