First Draft: A Need for Greater Employment Service Coordination Issue Statement

Issue:

With federal work requirement changes upcoming, peers will need additional support and guidance with returning to work or expanding work hours. Currently, there are state organizations and community partner organizations working on employment services simultaneously. These various programs operating separately create barriers to access for peers in need of services.

Recommendations:

  1. More Community Incentive Work Coordinators are needed statewide
  2. Scheduled collaboration between employment services organizations conducted by DHHS
  3. More Employment Advocates at Disability Rights Maine
  4. Education for case managers regarding employment services options
  5. Launch an outreach campaign to inform peers about changes to work requirements and available supports before they take effect
  6. Collaboration between DHHS and General Assistance programs in preparation for benefit reductions
  7. CCSM and OBH to offer Maine Can Work training

Expected Outcomes:

  1. Peers able to have more employment opportunities
  2. Peers are properly educated on employment services
  3. Peers are confident entering or re-entering the workforce due to additional support and resources made available to them

To submit feedback, ideas, or a personal story relating to this issue statement, please send it to the CCSM office either by mail at:

Kerri Pitts

CCSM 219 Capitol Street, Suite 7, 

Augusta, ME 04330

or email at: kpitts@maineccsm.org

DEADLINE TO RESPOND: 

September 8th, 2025

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The Consumer Council System of Maine (CCSM) is an independent public instrumentality and provides a nonpartisan or nonbiased perspective on any topic we speak on. Our goal is to represent the voice of people with lived experience with mental health challenges in public policy and legislative matters.

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