Employment Development

According to The Department of Human Services in Minnesota:

Employment development services are individualized services designed to help a person achieve competitive, integrated employment, become self-employed or establish a microenterprise business in his/her community.

To receive employment development services, a person must both:

1. Be eligible for BI, CAC, CADI or DD waiver services

2. Have employment development services as an assessed need in his/her coordinated services and supports plan (CSSP).

   Employment development services consist of both job development services and self-employment/microenterprise development services.

   EXAMPLES OF EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES:

   1. Individualized, strengths-based assessments and employment opportunity discovery strategies (this phase should not exceed 120 days of service delivery)

   2. Support during new employee orientation for up to 30 days after a person starts a new job position

   3. In-service transportation

   4. Skills training to find and keep a job (e.g., interviewing, using community resources, resume writing, etc.)

   5. Progress review and reporting meetings.

   Our employment specialists also provide:

   1. Employment search assistance and support

   2. Benefit(s) fact-gathering, review and analysis to determine how benefits will interact with employment

   3. Help with negotiating and finalizing terms of employment

   4. Development of job applications, resume and cover letters

   5. Outreach with community businesses about available employment opportunities.

   Self-employment and microenterprise business development services:

   The Learnability Network has experience and thrives with creative, innovative small, local business ideas. This is our speciality! Our understanding of people with benefits, income restrictions, etc. allows us to find the best scenario for our participants to find a way to reach their dreams!

   1. Exploration, market research and discovery to provide information that supports the person in determining the type of business the person wants to establish

   2. Consultation with the person about all business development activities and plans

   3. Help with choosing and registering an available and marketable business name

   The Learnability network also helps:

   1. Write a business plan

   2. Find sources of start-up financing

   3. Establish a legal structure for the business

   4. Create a marketing and sales plan

   5. Find a location and get the appropriate certifications, licenses, permits and variances

   6. Purchase all necessary insurances

   7. Develop business forms, records, bookkeeping and accounting systems

   8. Perform benefit(s) fact gathering, review and analysis to determine how benefits will interact with self-employment.