Resource: Lead agency employment liaisons

Page updated: 5/17/22

DHS asks each lead agency to appoint at least one staff person to serve as their employment liaison. Employment liaisons serve as the main point of contact to help build a coordinated system for people on waivers to meet their employment goals. They build regional collaboration capabilities by working closely with Vocational Rehabilitation Services/State Services for the Blind (VRS/SSB) and employment service providers. They also build internal capacity by ensuring lead agency staff and contracted staff are aware of new processes and have resources and tools to help them in their work.

This page describes the responsibilities of employment liaisons. To access contact information for lead agencies that have established employment liaisons, see CBSM – Lead agency employment liaison contact list. To establish or change your lead agency’s liaison, use the Add or update E1MN employment liaison form.

Why is having an employment liaison helpful?

DHS learned that lead agencies do not have the capacity to send multiple staff to events and that DHS’ messages about E1MN and employment often do not reach case managers. Many lead agency staff, VRS/SSB staff and providers shared that it would be helpful to have a designated person for E1MN at each agency to help build stronger collaboration. In response, DHS created the employment liaison role.

It is helpful for lead agencies to have an employment liaison because it allows them to:

· Get the most up-to-date information and policy

· Have a direct connection to DHS, VRS/SSB and Department of Education policy staff for questions and technical assistance

· Have input on DHS employment efforts and strengthen E1MN collaboration

· Have one identified person to attend employment-related meetings and events so all staff are not expected to attend

· Get access to training resources, including seats in the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) training

· Have the information and resources they need to help improve employment outcomes for the people they support.

What is the employment liaison’s role?

The lead agency employment liaison serves as the local area expert in employment services. They are a resource for collaboration between local employment teams (i.e., VRS/SSB, employment service providers and schools), and they provide support for employment-related information and assistance within their own lead agency and their contracted case management agencies.

External support and collaboration

The employment liaison:

· Attends regional collaboration events sponsored by state agencies (e.g., DHS, VRS/SSB, Department of Education, etc.) and other trainings, calls or webinars to learn about the most up-to-date information, policy and procedures

· Participates in regularly scheduled local employment team meetings in their region

· Helps build strong relationships between lead agencies, VRS/SSB, schools and providers

· Is available for VRS/SSB, schools and providers to ask questions and to get direction or technical assistance.

VRS/SSB, schools and providers can connect with the lead agency employment liaison when they:

· Have waiver or employment-related questions and are not sure where to start

· Need to collaborate (e.g., timing of referrals)

· Have a need for regularly scheduled check-in meetings

· Want to talk with someone who knows the E1MN process and has been specially trained to work with employment services, VRS/SSB, schools and employment service providers.

Note: If the lead agency staff, local VRS/SSB offices, schools and providers already have good working relationships, they can continue collaborating. They are not required to work through the employment liaison.

Internal support and technical assistance

The employment liaison:

· Shares employment-related process and policy updates, training and other information with lead agency staff and contracted case managers

· Helps ensure lead agency supervisors and contracted case management agencies have the information they need to train and support their staff on employment-related policies and processes

· Recommends agenda items for internal meetings

· Troubleshoots employment-related questions from lead agency staff, contracted case management staff and service providers, bringing questions to DHS when necessary.

Waiver case managers (agency or contracted) and supervisors can connect with the employment liaison when they:

· Want to talk with someone who knows the E1MN process and has been specially trained to work with employment services, VRS/SSB, schools and employment service providers

· Need to collaborate to help ensure smooth transition with employment services and are not sure where to start

· Have questions about the E1MN process

· Need information, training or resources about employment policy and process for people on waivers.

DHS will create resources, training and materials the employment liaison can share easily with internal staff and contracted case managers. This will help ensure everyone has access to the resources with consistent messaging.

What is the time commitment for an employment liaison?

DHS expects the time commitment for employment liaisons to be more at the beginning and then decrease once they build relationships and establish collaboration structures.

State-sponsored events generally occur less than once per month. Each local employment team determines frequency and duration of their own meetings. Typically, local employment teams schedule one-hour meetings once a month, or 15- to 20-minute weekly or bi-weekly check-ins.

What is the key skill set for an employment liaison?

Selecting skilled and qualified staff members as employment liaisons is essential. Effective liaisons should have:

· Interest in being an employment liaison

· Knowledge of disability employment policy, including Employment First and E1MN

· Ability to attend meetings and trainings

· Time and ability to help others

· Ability to share information and communicate well.

To establish or change your lead agency’s liaison, use the Add or update E1MN employment liaison form.

Questions

Send questions about the E1MN employment liaison role to E1MN@state.mn.us.

Additional resources

Add or update E1MN employment liaison form
CBSM – Employment
CBSM – Lead agency employment liaison contact list
Disability Hub MN Work Toolkit – Supporting people on waivers
Disability Hub MN – E1MN partnership