North Dakota Comprehensive Employment System

Comprehensive Employment System State-wide Strategic Planning

The North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities received $500,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services for a Comprehensive Employment Systems Infrastructure Development Grant (NDCES).

The first year of the NDCES project (2006) undertakes a state-wide strategic planning process, driven by consumers, disability service providers, and the business/ economic development community, to develop a comprehensive employment system that will assist individuals with disabilities to seek and maintain gainful employment.

Grant Goals

Develop a state-wide Comprehensive Employment System that will:

• Maximize employment for people with disabilities

• Increase the state’s labor force through the inclusion of people with disabilities

• Protect and enhance workers healthcare, other benefits and needed employment supports

System Principles:

• People with disabilities are valuable human resources; there is a community expectation that they will participate in the labor force to the maximum extent possible.

• Anyone, regardless of disability, must have the opportunity to participate in the labor force.

• Provide a high quality workforce for all employers.

• Employment must be in typical integrated workplace settings.

• Quality healthcare must be available to all.