Work Toolkit:
E1MN works to deliver a seamless and timely employment support system for youth and adults with disabilities so they understand their options and get what they need to achieve and maintain competitive integrated employment.
E1MN is led by the State of Minnesota Departments of Education (Career and Technical Education and Special Education), Employment and Economic Development (Vocational Rehabilitation Services and State Services for the Blind) and Human Services (Disability Services Division). E1MN coordinates their work through steering committees for adults (out of school) and youth (in school).
Continuous improvement: We will engage with stakeholders, leverage promising practices, use data to adapt efforts, use resources wisely, and improve outcomes.
Employment First: The values and guiding principles found in Minnesota's Employment First Policy will serve as the foundation for our work.
Person centeredness: We will embed person-centered principles in our work to help people move toward meaningful work that builds on their unique interests, strengths and talents.
Equity: Equity is fundamental to our work. People with disabilities of all races, ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses should have access to the supports they need to succeed.
Collaboration: We will support each other and bring out the best each of our agencies has to offer to people and the process.
Simplicity: We will develop a system that is easier to understand, implement and navigate.
Align our systems — policies, programs, funding, providers and roles — to better coordinate services and Employment First approaches.
Connect partners to solve problems, remove barriers and transform services.
Use data and information to drive our work and seek continuous improvement.
Build on existing strengths and great ideas while developing new resources to share.
Engage with our shared customers and stakeholders to share our work and incorporate their insights.
Work with local and culturally specific partners to improve and assure access and equity.
Build a unified voice through shared communications, training and support to foster consistent practices and messages for all stakeholders.
Support families in setting a positive trajectory for employment and independence for their child.
Incorporate person-centered tools and practices to help create a common language and experience for our shared customers.
The E1MN youth partnership is focused on improving employment outcomes for transition-age youth (ages 14 to 21). Our work will enable youth and families to start from a young age in setting a positive trajectory for employment and independence.
To learn more about the E1MN youth partnership, check out this overview of current and ongoing efforts (PDF).
To receive announcements related to supporting transition services, pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) and competitive integrated employment (CIE) outcomes for youth with disabilities, sign up for the E1MN Youth Professionals mail list.
The Employment Capacity Building Cohort (ECBC) is connecting school district, VRS/SSB and county staff across the state to support competitive integrated employment (CIE) for transition age youth. Community teams set CIE goals and receive training, resources and technical assistance in one of four focus areas:
The E1MN Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aligns the E1MN systems and provides employment services in a more coordinated way.
Throughout the design process, the agencies will gather stakeholder input to inform the development of the processes outlined in the MOU. This includes:
Interagency coordination
DHS-DSD and DEED-VRS/SSB have created an interagency steering committee to implement MOU agreements. Additionally, a stakeholder advisory committee and workgroups led by agency staff are informing the development of policies needed to implement the MOU.
Employment development services
DHS-DSD is clarifying the two phases of employment development services (supports to plan employment and supports to find employment) and the expected outcomes, as well as creating person-centered products to be used during the planning phase.
Referral process and customer flow
The agencies are developing a clear referral process between programs and clear eligibility requirements. They are also aligning services to allow for smoother transitions between programs.
Provider alignment
DHS-DSD and DEED-VRS/SSB are aligning our shared network of employment service providers to improve access to employment services and to support smoother transitions.
Service sequencing
DHS-DSD and DEED-VRS/SSB are clarifying the sequence of services for those in and out of school. For those in school, DEED-VRS/SSB and schools will provide supports through job stabilization, and DHS-DSD will provide ongoing supports outside of school hours. For those out of school, DEED-VRS/SSB will be the first payer for job development, placement and stabilization services, and DHS-DSD will be the first payer for job exploration services and ongoing supports to maintain employment.
DEED-VRS/SSB placement and retention payment structure
DEED-VRS/SSB is considering a new payment structure that is responsive to serving individuals with more intensive levels of service and support.
For details, see the full version (PDF) of the MOU.
Stakeholder input is a critical element of the collaborative planning process. Two workgroups comprised of interagency state-level staff are carrying out key work to align our systems and fulfill our MOU agreements. These workgroups are focused on aligning services and transitions and aligning service provider networks. Below are some of the key accomplishments of each workgroup.
Training workgroups
Monthly activity updates
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
Aligning services and service transitions
Monthly activity updates
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
Aligning service provider networks
Monthly activity updates
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
The Engage | Plan | Find | Keep framework (PDF) shows how waiver employment services and supports through Vocational Rehabilitation Services/State Services for the Blind support people at different stages of their path to employment. The framework was developed by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
See how E1MN makes a waiver case manager's job easier
and advances Employment First outcomes in Kandiyohi county.
Professional spotlight: Serena Robak, waiver case manager (PDF)