The Human Services Department Vocational Services Program (VSP) provides vocational rehabilitation services for Hennepin County residents who have a diagnosis of a serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder. The Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development—Rehabilitation Services provides an annual Extended Employment Grant to the Vocational Services Program of the Human Services Department. This pays for supported employment services. Vocational Services Program (VSP) is a CARF accredited program that has provided supported employment services in Hennepin County for over 35 years. VSP counselors provide a range of individualized vocational services that include job seeking skills, job development assistance, support on the job, education on accommodations/disclosure, career exploration, and benefits management counseling. VSP served 40 individuals in 2021, and of those placed, 71% retained their jobs after three months and 55% retained jobs for one year. The starting wage averaged $16.49 per hour. In 2021, Black or African Americans consisted of 15.5% of VSP participants. This compares to 13.8% of the overall Hennepin County population per the 2019 population estimates of the U.S. Census. Managers in Behavioral Health use a Racial Equity Impact Tool to guide employees and partners to make sure we are serving those who could most benefit from our services. The VSP program of Human Services Behavioral Health operates with the philosophy that work is a significant part of an individual’s recovery and contributes to the Department’s strategies of stability, self­-sufficiency, and well­being.

Current Request: seeks adoption of Agreement A2211296 in order to receive the last portion of wage incentive funding from Minnesota DEED. Another $159,426 in wage incentive funding was received in an Amendment 1 Agreement A2110860. Funds are awarded as a result of staff performance in helping individuals achieve and sustain employment at or above the minimum wage. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development calculated the award according to the number of participant work hours that met or exceeded the minimum wage in state fiscal year 2021.