This position paper represents a statewide initiative sponsored by the North Carolina Alliance on Full Participation to promote the values and principles of Employment First.
The State of North Carolina shall implement Employment First policies and practices. Employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred outcome in the provision of publicly funded services for all citizens with disabilities regardless of level of disability, in a job of their choosing with supports and accommodations provided as necessary to achieve and maintain employment.
“North Carolina’s transition plan for waiver beneficiaries provides individuals with access to their communities. Among the benefits are opportunities to seek employment and to work competitively within an integrated work force, to select services and supports and who provides these, and to have the same access to community life as others. It is our intention that the unique life experiences of and personal outcomes sought by each individual will inform his or her home and community-based services and supports, and that measures of overall system performance will reflect this commitment.”
North Carolina NCDMV Commerce Invests More in Apprenticeships through Federal Grant (2016)
“More North Carolina students will learn about how to train for an industry and get an education, thanks to a major new investment by the state to increase awareness of apprenticeships. Through ApprenticeshipUSA, NC Commerce will receive $1.05 million to fund the NC Apprenticeship Expansion project, which will expand apprenticeships in manufacturing, logistics/transportation, health care, and information technology. The state will increase the participation of individuals, modernize information management technologies, expand the state’s capacity to register such programs, and increase awareness through outreach efforts. The expansion effort will serve 1,500 apprentices, with a focus on youth, incumbent workers, individuals with disabilities, minorities, women, and the economically disadvantaged”
North Carolina Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults Waiver (CAP/DA)
“The Community Alternative Program for Disabled Adults (CAP/DA) is North Carolina Medicaid’s home and community based services waiver program. In this program, low-income, disabled state residents have an alternative to nursing home placement. Program participants remain in their private residences or receive care in the home of a friend or family. By offering medical and personal care services, North Carolina aims to increase the disabled and seniors’ autonomy. The program also covers the cost of minor home adaptations that increase the independence or safety of the program participant.”
North Carolina NCDHHS LME-MCO Communication Bulletin #J239 (2017)
“Effective July 22, 2016, subminimum wage employment for youth (age 14-24) cannot be considered until the following documentation is available to the subminimum wage employer:
The individual must receive either Pre-Employment Transition Services (PETS) from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) while qualifying as a student with a disability or transition services under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act from a school setting.
The individual must apply for VR services and: a. The individual must be determined ineligible for VR services. An individual cannot be determined ineligible due to the severity of the disability without first engaging in a trial work plan. Social Security Income/Social Security Disability Income recipients must be presumed eligible if they intend to reach an employment outcome. OR b. The individual must be determined eligible and after receiving services under an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) for a reasonable period of time be unsuccessful in achieving competitive integrated employment. A reasonable period of time is defined as the anticipated time frame to receive services on the IPE. For supported employment, this may be 24 months with extensions if justified. AND
VR must provide career counseling and information about and referral to other resources available locally that offer employment-related services and supports designed to enable the individual to explore, discover, experience and attain competitive integrated employment.”
North Carolina NCDHHS Listening Session Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities… (2017)
“The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is developing a Strategic Plan for the community and facility-based service system. While DHHS is accepting public input on any area relevant to this effort, we are particularly interested in feedback on:
Access to providers and services
Affordability of providers and services
Special populations & conditions (Veterans, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Autism, etc.)
Navigating the system
Improving quality of care
Integration of physical and behavioral health
Your comments are vital in understanding what services and programs are working well and what recommendations should be considered.”
North Carolina NCDHHS Transitions to Community Living
“Update Oct. 20, 2023: NC DHHS submitted its Transitions to Community Living (TCL) Implementation Plan to the United States Department of Justice and Independent Reviewer on August 25, 2023. The Plan reflects North Carolina’s extensive investment in resources, time, and service infrastructure to achieve substantial compliance with the TCL Settlement Agreement before July 1, 2025.
The Department’s key accomplishments under the Settlement Agreement over the past 11 years include:
Currently are over 3,500 individuals in supportive housing. From July 2021 June 2023, there was an increase of 474 individuals.
Of TCL participants who were housed, 68.9% were still in housing at 24 months and the average length of time in tenancy is 2.1 years.
Over 4,800 people have been diverted from institutional care since 2018.
North Carolina received an unprecedented 1,889 mainstream housing vouchers from 2017 through 2022.
Over 1,500 individuals who have received Person Centered Plan (PCP) training to date.
Over 2,500 individuals are receiving Supported Employment.
ACT and CST have been expanded to cover 23 rural counties.”
North Carolina NCDHHS Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities Grant Opportunities
This page contains NCDHHS Notices of Funding Availability.
Excerpt from previous funding opportunity: “Program Name: Community Rehabilitation Programs
Purpose: According to the 2016 American Community Survey, NC census, approximately 77% of North Carolinians with disabilities of working age are unemployed or underemployed. In State Fiscal Year 2016 the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (the Division) served over 50,000 consumers with significant or most significant disabilities who were seeking competitive integrated employment.
The goal of these service contracts is to provide assessment and training along with appropriate supports for Division consumers with disabilities to reach successful competitive integrated employment. The Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) will provide services (facility and/or community based) needed to obtain and maintain competitive integrated employment.
CRPs are integral partners in the network of services designed to provide people with disabilities equal opportunity in achieving their highest level of economic and social independence. Service models include:
~~“Supporting innovative solutions with potential for public or private replication. Success is ideas that spark new models to increase employment for people with disabilities. For our 2019 grant request for proposals, we have a special interest in projects that use benefit planning, workforce incentives, and part-time employment to help people with disabilities obtain employment or re-enter the job market following injury.”
North Carolina DIPNC Handbook: Disability Income Plan
“The North Carolina Disability Income Plan (DIPNC) , is administered by the Department of State Treasurer for North Carolina public employees. This handbook is designed to provide you with information about the disability benefits available to you as a member of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program. This handbook is just one of the disability resource materials available to you. Please visit the Government Benefit Recipient section on our website, MyNCRetirement.com, to enhance your knowledge of your disability benefits and the process of applying for and maintaining your benefits. The Disability Income Plan of North Carolina (DIPNC) provides monthly replacement income to you in the form of short-term, extended short-term and long-term disability benefits if you become disabled while you are a permanent employee under the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) or a participant of the UNC Optional Retirement Program (ORP), and you meet certain eligibility requirements described in this handbook.”
