Transparency
Path to Employment
Our Philosophy: FNRC supports an individual’s right to live an independent, productive, and valued life. FNRC values integrated competitive employment in workplaces among individuals with and without disabilities while having the opportunity to earn at or above minimum wage, full or part-time. Integrated competitive employment will be meaningful, achieved in various ways, in various forms, and throughout our community.
What is Employment First?
Effective January 1, 2014, California enacted Assembly Bill 1041 stating “it is the policy of the State of California that opportunities for integrated, competitive employment shall be given the highest priority for working age individuals with developmental disabilities, regardless of the severity of their disabilities.”
As an “Employment First” state, California is dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities to build meaningful connections in their communities and gain financial independence through employment. If you want to work, you can.
Positive Impacts of Employment:
- Employment offers wages, benefits, and status.
- Employment empowers an individual to dream and create a fulfilling career.
- Through work, people develop relationships and gain self-esteem. They become a part of the community.
- Employment provides the community an opportunity to experience the capabilities and contributions made by individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Employment offers a path out of poverty and independence from service systems.
- Employment is important to the overall health and stability of any individual.
Employment is defined as:
- Be paid at least minimum wage
- Work full or part time
- Access to benefits packages (as applicable)
- Integrated alongside those without disabilities
- Opportunities for advancement
How Do I Get Started:
Contact your FNRC Service Coordinator to request a meeting to discuss your interest in employment and begin to plan your next steps! Begin brainstorming different dream jobs, talk to your family and friends about your different strengths, and determine which job development agency would be a good fit for you.
Qualifications to Access Employment Supports:
- Be receiving services from Far Northern Regional Center
- 18 years or older
- Have High School Diploma or Certificate of Completion
- Express interest in working and getting support to do so
- Have employment identified as a goal in your Individual Program Plan (IPP)
Employment & Your Individual Program Plan (IPP):
When you explore employment opportunities with your Service Coordinator, they can help you find community resources to support your employment goals and help you to identify which employment options and services are right for you. You and your Service Coordinator will develop a person-centered goal for employment that is included in your IPP. You can succeed at a job, earn a good wage, meet people on the job, and be more connected with your community with initiative and the right supports, everyone can work.
FNRC Providers:
FNRC partners with a community of highly compassionate, professional, and effective service providers to provide high quality, community-based, individualized services. These service providers share FNRC’s vision and commitment to excellence in meeting the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Employment Programs and Services:
Provide work experience and foundational employment preparation services that could lead to successful transition to individual employment in the community.
- Supported Employment- Group – Services are provided by a single job coach to a group of individuals engaged in paid work that is integrated in the community.
- Supported Employment- Individual – Services to a single individual supported 1:1 by a job coach, pursuing or engaged in competitive integrated employment.
- Paid Internship Program (PIP) – Job Development and Job Coaching are paired to secure an internship through an employer in the community that fits their interest and skillset. PIP is limited to up to 1,040 hours or 365 days to learn different job skills hands on with the goal of being directly hired by the employer and transition to CIE.
- Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) – CIE is not a service, but rather it is the preferred outcome for all of our employment services. Employment in the community where you regularly interact with your co-workers or public and earn similar wages and benefits directly from your employer. Job coaching is available to support individual’s needs.
- Coordinated Career Pathways (CCP) – Pathways is a new service to help build the foundation for employment, services include:
- Career Pathway Navigator- Create Person Centered Career Plan (PCCP) and explore community/ generic resources
- Customized Employment- Match individuals’ skills/interest with employer’s need
- Tailored Day Services (TDS)- provides opportunities for individuals to choose and customize day services to meet their individualized needs. Providing the option to choose tailored day services, instead of any other regional center-vendored day program, look-alike day program, supported employment program, or work activity program.
Employment Supports:
- Job Development – individualized staff time to assist an individual with all activities involved in preparing for and securing competitive integrated employment. This may include services to identify the individual’s interests, strengths, life experience, and preferred employment settings.
- Job Coaching – individualized staff time for the training and support to an individual after employment is secured, with maintaining employment and advancing in competitive integrated employment.
Employment Questions? Ask your Service Coordinator
Learn more about DDS Employment Services: https://www.dds.ca.gov/services/work-services/
See how work and benefits go together: https://ca.db101.org/