Employment Supports

The State of Iowa’s vision of employment for all is “Employment in the general workforce is the first priority and the expected and preferred outcome in the provision of publicly funded services for all working age Iowans with disabilities.” (Governor’s Office). By “employment” we mean regular or customized employment in the general workforce, where employees with disabilities are earning at least minimum or prevailing wages and benefits, and work alongside people with and without disabilities.

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Employment First

Iowa HHS is involved in initiatives to increase the number of people with disabilities competitively employed in their communities. These efforts are called Employment First (E1st). E1st is the belief that everyone can work and be involved in their community, regardless of disability. Public E1st systems rely on services that promote Community Integrated Employment (CIE) as the first choice for people with significant disabilities. Employment First recognizes that employment is what most individuals with disabilities want to do and is:

  • A typical role for adults in our society.
  • An essential part of wellbeing.
  • A cost effective alternative to day treatment.
  • Assisting individuals with self-esteem, symptom control, and fewer hospitalizations.
  • Helping individuals use their talents and building a career.
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Who We Work With

Iowa’s E1st initiative brings together a wide range of partners committed to improving employment outcomes for Iowans with disabilities. Our advisors and collaborators include:

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Employment First Resources

Learn more about the history of E1st within the state of Iowa:

Iowa HHS will continue to apply for federal opportunities to help us implement E1st for students and adults with disabilities to participate fully in their communities.

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Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

In 2019 Iowa began a relationship with The IPS Employment Center to bring the evidence based practice (EBP) of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment to Iowa. As of 2025 Iowa has two full-time trained IPS State Trainers/Fidelity Reviewers, and three trained adjunct Fidelity Reviewers, serving IPS teams across Iowa. These teams provide IPS services to the people in Iowa. We strive to grow this service by one to three teams per year, until all Iowa counties have access.

Below is a video of a member who successfully obtained employment through IPS services.

[VIDEO]

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Supported Employment Overview

Assists in obtaining and keeping a job in the community. Assists in placing the individual in a job in a regular work setting with persons without disabilities at minimum wage or higher and provides support to maintain the job. Typical examples would include skills assessments, consultation with the employer, job coaching, and behavior management.
Outcomes:

  • Work in the community with people without disabilities.
  • Work in a job that meets personal and career goals.
  • Earning wages that are typical for the work performed.
  • Receiving the typical benefits paid by the employer for the work performed.
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Benefits Planning

Below are six fact sheets on benefits planning for individuals, caregivers, teachers, and care teams to provide education and facilitate expanded access to employment services and support.

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Additional Resources

PowerPoint Presentations

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