Center on Self Employment
Project Description:
The Florida Center for Inclusive Communities has established a Center for Self-Employment, which will be responsible for self-employment supports for the state of Florida. The Center will engage in three core areas of service in order to deliver self-employment supports and build capacity within the stated.
1. Direct Service: The Center will receive referrals from local Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) customers who are interested in pursuing self-employment. The Center will provide the necessary training and technical assistance in order for VR customers to develop a business design team and a viable business plan. Twenty (20) VR customers will receive service each year.
2. Capacity Building: The Center will conduct a request for qualifications (RFQ) process, identify potential providers of self-employment support and provide direct training and technical assistance for the providers in order to develop sustainable self-employment supports. The capacity building will be addressed in two ways, 1) technical assistance during the direct self-employment (customer) support, and 2) the development of a Self-Employment Network that builds quality community-based self employment service options for consumers and VR Counselors alike.
3. Material Development and Dissemination: The Center will develop self-employment related materials and resources, which will be accessible electronically and in hard-copy formats. Materials will include, including informational papers, FAQs and case studies directly related to self-employment the supports, and materials directly related to Social Security and work incentives.
4. Evaluation: The Center will implement an evaluation system, which will be used to improve the training, technical assistance, ongoing supports and resource development. The evaluation system will include the measurement of entrepreneur satisfaction, effectiveness of the training, technical assistance and ongoing supports, the accessing of Center resources, and the usefulness of the resources.
The Center will collaborate with state and local agencies, job seekers and family members in the implementation activities. The Center has been funded, by the Florida Department of Education/Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Keyword(s):
Self Employment
Core Function(s):
Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Employment-Related Activities, Quality of Life
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
