Employment First Missouri

Empowerment through employment

The Employment First Missouri project at the Institute for Community Inclusion provides technical assistance to promote the advancement of integrated community employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Missouri.

more about Employment First Missouri

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Becoming an Employment First Agency

hands together in a circle Are you a Targeted Case Management (TCM) provider interested in becoming a model agency of national best practice in person-centered & self-determined employment pathways for individuals & their supports?

Register Now

The Employment First consultation provides an opportunity to assess culture & processes which facilitate change management focused on person-driven employment support coordination.

Scaling Best Practices

  • Facilitated interviews, organization self-assessment, & consultation are used to evaluate current capacity
  • Recommendations, technical assistance, & training to implement capacity building strategies are available at no cost
  • Based on Tiered Supports Model
  • Customized Strategies to Address Barriers
  • Ongoing Support for Staff

Contact Us

Contact us, request a custom or specific training, or to ask any other questions.

Featured Resources

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Informed Choices

Informed choice is the process of choosing from options based on accurate information, knowledge, and experiences

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Service Delivery Sample Flow

This is a sample structure for delivery of services to assist individuals with disabilities to obtain employment in the community. It is intended to be a basic structure for a person-driven approach, which programs can use as the basis for designing a service flow specific to their organization’s structure, culture, funding agency requirements, etc.



Upcoming Trainings & Events

Select event for more information. This is a EmploymentFirst Missouri sponsored training Denotes a EmploymentFirst Missouri event.
Strategic Networking: Building Meaningful Connections with Intention This is a EmploymentFirst Missouri sponsored training
$Free Webinar

Strategic networking involves setting goals and considering different techniques to expand our personal and professional networks in a meaningful way. Topics include a) Strategies and connection to quality services and best practice, b) Matching personalities to methods, and c) Action plan and mentoring. The exercises will provide attendees with the opportunity to begin a reflective practice to consider past, present, and future networking efforts including time devoted and analysis, with the goal of increasing one’s social capital which is essential for robust employment services.

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Task Analysis and Breaking New Jobs Down This is a EmploymentFirst Missouri sponsored training
$Free Webinar

This training focuses on providing the learner with the resources and skills in assisting an individual in learning a new job or work skill based on the needs and learning style of the individual. It will walk the learner through what a task analysis is, and the processes required in developing a solid task analysis. Finally, the training will cover how to implement the task analysis into the job coaching and fading process.

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Informed Choice and Employment This is a EmploymentFirst Missouri sponsored training
$Free Webinar

During this session you will learn how to facilitate and honor informed choice regarding employment, as part of the service planning process, and aligned with Missouri’s Employment First Policy. A step-by-step process will be discussed, with emphasis on strategies for getting beyond simply asking an individual their employment preferences, and use of an experiential approach for choice making. Included will be a discussion of how to address common concerns about employment. Employment and integration activities should be driven by individual interests, goals, and needs. We will discuss the basics of person-centered planning, and how it serves as the basis for the employment and community integration activities pursued by an individual. We’ll also review how person-centered planning guides exploration and discovery activities that assist individuals in determining their preferences for employment.

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Provider Standards – Having a Vision for Employment This is a EmploymentFirst Missouri sponsored training
$Free Webinar

Supporting individuals to succeed in employment requires an organizational commitment to employment. You’ll learn about the importance of aligning an organization’s mission and values with support for employment in the community, and the specifics of what organizational support for employment entails. Included will be a discussion of Missouri’s Employment First policy, and what that means on a day-to-basis for organizations supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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Diversity and Language Issues in Supporting Individuals with Disabilities This is a EmploymentFirst Missouri sponsored training
$Free Webinar

This session will look at employment for people with disabilities within the overall context of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn about how disability fits within overall full inclusion efforts, and the importance of providing services and supports in a way that is sensitive to and responsive to diverse communities. You’ll also learn about the ongoing evolution of language in describing people with disabilities, the difference between person-first and identify-first, and the importance of honoring individual preferences.

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Best Practices in Job Coaching and Support Strategies for Community Success This is a EmploymentFirst Missouri sponsored training
$Free Webinar

This training will cover the most effective strategies for staff supporting individuals in employment. Ways to foster a fruitful partnership with an employer will be reviewed such as first impressions, learning company culture, and adapting methods to match the environment and needs of the individual. You will learn about the critical importance of staff supplementing, not replacing, existing natural supports, the full range of support strategies, and the importance of facilitating full social inclusion in employment and community settings.

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The Role of the ADA and Accommodations in Employment This is a EmploymentFirst Missouri sponsored training
$Free Webinar

At this training, you’ll learn about the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the implications of the ADA in terms of supporting individuals to become successfully employed, and ensuring individuals understand their rights under the ADA. This session will also look specifically at the reasonable accommodation provisions of the ADA, and how to guide and support an individual through identifying and negotiating job accommodations.

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Systematic Instruction and Applying Learning Theories This is a EmploymentFirst Missouri sponsored training
$Free Webinar

This session will look at employment for people with disabilities within the overall context of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn about how disability fits within overall DEI efforts, and the importance of providing services and supports in a way that is sensitive to and responsive to diverse communities. You’ll also learn about the ongoing evolution of language in describing people with disabilities, the difference between person-first and identify-first, and the importance of honoring individual preferences.

Register and Learn More