Addressing employer personnel needs and improving employment training, job placement and retention for individuals with disabilities through public-private partnerships

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Unger, Darlene

Affiliations: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1314 West Main St., PO Box 842011, Richmond, VA 23284-2011, USA. Tel.: +1 804 828 1851; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: As social and economic forces impact business practices, the significance of delivering effective employer-driven, employment services (i.e., demand-side model) to facilitate employment and retention for individuals who have not traditionally benefited from labor force participation is of increased importance. The purpose of this paper is to provide descriptions of two public-private partnerships (Manpower, Incorporated and Community Rehabilitation Programs; Project Search), that currently operate a market-driven or demand-side model in an effort to increase the labor force participation and job retention of persons with disabilities. Factors that increase employers' interest in collaborating with rehabilitation providers and critical components of effective partnerships are discussed.

Keywords: Public-private partnerships, demand-side employment services, business rehabilitation partnerships, employment services

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 39-48, 2007