Supported Employment
Combining strengths, abilities and training for success.

Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation services
www.mdrs.ms.gov


What is Supported Employment?

Supported Employment provides the opportunity to assist individuals with the most significant disabilities in finding employment.  The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) provides a team of professionals that identify the services and ongoing supports needed to maintain employment.

Who is eligible for Supported Employment?
Supported Employment services may be provided to individuals who have the most significant disabilities and require ongoing support services to succeed in competitive employment.
After evaluation and assessment, the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor determines eligibility for Vocational Rehabilitation and for Supported Employment Services.



Why Supported Employment?

Supported Employment offers those with significant disabilities an opportunity to work in a competitive setting alongside non-disabled coworkers. They receive all the benefits of employment, including competitive wages, while learning  social and work skills necessary for success.

The Supported Employment program provides a trainer on-site with the employee until job stabilization is secure.  
Through networking with community support, the individual receives additional assistance in order to maintain the job successfully. The assistance provided is  individualized and long-term. An entire team of committed professionals – the Counselor, Vocational Training Instructor, Job Trainer, Employer, and Community Organizations – work together to reduce and eliminate those barriers to employment caused by disabilities.  Trained vocational counselors and job placement specialists provide support needed for the individual to prepare for, retain, or regain employment.


Choice of employment is based on factors such as the individual’s:
Abilities
Priorities
Concerns
Informed Choice
Unique Strengths
Interests
Resources
Experiences


Working Together

Working together, trained vocational counselors and job placement specialists provide support needed for the individual to prepare for, retain, or regain employment.

District I
(Calhoun, Coahoma, Desoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Tate, Tunica, Quitman, Yalobusha)
51 County Road 166
Oxford, MS 38655 (662) 234-3171

District II
(Alcorn, Benton, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union)
2620 Traceland Drive
Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 842-1010

District III
(Bolivar, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Washington, Yazoo)
201 Hwy 7 South
Greenwood, MS 38930 (662) 453-6172

District IV
(Clay, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Lowndes, Monroe, Montgomery, Oktibbeha, Webster)
207 Industrial Park Road
Starkville, MS 39759 (662) 323-9594

District V
(Hinds, Warren)
3895 Beasley Road
Jackson, MS 39213 (601) 898-7004

District VI
(Attala, Leake, Madison, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith)
1032 Center Pointe Blvd.
Pearl, MS 39208 (601) 709-5601

District VII
(Clarke, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Winston)
1003 College Drive
Meridian, MS 39304 (601) 483-3881

District VIII
(Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lincoln, Lawrence, Marion, Pike, Walthall, Wilkinson)
1400-A Harrison Drive
McComb, MS 39649 (601) 249-2498

District IX
(Covington, Forrest, Greene,
Jones, Lamar, Perry, Wayne)
17 J.M. Tatum Industrial Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39404 (601) 545-5619

District X
(George, Hancock, Harrison,
Jackson, Pearl River, Stone)
13486 Fastway Lane
Gulfport, MS 39503 (228) 575-3789



1-800-443-1000
mdrs.ms.gov