The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has selected their Core and Vision Quest states to receive technical assistance and training under the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) for FY 2018. The states and focus area are:
- Core States: Arkansas (Employer Engagement); District of Columbia (Capacity Building); Iowa (Capacity Building); Maryland (Capacity Building and Provider Transformation); Michigan (Capacity Building); Missouri (Capacity Building); Ohio (Capacity Building and Provider Transformation); Pennsylvania (Employer Engagement and Provider Transformation); Tennessee (Employer Engagement and Provider Transformation); and Utah (Capacity Building and Provider Transformation).
- Vision Quest States: Georgia (Mental Health and Employment); Illinois (Mental Health and Employment); Louisiana (WIOA Implementation); Michigan (WIOA Implementation); Missouri (Mental Health and Employment); Ohio (WIOA Implementation); Tennessee (Mental Health and Employment); and Utah (WIOA Implementation).
Since its inception in FY 2012, the EFSLMP has provided intensive onsite and virtual technical assistance to cross-system state government teams to further their efforts to increase competitive, integrated employment outcomes for all individuals with disabilities.
In addition to the EFSLMP technical assistance offerings to its Core and Vision Quest states, ODEP will continue to host its virtual National Employment First Community of Practice, which now includes over 2,000 participants across all 50 states. Webinars are held monthly on the second Wednesday from 3-4 ET, and membership is open to all stakeholders interested in advancing employment first efforts. Register for the EFSLMP Community of Practice.
In case you missed it: early this week we shared a story about how Utah's participation in EFSLMP helped a local provider offer new services and opportunities for youth with disabilities.