Northeast Delta Human Services Authority targets workforce development

By Sarah Bendorf.
Updated Jun 14, 2021

MONROE, La. (PRWEB) June 14, 2021 - Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NEDHSA) targets employment opportunities for citizens with developmental disabilities and supportive employment services to citizens who are clients of NEDHSA and its integrative behavioral and primary healthcare network. The initiative also includes citizens who are non-violent criminal offenders and those being released from incarceration.

NEDHSA's vision to build a unified region where individuals are thriving and reaching their full human potential has led it to create Partners In Employment (PIE) as a developmental disability workforce initiative.

PIE is an employment-based program to address the lack of employment opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities during and after graduating from high school. PIE seeks to combat this structural inequity so that everyone willing to work can.

PIE supports individuals with developmental disabilities with job training, counseling, and placement. Further, it utilizes a person-centered approach to help meet individual participant needs, wants, desires, and goals to ensure positive programmatic outcomes and increased participation.

NEDHSA Executive Director Dr. Monteic A. Sizer said occupational wellness is not only consistent with NEDHSA's commitment to deliver programs and services that encourage people to reach their true human potential, 'but it is also essential to improving the quality of life for the people we serve.'

'People with developmental disabilities tell us they want to work,' Dr. Sizer said. 'Our employment initiatives are advancing our agency's problem-solving disposition.'

Additionally, NEDHSA's Second Opportunity Workforce Solutions (SOWS) program provides supportive employment services to citizens who are clients of Northeast Delta HSA and its integrative behavioral and primary healthcare network. This initiative includes citizens who are non-violent criminal offenders and those being released from incarceration. This program addresses access to employment, which is a social determinant that significantly affects a person's health and ability to thrive in society.

SOWS uses evidence-based practices to develop individual outcome plans that reinforce a client's treatment progress. Job readiness skills are provided to assist participants in achieving and maintaining employment in their community of choice. SOWS works in conjunction with the behavioral health treatment within the NEDHSA clinics and provides job readiness skills and active support for finding employment.

'We developed SOWS to help reduce prison recidivism and improve treatment outcomes,' Dr. Sizer said. 'SOWS will enhance a citizen's ability to thrive and live a healthy life within the community.'