Impactful onboarding for supported employment professionals: A firm foundation for employment first supports

BACKGROUND: Commitments to Employment First fluctuate among service providers nationwide. The Supported Employment field is also experiencing a workforce retention crisis. A structured onboarding process is often non-existent or siloed within the literal and figurative walls of the provider agency. This article summarizes a presentation selected for the 2022 National APSE Conference entitled Impactful Onboarding for Supported Employment Professionals which explores onboarding concepts and strategies for newly hired Employment Support Professionals that align with Employment First principles. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the presentation was to promote the purposeful design and implementation of an onboarding that engages new Employment Support Professionals around each service provider’s vision, values, and processes while equipping them with quality training and instruction that aligns with Employment First and the standards of practice across the Supported Employment field. CONCLUSION: Developing an Employment First focused onboarding for newly hired Employment Support Professionals is integral to the efficacy of direct services.