Employment Resource and Youth Transition Coordinator

Amanda Mills , Coordinator

In October 2008 the Division of Developmental Disabilities began a statewide employment initiative. The driving force behind this initiative is the individuals receiving DD services who are saying they want to work. Our vision is to increase the number of people working in integrated employment. As part of our restructure process, there is now an Employment Coordinator in each of the Division's 11 regions. Amanda Mills is the Employment Resource and Youth Transition Coordinator for the Kirksville Region.

Employment Resource and Youth Transition Coordinators:

• Work to Create a Culture which Focuses on Employment – Emphasizing the importance of employment as a priority at the individual and systems level.
• Participate in Multi-system Collaboration Activities – Building relationships with school administrators and educators, community members and service delivery partners providing expertise regarding developmental disabilities and our services system.
• Provide Training and Technical Assistance – Coordinators track complex and changing employment policies and provide tools and resources to service coordinators, individuals and other advocates who might not have this knowledge or time to do necessary research. 
• Promote the expansion of effective employment alternatives- for individuals who are on a wait list or who do not wish to seek employment through typical employment services through education about micro-enterprises, entrepreneurship, business plan development etc.

Amanda has extensive training in employment and transition best practice supports. Amanda worked with the Summer YES program through Learning Opportunities, Quality Works. She also worked as a job coach.