Division of Disability and Rehabilitation Services receives Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment Model Demonstration Project grant

The Division of Disability and Rehabilitation Services Bureau of Rehabilitation Services is pleased to share that its application for the Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment Innovative Model Demonstration Project has been selected for funding by the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

The SWTCIE grant award of $13,935,839 is 100% federal dollars with no non-federal match requirement and provides a five-year project period.

BRS’ SWTCIE Model Demonstration Project, called Supported Employment +, layers interventions on a state, local and individual level, to address known barriers and needs of individuals with disabilities. The project aims to build local and state capacity to increase and expand competitive, integrated employment by implementing and evaluating a comprehensive employment service package with four organizations and seven subminimum wage employment sites representative of Indiana’s demographics. The four pilot partner organizations include Anthony Wayne Rehabilitation Center in conjunction with Benchmark Human Services, Marshall-Starke Development Center, Stone Belt and Sycamore Services.

Key components of SE+ include:

  1. Fidelity of implementation of the Supported Employment process, plus;
  2. Use of peer supports;
  3. Expanded benefits information counseling;
  4. Family education and awareness training and mentoring;
  5. Training, technical assistance, and coaching to build local capacity of case managers, Vocational Rehabilitation, providers, schools, family members and others, and;
  6. An Integrated Resource Team approach to wrap-around services tailored to the job seeker’s unique needs.

BRS is excited to kick off this project, which begins with a one year of planning following by implementation in pilot sites in years two through five. We look forward to sharing more information as the project unfolds.

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