DMH Employment Partners
DMH Employment Team | Work Incentive Information
Employment Partners | DMH Employment Team Update
There are many state and local agencies that can play a role in enhancing employment outcomes for persons supported by the Department. If partnerships exist between the DMH, advocacy organizations, state and provider agencies, we will be better able to address employment issues. Listed below are links to organizations that play a major part in the field of employment.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR): The Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is an individualized employment program for persons with disabilities. Funded through a state match of federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education, VR administers the Vocational
Association for Persons in Supported Employment (APSE): The Association for Persons in Supported Employment is a membership organization formed in 1988 to improve and expand integrated employment opportunities, services, and outcomes for persons experiencing disabilities.
Institute For Community Inclusion: The Institute for Community Inclusion supports the rights of children and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of the community. ICI provides training, consultation, and technical assistance on a wide variety of topics related to employment of people with disabilities. Staff from ICI, Elena Varney, David Hoff and Lisa O'Connor have written an excellent article called "Making it Easier to Go to Work: What Changes at Social Security Mean to You" by Elena Varney, David Hoff and Lisa O'Connor which you can access at http://www.onestops.info/article.php?article_id=177&subcat_id=65
Division of Workforce Development: The mission of the Missouri Division of Workforce Development is to foster a skilled workforce to increase Missouri's economic growth by serving businesses and empowering job seekers through a customer-centered, accountable, streamlined system.
Missouri State-wide Independent Living Council: The statewide Independent Living Council, in cooperation with DVR and Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB), develops the State Plan for Independent Living. The Council works to expand and improve Independent Living services. Links to local Centers for Independent Living Centers provided.
Missouri Planning Council: The Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities is a federally funded, 22-member, consumer-driven council appointed by the Governor. Its mandate is to plan, advocate for, and give advice concerning programs and services for persons with developmental disabilities that will increase their opportunities for independence, productivity, and integration into communities.
Missouri Career Networks: The Missouri Career Network initiative is designed to create change at the individual level, where people with disabilities have jobs and develop careers consistent with their gifts, talents, interests, and lifestyle choices; within the community on how community members and employers view people with disabilities; and within organizations on how they support and within systems on how they allocate resources.
Maximus: The MAXIMUS Website is designed to allow you to discover the wide range of capabilities and services available from MAXIMUS. Whether you are interested in finding out some specifics about programs we operate, or are interested in knowing about work we perform in a given state, you can discover through program type or contract location (federal, state, etc.) the information about MAXIMUS you are seeking.
RCEP7: RCEP7 stands for Region 7 Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program. Each of the 10 regions established by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has an RCEP (pronounced "ARE-sep") to provide continuing education services to the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors and agencies in that region. These RCEPs are funded by RSA as part of its support for state VR agencies. The Region 7 RCEP is located at the University of Missouri, Columbia, and serves the states of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. We provide in-person training on the latest techniques in VR, refresher courses on aspects of disabilities and rehabilitation services, and support materials for others conducting similar trainings. We also host conferences on VR topics and administer a variety of other grant-funded service projects related to VR.
Project Success: Building on our experience, The Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, as a member of an expanded Consortium including: the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Division of Adult and Vocational Education; the Department of Social Services Divisions of Family Services and Medical Services; the Department of Economic Development Division of Workforce Development; the Department of Mental Health and Advent Enterprises, Inc., a community rehabilitation program, has developed a demonstration Project for systems change to expand employment opportunities for individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities, who receive public support. The Project is entitled "Strategies Utilizing Collaboration for Competitive Employment and Self Sufficiency (SUCCESS).
