EMPLOYMENT FIRST

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Training and Technical Assistance

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Training Calendar

The Employment First Training Calendar lists information on required and optional trainings in Oregon. Trainings listed include the Oregon Employment Learning Network (OELN) trainings, Oregon Training and Consultation (OTAC), and webinars, as well as APSE CESP Exam opportunities. Trainings that will meet the required 12 hours under OAR 411-345-0300 are also noted.

List of VR I/DD Counselors, Education Transition Network Facilitators and ODDS Employment Specialists

Innovative Projects

DHS is committed to trying new and innovative ways to help build the skills, knowledge and capacity of its partners toward the goal of integrated employment. Our current projects are highlighted here for your review.

Transformation Grants

Since 2015, DHS has awarded grants to more than 25 service provider agencies that currently provide facility-based employment or day services to help transform their organizational and program models to community-based, integrated employment services. Providers receiving these grants must commit to providing community-based, integrated employment services and to ending facility-based or sheltered employment services. For data on provider outcomes, visit the Employment Outcomes System​.

Name
  
Web Site
  
Abilitreehttp://www.abilitree.org/
Albertina Kerrhttp://www.albertinakerr.org/
Alternative Services of Oregonhttps://www.asioregon.org/
Arc of Lane Countyhttp://www.arclane.org/
Bethesda-Lutheran Communitieshttps://bethesdalc.org/
Catholic Community Serviceshttps://www.ccswv.org/
Community Access Serviceshttp://communityaccessservices.org/
Community Services, Inc.http://cs-inc.org/
Cornerstone Associateshttps://www.cornerstoneassociates.org
Eastco Diversified Services
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Innovation Grants

The Oregon Legislature awarded a Policy Option Package in the 2015-17 session for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to fund innovative Employment First projects to increase capacity throughout the state. The purpose of these grants is to expand efforts to increase competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).

Summer Work Experience

The Office of Developmental Disabilities Services, Vocational Rehabilitation and Oregon Department of Education issued a Request for Application (RFA) No. 4331 for Summer Work Experience Programs to fund pilot programs throughout the state aimed at giving youth with disabilities experience with summer work.

The goal is to develop a work experience program that increases job opportunities for young people with disabilities. This RFA is part of ongoing efforts in ODDS, VR and ODE to increase job opportunities for transition-age and high school youth. More information is in the following message:

Local Employment First Teams

As part of the Employment First initiative, local leadership teams around the state started gathering in 2011. The strategy behind local teams started with the recognition that in order to implement Employment First successfully, efforts at the community level needed to be organized and supported. There are now more than 30 local Employment First teams in Oregon. A full list of teams, with contact information for team leads, is available online:

In 2016-17, Employment First funded Community of Practice (CoP) webinars, a subject-based discussion series of topics. Each topic is featured in a two-hour session, which was recorded, and in an online ongoing discussion forum to allow access to the information and continue the conversation(s).

Archive of Community of Practice Webinars:

Title
  
Materials
9/28/2017 Webinar

6/24/2017 Webinar

4/22/2017 Webinar

3/9/2017 Webinar

2/23/2017 Webinar

1/5/2017 Webinar
12/16/2015 Webinar

Training and Technical Assistance Resources

Families/Self-Advocates

Employment Support Professionals

Service Coordinators and Personal Agents

 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors