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Employment First is a declaration of both philosophy and practice:
“Employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred outcome in the provision of publicly funded services for all citizens with disabilities regardless of level of disability, in a job of their choosing with supports and accommodations provided as necessary to achieve and maintain employment.”
Employment First is an “umbrella” term where states and programs align to emphasize the importance of employment services focusing on “ability” versus “disability.” It does not mean that employment is the only outcome for all; rather, that employment is the expectation, not the exception.
Some of the goals and guiding principles of Employment First include:
The NC Alliance on Full Participation (NCAFP) drafted a Position Paper that was approved on October 24, 2011 that promotes this initiative. To learn more, click here: Employment First Initiative and Position Paper
is a statewide workgroup that formed in 2011 with more than 30 members currently representing various disability groups- Mental Illness, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse/co-occurring, Autism, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Traumatic Brain Injury. The goals of this group are to:
For more information about this committee, or employment services and supports in North Carolina, please contact Emery Cowan, Community Policy Management Section Best Practices Team, at emery.cowan@dhhs.nc.gov or 919-715-2774.
In addition to employment services provided through the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS), services also are available through DHHS’ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR) and the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) through the Innovations Waiver (formerly the CAP MR/DD Waiver).
Provider agencies that offer employment supports and services are called Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRP's). There are more than 100 CRPs around the state. To find out about the programs, follow this link: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dvrs/pwd/crs.htm
The Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services provides several state-funded service definitions for employment. The current employment service definitions are being updated and will be posted on this site soon.
DMH/DD/SAS is also working to implement measures to provide Supported Employment Services to
individuals with a diagnosis of serious mental illness, who are in or at risk of entry to an adult care home. This service is based on the requirements set forth in the Department’s settlement agreement with the Department of Justice. While the Division will be developing definitions that are cross disability, it will ensure individuals with a diagnosis of serious mental illness have access to evidenced based Supportive Employment Services.
The Division is designing infrastructures to implement the model for individuals with a diagnosis of Serious Mental Illness as well as develop training, processes for ongoing Supportive Employment program fidelity evaluation, performance outcome data, best practice workforce development and employment support professional credentialing, and quality improvement consultation. Through the settlement agreement 2,500 individuals with a diagnosis of Serious Mental Illness will have access to Supportive Employment Services by July 1, 2019.
North Carolina is a member of the national network of state agencies committed to improving employment outcomes for adolescents and adults with disabilities. DMH/DD/SAS joined on October 1, 2011 and plans to address cross-disability employment outcomes, funding, data, and policy.
Upon receiving our SELN State Findings & Observation Report, North Carolina will be prioritizing activities and developing a work plan to continue building the leadership necessary to promote implementation of an Employment First policy.
SELN in North Carolina is sponsored by the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD). It is a joint program of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services and the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
North Carolina is one of 23 states participating in the federal Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy’s (ODEP) Community of Practice (CoP) for Employment First.
To advance Employment First, ODEP created the Employment First State Leadership Mentor Program. This program helps states align policies, regulations and funding priorities to encourage integrated employment as the primary outcome for individuals with significant disabilities. Through the initiative, ODEP is providing support and informational resources for selected states that desire systems change reflecting the Employment First approach but have struggled to fully implement it as the primary service delivery system for people with disabilities.
Read more about this national initiative here at ODEP.
As a business to business network, the North Carolina Business Leadership Network (NCBLN) will support the business community with information and resources to: source, hire and promote people with disabilities; to do business with organizations owned and operated by people with disabilities; and to market their products and services in an accessible manner to people with disabilities, across the State of North Carolina.
NC Employment First