Looking to clarify

As the Legislative session approaches, the Cache Employment and Training Center is optimistic decision makers will be able to help clarify changes at the federal level which may impact organizations that help employ people with disabilities.

As one such organization with roots in the community stretching back to the 1950s, CETC helps people with disabilities gain skills and resources to enter the workforce, whether it’s somewhere out in the community or at the nonprofit’s sheltered workspace 4th South Logan.

Kae Lynn Beecher, executive director of CETC, said a 2014 regulation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has painted an uncertain future for some of the organization’s programs that involve the sheltered workspace.

The regulation raising concern with CETC pushes for home and community-based programs to be fully integrated into the workplaces offering job-training programs. While the new rules were implemented in 2014, states were given until 2019 to write a transition plan to come into compliance.

While integration is something CETC already strives for, Beecher is concerned for people who may need the safe and structured work environment offered at CETC’s facility with day services.

“Some of the changes in there add new codes that help people move toward employment in the community, and that is great,” Beecher said. “Some of the changes affect our day service, which includes work on the production floor, classes, community access. That will be separated out and lost, potentially.”

Currently, CETC works with nearly 30 businesses within Cache Valley to provide onsite employment opportunities as well as opportunities on CETC’s own production floor, assembling maintenance kits for treadmills for ICON Health and Fitness or separating cardboard pieces for Schreiber Foods, Beecher said.

“CETC provides them sheltered employment to learn skills and make mistakes, but to feel accomplished and take pride in what they do,” Beecher said. “Our goal is not to warehouse people. Our goal is to help them move to the next step.”

To get people with disabilities employed in the community, Beecher said, employers need to be willing to buy in, but even those willing to help may not be ready to provide specialized accommodations.

“There are great benefits of having an employee that shows up every day and works hard,” Beecher said. “There are some accommodations in different forms that might need to be made, and some businesses may not be ready for that.”

Recently, the federal government offered an extension to the 2019 deadline for implementation of the new rule allowing states to meet the exacting criteria by 2022, Beecher said.

Despite the extension, Beecher is concerned as only half a dozen states were able to come up with a transition plan that was approved at the federal level.

On Tuesday, CETC hosted a discussion between families of those utilizing the training facility’s services and Rep. Ed Redd as he heads into Monday’s 2018 Legislative session.

Beecher is hopeful Redd, who serves on the House Health and Human Services Committee, will be able to work through funding options and help with the implementation of the plans to keep services at CETC.

“I have seen what CETC does personally outside of my legislative responsibilities as a physician, and it really is a wonderful resource in Cache County,” Redd said. “For me to say we are getting rid of it won’t happen, but the changes are to integrate people as much as possible for job training.”

Redd said the federal changes are meant to get people out into the community working, but for some it requires time and use of the sheltered workplace for that to be an obtainable goal.

“For some, they are best served at CETC, and having the ability to go to work and do something is a very positive experience,” Redd said. “Having them part of the community is awesome, but some who have severe disabilities need the sheltered work environment.”

Susie Maughan, whose daughter Tia utilizes CETC, said after transitioning the 24-year-old out of the public schools program, they found the offerings at the Logan-based facility to meet her needs.

“We saw some different day programs, but the opportunities for work that Tia could be part of and having individualized goals was right for her,” Maughan said. “She loves to cook and gets to help in the kitchen at CETC, and the opportunities for her to meet different people is great.”

Tia currently works a part-time job at Casper’s Ice Cream with a job coach in addition to classes and training at CETC, her mother said.

Susie said she worries federal changes would impact too many people using CETC who need the extra time and training before entering the private sector.

A version of a state level mandate from the Division of Services for People with Disabilities will be released the first part of February, and Beecher hopes people using CETC and business partners will weigh in during a weeklong comment period.

The DSPD has requested additional money to deal with the federal changes, but Redd said it isn’t entirely clear what is being sought and that in the first few weeks he will be working to decipher the info.

“I see it as my responsibility for those who don’t have experience with CETC to help them understand. I don’t want to fix something that doesn’t need fixing,” Redd said. “Hopefully during the process there is enough feedback for the service.”

Redd said those who are interested in learning about the changes and providing feedback can attend the weekly Saturday morning town hall meetings, where he will provide updates on the CETC issues as well as other items constituents are interested in.

As Beecher moves forward, she hopes those involved in CETC will make their voices heard and work to preserve programs not just in Utah and Cache County, but across the country at similar facilities.

“We want everyone to have their voice out there and make sure they are talking to DSPD and their state legislators and federal congressmen. People need to make sure their voice is heard. If it is not, they may get stuck with an unintended consequence,” Beecher said.

Kae Lynn Beecher, executive director of Cache Employment and Training Center, talks about the 4th South production floor of the nonprofit that employs people with disabilities.

John Zsiray/Herald Journal

Kae Lynn Beecher, executive director of Cache Employment and Training Center, talks about the 4th South production floor of the nonprofit that employs people with disabilities.

John Zsiray/Herald Journal

Kae Lynn Beecher, executive director of Cache Employment and Training Center, talks about the various products that are built or assembled at the nonprofit's production floor on 4th South in Logan.

John Zsiray/Herald Journal

Kae Lynn Beecher, executive director of Cache Employment and Training Center, talks about the various products that are built or assembled at the nonprofit's production floor on 4th South in Logan.

John Zsiray/Herald Journal

Cindy Weeks, right, Sherry Bowden and Adrene Rose assemble boxes for Paragon Medical at Cache Employment and Training Center on Wednesday afternoon.

John Zsiray/Herald Journal

Cindy Weeks, right, Sherry Bowden and Adrene Rose assemble boxes for Paragon Medical at Cache Employment and Training Center on Wednesday afternoon.

John Zsiray/Herald Journal