Our History – Our Objective

First, some background: Since September, 2007 (in the aftermath of the June 2007 "Northern California Summit on Preventing Needless Work Disability by Helping People Stay Employed") California-based stakeholders in the stay-at-work/return-to-work process, representing every facet and perspective on this still-challenging dynamic, have met voluntarily on a monthly basis (in person in Oakland, CA and telephonically with those outside of the vicinity) to share ideas, build support and adopt specific projects intended to promote keeping Californians working safely and productively. Our purpose has been grounded in the objectives of ACOEM's 2006 Report on Preventing Needless Work Disability, but has grown to embrace subsequently developed principles and practices of stay-at-work and return-to-work within every venue we represent.

Membership in the Consortium

In 2009, the CA Consortium's informal membership (no requirements of interested California-based Stakeholders other than intent to engage; no fees) consisted of 70 individuals representing a wide range of healthcare provider groups, employers (public sector, e.g. municipalities, regional and state; and private sector business; for-profit and not-for-profit), organized labor, work disability insurers, work disability consultants of several kinds of services, insurance brokers, academic institutions and staff of relevant agencies of the State of California. Membership has been deliberately left open to any who wish to participate in good faith. One of our member entities has contributed the website domain, which the group agrees should be left in the public domain for the foreseeable future. The CA Consortium exists in the interest of optimizing dissemination of work disability prevention content to California stakeholders to SAW-RTW processes.

Outreach

We have continued our participant outreach for new stakeholder colleagues from the insurance and medical provider sectors, along with representatives from small and large employers. Our interest in expansion is to widen our reach to smaller employer and other groups which may be underserved by their own insurers or providers; or which may not have internal resources sufficient to effectively promote the full, safe and productive employment of their own affected workforces. This is expected, in turn, to assist in sustaining our CA Consortium team, and in expanding our resources.

Our Website

A new website was launched in 2009 (www.casawrtw.org) providing free informational and consultative resources to stakeholders. In 2009, we created a means of inviting and screening California service providers who wish to post their services on our site, in the public domain.

Alliance with the State of California

From its earliest inception, staff engagement and support from the California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation (CHSWC) has been critically significant. While contributing practical assistance to the CA Consortium's meeting processes, this engagement has led to the intertwining of objectives, such that the CA Consortium was able to significantly contribute to a new CHSWC work product (to be finalized, approved by the State Commission and released to the public this spring) of the "Return-To-Work Guide for California Employers and all Stakeholders in the SAW-RTW Process."

International Forum on Disability Management 2010

In 2008-09, the CA Consortium delivered both a financial commitment and personal leadership to support the IFDM 2010 set for September 20-22 in Los Angeles. This fifth-ever biannual international event is being hosted for its first occasion in the U.S. by the State of California's Department of Industrial Relations and the California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation, in conjunction with the North American offices of the International Association of Insurance Boards and Commissions (IAIABC), based in Madison, WI. To date, over 500 attendees are expected to participate in an event which will host disability management papers and presentations from over 20 countries. The role of the CA Consortium, in addition to financial sponsorship, has included contributions including papers from its members, as well as practical and in-kind support of the historic, California-based event this fall.

Our plans for 2010

Throughout 2010, we will continue participant outreach by members of our group in the hope of widening our exposure in stakeholder venues, as well as simply increasing our member participation. We will also continue to update our website to provide additional resources to the public and the 60 Summits Project. The SAW-RTW consultant listing is available as a resource for California organizations of all kinds seeking assistance in achieving their own SAW-RTW objectives. This listing, along with continued expansion of informational/educational materials will remain posted on our website.

The CA Consortium to Promote SAW-RTW will continue to meet monthly in 2010 to discuss, plan, and initiate improvements in SAW-RTW. In the aftermath of the IFDM 2010 (late 2010), our reflections and considerations of the future will tie together three years of activism in behalf of preventing medically unnecessary work disability, and promoting the full and safe, productive employment of Californians, as options for new commitments in 2011 are explored.

Meetings

Meetings are open to all interested California Stakeholders, who may attend any portion of the monthly two-hour sessions in person or by phone. During the period of mandated furloughs for State employees, the Consortium will meet as follows:

• Fourth Friday of each month
• 10:00 AM — noon
• World Institute on Disability
• 510-16th Street,
• Oakland, CA 94612
• 2nd Floor Board Room
• Click HERE for a link to call-in information

DISCLAIMERS

The California Consortium to Promote SAW-RTW (Consortium) provides resources and strategies for interested stakeholders to help them ensure that more California employees can stay at and/or return to work.

Membership is voluntary and comprises interested individuals rather than representatives of their respective employers. Members shall be responsible for protecting proprietary information about their own company in their Consortium communications. When members offer training, materials, or tools to the Consortium, the offering will be treated as non-proprietary, educational or informational and shall be free from commercial or promotional bias. The topics and materials presented should be relevant and applicable to a broad range of stakeholders.

Should copyrighted material be offered it shall be accompanied by a written statement clearly outlining any limitations of reuse and may give permission to copy and distribute with appropriate acknowledgement and credit.

In keeping with the Consortium's intention to avoid the appearance of impropriety, including in regards to anti-trust laws, members will not disclose any of their company's business practices or policies that could be construed as proprietary, protected or confidential during the course of any of the Consortium's internal or external communication.