In 2021, DDS received $10 million in funding to establish a grant program to improve access to services that increase pathways to employment. Please see below for more information on the grant structure, funding information and the grant guidelines.
Grant Guidelines for Applicants (click to view more)
Refer to Attachment A for step-by-step grant application instructions. The Department has a standardized set of measures unique to the project type that must be used for all awardees. Standardized measures will be added to your grant profile in post-award. Refer to Attachment C to review standardized measures.
2022 Employment Grant Guidelines for Applicants
- ATTACHMENT A – GrantVantage Applicant Instructions
- ATTACHMENT B – Regional Center Employment Grants Contact List
- ATTACHMENT C – Standard Project Measures
- ATTACHMENT D – Budget Details and Restrictions
- ATTACHMENT E – Employment Grants Definition of Terms
- ATTACHMENT F – Map of Regional Centers
- ATTACHMENT G – Budget Instructions
- ATTACHMENT H – Instructions for Project Objectives, Activities and Measures
DDS Applicant Video
2022 Employment Grant Frequently Asked Questions (revised August 22, 2022)
2022 Applicant Resources
- PPT Presentation from 7/7/22 Bidder’s Conference (22 pgs)
- Zoom Recording of the 7/7/22 Bidder’s Conference (1 hour and 23 minutes)
- Model UC Agreement
- STD Form 204
- Budget Details and Restrictions
2022 Call for Applicants
Awarded Projects – NEW (click to view more)
Approved Employment Grant Projects
| Grant # | Organization | Project Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-WSSEG-0001 | AbilityFirst | AbilityFirst Supported Employment Program |
| 2022-WSSEG-0002 | April Parker Foundation | Employment and Entrepreneurship Trainings for Youth with I/DD in Long Beach |
| 2022-WSSEG-0003 | Autism Society Inland Empire | Increasing Employment Through Remote Work |
| 2022-WSSEG-0004 | Avenues Supported Living Services | DDS NLACRC EMPLOYMENT 2022 |
| 2022-WSSEG-0005 | Bakersfield ARC | Bakersfield ARC’s development of business focused collaborations to increase workforce preparation and employment opportunities. |
| 2022-WSSEG-0006 | Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | Training Service Providers to Improve Employment Outcomes of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities |
| 2022-WSSEG-0007 | Bridges to Inclusion LLC | Bridges to Employment |
| 2022-WSSEG-0008 | California State University Long Beach Research Foundation | CSU Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Pilot Programs |
| 2022-WSSEG-0009 | Chapman University TPI | Orange County Business Partner Intermediary Project |
| 2022-WSSEG-0010 | CLU Transitions | Customized employment service for neurodiverse digital artists in remote work environments |
| 2022-WSSEG-0011 | Community Initiatives for Collective Impact – Hlub Hmong Center | Food Recovery Business Action Planning for Competitive Integrated Employment |
| 2022-WSSEG-0012 | Disability Voices United | What Works For Us: Research and Training on Leveraging the Self-Determination Program to Increase CIE |
| 2022-WSSEG-00013 | Eastern Los Angeles Regional Ctr | ELARC’s re-purposed LPA Transformation Model: Career & Micro-enterprise incubator pathways |
| 2022-WSSEG-0014 | Futures Explored, Inc | Futures Explored – Cities Employment |
| 2022-WSSEG-0015 | Generations Day Care | Pathways to Employment in Semi-Rural and Rural Communities |
| 2022-WSSEG-0016 | HireAble | What Comes Next – Educating Students, Teachers and Families on the Value of Work |
| 2022-WSSEG-0017 | IGNITE Collective, Inc. | Bridging the Employment Gaps |
| 2022-WSSEG-0018 | Integrated Community Services | Disability Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Employer Training |
| 2022-WSSEG-0019 | Integrated Resources Institute | ACRE Training and Mentorship |
| 2022-WSSEG-0020 | Jay Nolan Community Services | Jay Nolan Competitive Employment Initiative |
| 2022-WSSEG-0021 | Momentum WORK, Inc. | Momentum 4 Lunch Culinary Arts & Hospitality Career Pathway Program |
| 2022-WSSEG-0022 | New Leaf Solutions | Benefits Planning for Paid Internship Program (PIP) Participants |
| 2022-WSSEG-0023 | Options for All | Workforce Development Riverside |
| 2022-WSSEG-0024 | Orange County Asperger’s Support Group | Autism IN Entertainment Conference |
| 2022-WSSEG-0025 | PathPoint | PathPoint’s Customized Employment & Employer Resources Pilot Project |
| 2022-WSSEG-0026 | Peak Performance Training Centers, Inc. | ACTT (Advanced Cognitive Training Tools) |
| 2022-WSSEG-0027 | Pomeroy Center | PRRC Transition Employment Project |
| 2022-WSSEG-0028 | Progressive Employment Concepts | Creating a cadre of skilled Customized Employment mentors and professionals in California to increase quality employment outcomes |
| 2022-WSSEG-0029 | Redesign of Learning | Bridging the Education and Employment Gaps within the Intellectual/Developmental Disability Community. |
| 2022-WSSEG-0030 | Redwood Coast Regional Center | Customized Employment Mentoring |
| 2022-WSSEG-0031 | Seesaw Communities, Inc | Seesaw’s Coffee Cart |
| 2022-WSSEG-0032 | Self-Determined Futures L.L.C. | Pursuit To A More Inclusive Workforce |
| 2022-WSSEG-0033 | Sierra College | Learning Independence for Future Employment (LIFE) Project |
| 2022-WSSEG-0034 | South Central Los Angeles Regional Center | SCLARC Legacy Employment Assistance Program |
| 2022-WSSEG-0035 | Special Needs Network | YELEP – Youth Employment Leadership and Empowerment Program |
| 2022-WSSEG-0036 | St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center | Life Skills for Vocational Success project |
| 2022-WSSEG-0037 | The Adult Skills Center | ACRE Train the Trainer Program |
| 2022-WSSEG-0038 | The Arc of San Diego | The Arc of San Diego’s Inclusion at Work Project |
| 2022-WSSEG-0039 | TransCen, Inc. | Customized Employment, Principles to Practice |
| 2022-WSSEG-0040 | TransCen, Inc. | Imagine the Possibilities, Family Engagement Training & Parent Workshop |
| 2022-WSSEG-0041 | UC Davis | Promoting Competitive Integrated Employment for Young Adults with Autism and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities |
| 2022-WSSEG-0042 | USC UCEDD | Innovative Peer Navigator Employment Pathway for Health Care Services |
| 2022-WSSEG-0043 | USC UCEDD at CHLA1 | Pathways to Competitive Integrated Employment in Advanced Manufacturing and Web Development for Individuals with IDD receiving Lanterman Act services |
| 2022-WSSEG-0044 | Yes I Can Unity Through Music and Education, Inc. | Summer Meltdown Festival Project |
| 2022-WSSEG-0045 | Zavikon LLC | Zavikon Supported Placement |
Please send questions, comments and feedback to: EmploymentGrant@dds.ca.gov
Last modified: March 24, 2023