Frequently Asked Questions

Employment Assessment Process

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  • During an Employment Assessment, a trained staff member will ask the person questions to better understand the type of job they want to do. They will ask about the person’s interests, hobbies, family, and previous experiences working in a job. Parents, guardians, and providers can also provide answers during the Employment Assessment. 

  • A Career Development Plan is part of the person’s Individual Service Plan (ISP) or Person-Centered Plan (PCP) that lists the steps to help the individual find a job that is the best fit for them. The Plans will include:
    • Employment goals and objectives
      • Services and supports needed to find or maintain a job
      • The people, agencies, and providers that will help the individual along the way
      • Obstacles and barriers to CIE
      • Services and supports needed to overcome obstacles and barriers to CIE. 

  • Everyone has the right to work if that is their choice. The Employment Assessment will help individuals decide if they want to work in the community and give them a plan to reach their goals. 

  • We encourage every individual to take an Employment Assessment if they are currently working in any capacity or receiving employment-related services. They are not mandatory. 

  • The Employment Assessment will take approximately 30 mins - 1 hour to complete with a trained staff member. 

  • The Employment Assessments will be done at the Provider location where the individual works and receives services. The individual or Provider can choose to complete the Employment Assessment virtually over a video-call using a platform such as Zoom. 

  • CIE means working in the community alongside other employees without disabilities, earning at least minimum wage and getting the same workplace benefits and opportunities as other employees doing the same job. CIE includes full-time and part-timework for an employer, as well as self-employment and small business ownership.
  • All North Carolinians - even those with the most significant disabilities - can work in CIE with the right job supports in place. CIE does not include work in sheltered, nonintegrated settings, work that pays less than minimum wage, or work that does not offer advancement opportunities.
     

  • Individuals can always choose to stay in their current job. The goal of the Employment Assessment is to find out the type of job that best fits their interests and needs. The Employment Assessments are not meant to promote only one type of job. 

Individuals in Adult Vocational Developmental Program (ADVP) Services and Settings

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Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) is for everyone. CIE includes full-time and part-timework for an employer, as well as self-employment and small business ownership. CIE means working in the community alongside other employees without disabilities, earning at least minimum wage and getting the same workplace benefits and opportunities as other employees doing the same job.

All North Carolinians - even those with the most significant disabilities - can work in CIE with the right job supports in place. CIE does not include work in sheltered, nonintegrated settings, work that pays less than minimum wage, or work that does not offer advancement opportunities.

No.

There are lots of ways to explore, prepare for and get CIE in a job you like. You can get help from your local Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD) office. There are also new Supported Employment (SE) services available through Medicaid and state funded services or your LME/MCO. All these services can help you explore, prepare for and successfully achieve CIE in a job you like.

VR services and other state- and Medicaid-funded services help people achieve CIE in lots of different kinds of jobs, including self-employment. All these services can help you explore, prepare for and successfully achieve CIE in a job you like.

Families/Guardians

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CIE helps people with I/DD connect with community resources and activities, build relationships with peers with and without disabilities, be more independent, active and self-confident, and develop skills in self-determination and self-advocacy. When
compared to other approaches, like group-based employment models or sheltered workshops, people with I/DD who participate in CIE earn more money, make more friends who are not staff or family, participate more in community activities, and are
more likely to be involved in making decisions for themselves.

Millions of people with disabilities, including people with individuals with I/DD, can and do find and maintain CIE in the general workforce. CIE can be achieved in traditional jobs with accommodations, employment supports, assistive technology and other services as needed. While there may be some people who have significant disabilities and severe health conditions that preclude employment, most people with disabilities can work in CIE. However, if that is not possible, other meaningful day options will be available.

For examples of how some North Carolinians with disabilities overcame barriers to achieve their goals for CIE, check out the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities One Workforce: Inclusive Employment series.

Supported Employment (SE) uses evidenced-based practices and ongoing support to help individuals with disabilities achieve and maintain CIE. In North Carolina, SE is a service for people who experience many barriers to success in CIE, including people
with I/DD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). SE usually includes Career Development and Planning Assessments, support finding and obtaining job opportunities and receive on the job skills training. Individuals in SE often have job coaches on site to help them learn job tasks, solve behavioral or social problems, and identify job modifications or tools that will help the individual be successful at work.

Customized Employment is a flexible process designed to personalize the employment relationship between a job candidate or employee and an employer in away that meets the needs of both. It is based on identifying the strengths, conditions, and interests of a job candidate or employee through a process of discovery.

Eligibility for benefits varies greatly depending on multiple factors. Information and resources are available to assist individuals and families in determining how CIE could impact their benefits.

The Department’s CIE I/DD Plan is subject to availability of funding. To the extent the Plan may not be fully funded by the General Assembly through state funds or any other available funding sources, the Department will work in consultation with DRNC and CPR to prioritize available funding to continued implementation of the most critical components of the Plan.

Service Providers

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  • The new Employment Assessment process aims to:
    • Standardize the Process: Ensure providers can follow the same process for all individuals across the state receiving I/DD employment services.
      • Ensure Quality: Utilize third-party training and oversight to guarantee high-quality “informed choice” decision-making.
      • Expand Opportunities: Further each individual’s opportunities to connect with employment services that can lead to CIE if that's their choice
    • We understand that providers have implemented assessments in the past and acknowledge that historic records can be valuable in understanding a member’s “informed choice” journey.  We will incorporate provider input during the assessment process to support building the Career Development Plans.

  • Service providers will be responsible for coordinating with NCDHHS to schedule Employment Assessments based on availability. Providers are also responsible for acquiring consent from individuals and their guardians prior to the assessment process. 

  • NCDHHS is partnering with Work Together NC and TEACCH, UNC Chapel Hill organizations dedicated to the transition to adulthood for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They have experience in Employment Assessments and developing personalized career plans for individuals with I/DD. They will be leading the Assessment Process with the members and completing the forms. 

  • Employment Assessments are an important component of the Inclusion Works mission to provide every individual the opportunity to make an informed choice about their employment options.  NCDHHS is required to conduct Employment Assessments for all individuals employed in non-CIE settings, acknowledging that individuals must consent to participate in the process. 

  • There will not be additional reimbursement for Providers for the Employment Assessment process. Any time spent with members completing the Employment Assessments can be charged towards the day services they are already receiving (ADVP/ILOS). 

  • Work Together NC will be providing training to providers on the Career Development Plan activities, demonstrating how to conduct focused skills assessments and lead on-the-job observations. Resources about the overall Employment Assessment process will be shared on the Inclusion Works website. 

  • The organization completing the assessments, Work Together NC, will be recording individual responses and storing the completed forms. Information will be available to be shared with Providers. 

The Employment Assessments are expected to take approximately 30 mins - 1 hour. They will primarily be conducted in person, but we will also have the option to conduct the assessments virtually if that is more convenient for the individual or provider. 

The long-term vision is to create a standard Employment Assessment process that will be used for all individuals who are receiving employment services. The first round of Employment Assessments will be conducted for members currently receiving ADVP/ILOS services and working in non-CIE jobs. NCDHHS will be sharing a list of the eligible members with each Provider prior to scheduling appointments. 

  • NCDHHS will be sharing a consent form with Providers to complete prior to the appointments for Employment Assessment. This form must be signed, or have verbal consent indicated, by both the individual and their parent/ guardian (unless they are their own guardian) prior to Work Together NC engaging with the members. 

  • Employment Assessments are expected to begin in November 2024. NCDHHS will be reaching out to Providers to schedule appointments. 

  • NCDHHS will be sharing additional informational resources with providers to share with members. Additionally, information can be found on the Inclusion Works website.

While network-specific questions should be directed to your LME/MCO, DHHS is committed to supporting service providers in the transition and will be providing trainings and technical assistance to support the transition to CIE services and other meaningful day options.

While specific network questions should be addressed with your LME/MCO, DHHS is committed to supporting service providers as they transition to the Department’s new service array.