INNOVATIVE PROGRAM & POLICY WORK > WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
SELF-EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES NETWORK (SERN)
Do you have expertise in Self-Employment? Disability awareness? Employment supports? Assistive technology? Are you self-employed? Would you like to be self-employed?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, we’d like you to consider becoming a member of SERN.
What is SERN?
SERN stands for Self Employment Resources Network.
The Self Employment Resources Network began as a Task Force on Self Employment. Its current members represent state agencies, private vocational rehabilitation agencies, small businesses, parents, and advocacy groups with people having any disability. SERN is looking to expand its membership.
What is SERN’s Mission?
SERN seeks to locate self-employment resources, translate those resources into user-friendly terms, facilitate networking opportunities, and to identify best practice procedures for interested persons with disabilities wanting to be self-employed.
Who is a potential member?
People with disabilities wanting options for employment.
People with disabilities who have their own businesses.
State and Federal entities providing services that promote self-employment.
Trainers, Coaches, Vocational Rehabilitation and Service Agencies that provide services to people wanting to be self-employed.
State facilities that could purchase services from self-employed people with disabilities.
What are SERN’s Goals?
Provide positive examples of successful persons with disabilities who are self-employed.
Be a link to networking as it relates to more persons with disabilities becoming self-employed.
Be a link to existing self-employment resources for persons with disabilities.
Be a link to networking opportunities for further business development.
Promote education on self-employment income and its affect on public benefits.
Promote education of business, community, medical, and rehabilitation entities on the self-employment capabilities of people with disabilities.
For more information contact Marsie Frawley at (312) 223-9600, TTY (866) 584-8750.
Monthly meetings take place by phone, on the first Friday of each month from 9:00 to 10:15am. The call-in number is 888-313-1402, passcode 8594931#. Odd Month agenda (January, March, May, July, September, November) topics include: Statewide Initiatives. Even Month agenda (February, April, June, August, October, December) features self-employed business people with disabilities or their supports.
Online Library
HDA has a wide variety of documents related to workforce development in our online Materials Library.Here are some of the valuable resources you'll find there:
Understanding the New Outcome Milestone Ticket Payment System: What Kind of Revenue Can My State Expect?
This briefing paper will assist MIG grantees in better understanding what is required to receive payment under the Outcome Milestone payment system, which is, by far, the most common payment system chosen by Employment Networks . By understanding of how ENs are paid, MIGs will be better equipped to analyze where Ticket outreach can be most effectively targeted, determine what work incentive infrastructure may be necessary to create a more "Ticket friendly" environment, and estimate reasonable projections of what new revenue a state can expect. Visit NCHSD's new Ticket to Work webpage in the Hot Topics section for more Ticket resources.
Quick Questions for Analyzing Ticket to Work for Your Agency
This document will help service providers who are Employment Networks estimate how much the new Ticket to Work payment system could impact agency revenue. It contains a short set of questions and a simple chart to make the analysis easy. Visit NCHSD's new Ticket to Work page in the Hot Topics section for more Ticket resources.
Continuing Disability Reviews Process
Recipients of Social Security benefits, including SSI and SSDI, are subject to Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) or periodic checks of their medical condition to determine if they continue to meet disability standards. This document explains the CDR process. It describes how and when CDRs are conducted, and lists individuals' rights and protections within the review process.
