​The following is an announcement from Indiana Family and Social Services Administration:
 
The Secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, John J. Wernert, MD, has announced that he has accepted the position of Vice President of the Sagamore Institute with responsibilities over the new health policy division and advancing health innovation. Dr. Wernert will complete his service at FSSA in January 2017 after a new Secretary is named by Governor-elect Holcomb. Dr. Wernert has served on Governor Pence’s cabinet as FSSA Secretary since June 2014, and was the first physician to be appointed to lead this large state agency. As Secretary, Dr. Wernert oversaw the significant modernization efforts of the many social welfare programs in FSSA including Indiana Medicaid. Major achievements include approval and implementation of HIP 2.0, clinical systems integration and the planning and building of a new state mental hospital, the Indiana Neurodiagnostic Institute, currently under construction. 

​INARF’s national partner SUPRA has shared the following update:

​Businesses and most non-profits across the country were jubilant with the announcement that a Texas Judge, Amos L. Mazzant, III, enjoined the Federal government from implementing and enforcing the new controversial overtime rule scheduled to go into effect on December 1, 2016. The impact relieves a number of companies (including SUPRA work center affiliates) from paying overtime to employees who make salaries up to $47,476 annually or $913 per week. Previously, employees were exempt from overtime provisions if they made $23,660 annually or $455 per week and met the “duties tests.” In addition, the new rule would have required adjustments to those salaries every three years beginning on January 1, 2020. Interestingly, Judge Mazzant, was appointed by President Barack Obama.

Indiana MENTOR is pleased to announce the selection of Todd Fricke as the new Executive Director.  Todd’s first day will be Tuesday, December 20, 2016.

​Congratulations to INARF members who received VR Establishment Project Grants. Establishment projects are meant to increase staff capacity and enhance internal staff training for the purpose of increasing the quality of services and competitive, integrated employment outcomes to VR applicants or eligible individuals.

The links to November 2016 employment data for Indiana counties, cities and MSA’s are listed below: