Networks for Training and Development, Inc. and the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health / Intellectual disAbility Services announces Employment Mini-Grants FY 2012. These grants will go to 3 community employment provider agencies to help underwrite participation in a neighborhood focused customized employment project, with Griffin-Hammis Associates providing training and technical assistance alongside Networks staff.
In 2008, as a part of the Philadelphia Vision for Employment 2010 initiative, a Mini-Grant competition was initiated as a creative way to bring change to employment services and to encourage practices that better promote employment outcomes in Philadelphia. The competition was viewed as very successful and so has continued each year since with a total of 19 projects funded to date with very innovative and diverse goals and outcomes realized.
Last year, the theme of the Mini-Grant competition was Employment 1st Philadelphia and four (4) $5,000 grants were awarded to three (3) community integrated employment providers in Philadelphia. A total of three (3) projects will be awarded for this year, fiscal year 2012 with financial support to accompany increased commitments. These small projects are being supported by “Employment 1st Philadelphia” as a way to enlist interested employment providers in an innovative supported employment demonstration project.
This year, the focus of the Mini-Grant competition is on “Spreading Employment 1st.” We are looking for agencies to take part in an employment demonstration project aimed at helping identified people develop competitive employment. Proposals should reflect an increased commitment to Employment 1st principles by an earnest interest in applying best practices through customized employment strategies, involvement in a year-long training series, and the development of a Community Action Team.
A Community Action Team (CAT) is an integrated learning community representing community organizations, schools, workforce development agencies, employers, family, and friends who work one-on-one with employment seekers to discover his or her ideal conditions of employment. The group forms through a common interest in applying customized employment planning. For this project, the CAT will first assist with identifying local resources, barriers and opportunities essential to achieving outcomes. The outcome is to acquire and implement innovative employment strategies, include community members in the process, and increase the number of jobs for people with intellectual disabilities.
Please see the attached file for more information on this innovative and timely project:
