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Supported Employment

Learn how our Supported Employment Team can help you reach employment success!

We provide supported employment for persons with the most significant disabilities. We partner with employers and a variety of state and community based agencies.

Services may include:

Your abilities, interests and strengths help to determine your job goal. We'll help support and maintain your job in the community. All jobs must earn at least minimum wage. 

Did you know that you can work and receive disability benefits at the same time? Learn more on our Benefits Counseling page.

DeAndre found success at employment through partnering with DVR and his local mental health center. Learn how we can help you!

Behavioral Health and Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

Behavioral Health Supported Employment

Our program enhances employment for persons with severe and persistent mental illness or persons in recovery. This means you have real work at real pay. We can help you with a range of services. These can include job development, job-seeking skills, job coaching, and extended services.

IPS

IPS is an evidence-based service delivery model. IPS uses 8 principles. It helps people with disabilities, including behavioral health, work at regular jobs of their choice. Learn more about this model at IPSWorks. Watch this video on Work and Recovery through IPS to learn more.

DVR contracts with several community mental health centers that use IPS.

DVR Mental Health Supported Employment Contractors

Gabe is proud to share he is employed because of the support he received from DVR and Stepping Stone. He thoroughly enjoys working at King Soopers and the benefits of having a paycheck. As Gabe said, "I like earning money and buying things for my apartment. It keeps me busy and gives me something positive to do. I like seeing people I know.” -Gabe

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

We partner with Community Centered Boards (CCB) serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our staff regularly meet with CCB staff around the state. Our focus is to promote successful work at real pay for persons with IDD.

Who can we help? People eligible for and recipients of services through the CCB system.

Customized Employment (CE)

Colorado offers promising practice Customized Employment services. What is Customized Employment (CE)? It uses a flexible blend of strategies, services, supports, and funds. This process facilitates employment for job seekers with complex needs.

CE personalizes the employment relationship between a job seeker and an employer. The goal is to meet the needs of both. Learn how CE can help you!

Watch the video above about CO DVR's Customized Employment Pilot. (Created with WINTAC, DVR and the Office of Employment First.)

Vendor Training and Certification Requirements

Supported Employment/Tier II Requirements

Senate Bill 18-145 requires that Supported Employment vendors in Colorado have a nationally-recognized training certificate or certification in Supported Employment. The deadline to complete the requirements is June 30, 2024.

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) has funding available to help. Vendors can be reimbursed for the cost of training and certification, application fees, and staff time.

Learn More on Supported Employment

Customized Employment and Tier III Requirements

Requirements for vendors of customized employment:

  1. Complete a performance-based certification. 
    • Service areas include: Discovery, Customized Job Development, and/or Systematic Instruction
  2. Obtain supervision by an approved mentor.

Note: The certification is specific to the Employment Specialist, not the agency where they work.

Learn More on Customized Employment

More Information