Welcome to Extended Employment - Ongoing Supports for Minnesotans with Disabilities
We are excited about the employment services in Minnesota, our partners in the public and private sectors, and the outstanding opportunities that Minnesota's healthy economy offers to so many people who want to work, but require ongoing supports to be successful.
David Sherwood-Gabrielson
Director, Community Partnerships
Mission
The purpose of Extended Employment is to provide the ongoing support services necessary for Minnesotans with disabilities and other significant barriers to employment to maintain and advance in jobs and careers. To learn more about how we accomplish this mission, select Services.
For an overview of Extended Employment programs, legislative appropriations, outcomes, publications, and statutory authority, select Programs.
A Community of Partnerships
We share a commitment to Minnesotans who require ongoing support services to work and fully participate in their communities; to employers who rely on extended employment program providers for a reliable source of well-matched, trained, and supported workers; and to the private, nonprofit community rehabilitation organizations that satisfy the business needs of local employers while teaching persons with disabilities to recognize their own strengths, abilities and interests through person-centered planning, performance measurement, and feedback on goals.
There is no charge to Minnesota residents for these services.
The person served is the key participant in the vocational rehabilitation process and we welcome and encourage the participation of persons served, parents and advocacy organizations as we continue to develop statewide policy and procedures for state-of-the-art employment services.
To deliver statewide services we contract with a network of 29 community rehabilitation organizations to provide the individualized ongoing employment support services necessary. There is no charge to Minnesotans for these services. Current Extended Employment providers may download application materials necessary to request funding.
Our public partners include local workforce centers, county social services agencies, the Department of Children, Family and Learning, the Department of Human Services, and the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, also within the Department of Employment and Economic Development, Rehabilitation Services.
Notice: The Department of Employment and Economic Development announces a request for proposals to provide the ongoing employment support services necessary for persons with most severe disabilities in Worthington, Minnesota, and surrounding areas. The Notice of Availability of Funds for Extended Employment Programs in Worthington, MN will be published in the State Register on September 24, 2008. Requests for proposals will be made available to interested parties at www.deed.state.mn.us/rehab/ee/worthingtonrfp.htm during the period: September 24, 2008 to October 31, 2008.
Notice: The Department of Employment and Economic Development announces a request for proposals to provide the ongoing employment support services necessary for persons with most severe disabilities in Minnesota. The Notice of Availability of Funds for Extended Employment Programs will be published in the State Register on October 15, 2008. Requests for proposals will be made available to interested parties at www.deed.state.mn.us/rehab/ee/eebasicrfp.htm during the period: October 15, 2008 to December 5, 2008.
Quality and Accountability
Service providers must be certified annually and are required to achieve and maintain the highest levels of service standards and accountability to the persons served.
Application for State Certification of Extended Employment Providers
The certification process includes obtaining and maintaining national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). CARF is considered the preemptive national standard-setting and accrediting body in the United States for vocational rehabilitation programs. CARF's Employment and Community Services Standards are reviewed and updated annually to reflect best practices obtained from service providers and national affiliates. For more information, visit the CARF Homepage.
- Download a list of all CARF-Accredited Organizations and Services in Minnesota
.
Organizations providing Extended Employment services are audited annually by independent certified public accountants in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards contained in AICPA professional standards.
- Download the report of compliance and outcomes for persons served for the past state fiscal year, ending June 30, 2007.
- Download the report of compliance and outcomes for persons served for state fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.
- Download Extended Employment Audit Standards for the current state fiscal year, ending June 30, 2007.
Research and Studies
Why are consumers receiving supports from CRP's working less than 15 hours a week? That was the question this investigation sought to answer through case studies of a diverse group of consumers. Case files were examined, case managers were interviewed, consumers were observed at work, but most important, the consumers' own words, from personal interviews, were used to respond to the research question.
This study analyzes the impact of the wage incentive provision of the Extended Employment Basic funding rule in increasing work paid at minimum wage or better. It also provides a history of wages earned and hours worked since 1999 for this program.
More Information
The Extended Employment Program is a statewide service that operates in a public arena. Information collected and produced is available to the public, with the exception of data that falls under the provisions of the Minnesota Data Privacy Act.
We also have staff available to answer your questions. You can reach us by telephone, TTY, email, or U.S. postal service. We are here to assist you if:
- You are having difficulty keeping a job
- You are an employer looking for dedicated people who want to work
- You are employed by community rehabilitation organization in Minnesota
- You are receiving services from a community rehabilitation organization
- You are unhappy with your current community rehabilitation organization
- You want to learn about Extended Employment in Minnesota
Department of Employment and Economic Development
Rehabilitation Services Branch
First National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite E200
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
651.259.7366
800.328.9095
651.296.3900 TTY
800.657.3973 TTY
651.297.5159 Fax
800.627.3529 Minnesota Relay Service
877.672.3848 Speech-to-Speech Telephone Re-Voice
Who to contact?
You may contact anyone you wish on any topic. However, over time our staff have developed individual areas of expertise that may serve as valuable resources:
Program management:
David Sherwood-Gabrielson, Director
telephone: 651.259.7350
email: David.Sherwood-Gabrielson@state.mn.us
General Information Message Center: 651.259.7355
Metro Area - Wendy Keller and Anne Paulson
Northland - Gene Kremer
Southland - Anita Kavitz
Services to persons with serious and persistent mental illness, CARF Standards:
Claire Courtney, Program Specialist
651.259.7346
email: Claire.Courtney@state.mn.us
Analysis, CARF Standards, certification, compliance audits, financial management and auditing, program evaluation, contract allocations::
Anita Kavitz, Program Specialist
telephone: 651.259.7347
email: Anita.Weckman-Kavitz@state.mn.us
Provider reporting, system payments, training, analysis, contracts, worker rights:
Wendy Keller, Program Specialist
telephone: 651.259.7376
email: Wendy.Keller@state.mn.us
Database management, provider reporting system and payments:
Gene Kremer, Program Monitor
telephone: 651.259.7348
email: Gene.Kremer@state.mn.us