CRP Organizational Change (Bringing Employment First to Scale, Issue No. 2)

Federal and state policy shifts have opened the doors to meaningful community employment for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). Progress is apparent across the country: creative outcomes for individuals with significant support needs through customized jobs and self-employment, innovative practices at the provider level, and state investment in an Employment First philosophy. Despite these achievements, the number of individuals supported in integrated employment by state agencies that serve individuals with IDD has remained the same since 2000. While some community rehabilitation providers (CRPs) across the country have transformed their services to focus on integrated employment, including closing facility-based programs, most have not yet reallocated resources to promote gainful community employment as a top priority. This brief: Describes the national landscape regarding employment supports provided by community rehabilitation providers; Introduces a new line of research that documents and facilitates transformation efforts that will lead to greater community employment options for individuals with IDD