For Providers
Maine Resources for Employment Services provider agencies working with businesses
Building Relationships with Business: Trainings Held for Employment SpecialistsIn November 2009, two trainings for those working in the rehabilitation field were held by Maine's departments of Labor and Health and Human Services in collaboration with the USM Muskie School. One took place in Lewiston and the other in Orono.
The trainings focused on building relationships with businesses in anticipation of a turnaround in the economy. More information, including training materials and resources, can be found here.
Service Provider Agency Collaboration and Networking
The CHOICES CEO project has collected a lot of information - both within Maine and nationally - related to Service Provider Networking and Collaboration.
In some areas of the country these provider collaboration groups are called Provider Leader Networks (PLNs - see more information below), whose members collaborate on business engagement strategies, sharing of job leads, collaborating to refer the strongest candidate to an open position, and so forth. Contact the CHOICES project staff for more information.
National Resources
Creating Effective Business Partnerships: What Businesses Want Human Service Agencies to KnowA quick overview of how service agency staff can be more effective when trying to place a worker with a disability.
The National Coalition of Health Systems Development Library
A library of helpful resource materials of good business engagement practices. Choose the "By topic" search option, and choose either "Business Leadership Networks" or "Engaging Employers" topic areas.
National Provider Leadership Network (PLN) Models
In some areas of the country where strong Business Leadership Networks (BLNs) groups have been formed among businesses, local service providers have organized parallel Provider Leadership Networks (PLNs). One of the best examples of this approach is the Chicagoland Provider Leadership Network, which "Enhances the provider's capacity to deliver services to their target populations for job placement, training, and educational opportunities for people with disabilities." More information here.