State-Level Interagency Agreements for Supported Employment of People With Disabilities

Abstract

Supported employment for people with disabilities has been a national policy since the late 1980s. Because its implementation usually requires the resources of at least 2 funding and service state agencies, written interagency agreements have been a formal strategy for policy implementation. This qualitative study analyzes interagency agreements for supported employment and the resulting collaborations of 6 states to identify the crucial characteristics that reinforce their utility and value. Commonalities and differences indicated three broad categories: outcomes, characteristics of the written agreements, and characteristics of the midlevel staff. Specific elements are discussed to improve creation and implementation of interagency agreements to expand supported employment for people with disabilities.