Press Release: Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Selected for Fourth National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network Award

(DENVER) - The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) announced today that its Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) was selected as a "core state" to participate in the U.S. Department of Labor's National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) initiative. This will be DVR's fourth NEON award.

This selection will help connect Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and our lead partner at the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), with targeted, ongoing technical assistance aimed at expanding job opportunities and improving the financial well-being of Americans with serious mental health conditions, including those with co-occurring disabilities.

Previous NEON Awards removed barriers for people with disabilities to access benefits planning services, including an analysis comparing those who received benefits planning services to those that did not. VR Participants who received intensive benefits planning during this technical assistance award had a median increase in weekly earnings of $561.60 versus the No Benefits Planning Group who had a median increase of $54.62.

"I began my career in the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and it's exciting to see the progress we have made. Colorado continues to lead the nation in opportunities for people with disabilities," said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. "This program builds on that momentum. It's another step toward ensuring that everyone in Colorado has access to meaningful employment, and we're grateful for this partnership with the Federal Government."

In addition to serving as Lt. Governor, Dianne Primavera served on the Behavioral Health Task Force, co-chaired the Mental Health Matters: Task Force on Workforce Mental Health Policy funded through the US Department of Labor's State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED), the Council of State Governments (CSG), and National Council of State Legislators (NCSL), and is currently serving as the interim Commissioner of the BHA.

"This grant will provide Colorado an opportunity to expand and sustain proven employment programs for individuals with serious mental illness and one or more additional disabilities, especially youth," said Kristin Corash, Director of CDLE's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. "With an employment rate for people with disabilities in the top 10% of the nation, I am so proud that DVR is consistently recognized as an innovative partner by the U.S. Department of Labor."

This effort was endorsed by Colorado's Employment for All Partnership with support from partners at Colorado's Behavioral Health Administration, Department of Human Services, Department of Education, Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing, Colorado Disability Opportunity Office and the Colorado Workforce Development Council along with self advocacy organizations, service providers and people with disabilities.

Colorado will join Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New York, Tennessee and the District of Columbia in the fiscal year 2026 NEON grant award.

About the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) provides people with disabilities with a wide range of individualized employment services based on their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities and interests. Services include education, vocational training, job placement, on-the-job support and more. DVR also helps employers recruit and hire workers with disabilities. The division administers state and federal grants for the Centers for Independent Living (CIL), the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB). The division is funded by federal and local government funds. Follow DVR on Facebook and learn more at dvr.colorado.gov.

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