Narrative: b. 6.

All SCSEP programs are focused on increasing levels of performance with a particular focus on entry in to, and maintaining over time, unsubsidized employment. Previously, the State grantee program was the furthest behind in these goals, but with a recent reorganization of the program over the previous program years, it is coming more in line with the other SCSEP programs. 

The focus is on improving employment outcomes through multiple avenues, including greater engagement with participants, host agencies and employers. Programs are initiating employment focus during participant orientation in to SCSEP through a “starting with the end in mind” approach of identifying unsubsidized employment as the goal from the first day. Programs provide monthly follow ups on employment goals and are working on a target of supporting participants to moving in to unsubsidized employment as quickly as possible, potentially within 18 months of entry in to the program. Programs are also developing more extensive supports and working to identify more resources for participants that are exiting in to unsubsidized employment to make them more likely to succeed in their employment. Host Agencies are being supported to identify participants as potential unsubsidized employees earlier in the process and supported to complete hiring participants in to unsubsidized employment directly. Employers are being engaged to develop stronger relationships to support more options for participants to move to unsubsidized employment as well as to develop more robust relationships between the SCSEP programs and employers to support both the participants and employers post transition out of SCSEP to increase retention rates.