The Sonoran Center Launches the Arizona Office of Employment First!
The University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities (Sonoran Center) is proud to announce the opening of the Arizona Office of Employment First.
The Arizona Office of Employment First (AZOEF) will serve as a statewide coordinating structure to advance Employment First efforts across Arizona. The leading principle of Employment First is the belief that everyone can work with the right supports, and that Competitive Integrated Employment should be the expected outcome for all. With the launch of the Arizona Office of Employment First, Arizona joins a national movement amongst a small group of states, creating dedicated Offices to coordinate and sustain Employment First efforts statewide.
Jessica Winchester, Program Manager for Employment First
AZOEF will build on years of collaboration between Arizona’s Employment First state partners that have advocated for systems change efforts focused on Competitive Integrated Employment. Competitive Integrated Employment means a real job, in the community, earning the same pay as coworkers without disabilities, and has the same opportunities for training, advancement, and inclusion. AZOEF will help connect and strengthen Arizona's Employment First network by supporting cross-system collaboration, developing practical tools and resources, providing training and technical assistance, and promoting consistent statewide messaging.
“This is an important milestone for Arizona,” said Jessica Winchester, Employment First Program Manager at the Sonoran Center.
“The opening of the Arizona Office of Employment First reflects years of partnership, advocacy, and shared commitment to the belief that everyone can work with the right supports. AZOEF will help strengthen that belief and make that expectation real across Arizona.”
The opening of AZOEF comes at a time of growing momentum around disability employment in Arizona. Arizona Vocational Rehabilitation Services has been a longstanding partner in advancing Employment First through its investment in the Sonoran Center’s Employment First initiative, helping build the foundation for this work across the state. Another early supporter was the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ADDPC), a federally recognized council dedicated to promoting community inclusion for Arizonans with disabilities.
Michael Leyva, ADDPC Contracts/Grants Coordinator
Michael Leyva, the ADDPC’s Contracts/Grants Coordinator shares, “The Sonoran Center has done something remarkable Arizona has needed for a long time, it didn't just talk about Employment First, it is building a home for it. Establishing this office shows real leadership, and it gives all of us working in this space a champion to drive competitive integrated employment forward together."
As the Office establishes its roots, it is evident that Employment First is working towards a larger effort that will continue to make a huge impact over time.
“The Arizona Office of Employment First was not built by one organization,” Winchester said. “It is the result of years of partnership, trust, and shared investment. We are grateful for the foundation that has been laid, and we are excited to continue building alongside our partners as AZOEF launches.”
The launch of AZOEF represents a significant step toward building a stronger and more coordinated employment infrastructure for people with disabilities across Arizona. As a hub for information, research, training, and partnerships, the Sonoran Center connects academia and communities to promote access, self-determination, cultural respect, and lasting systems change. Recognizing that employment serves as a critical social determinant of health, the Center has prioritized access to employment as a fundamental pillar of its mission since its inception. Sonoran Center Executive Director Jacy Bell Farkas, PhD, expresses the Office’s alignment with the Center’s values:
Jacy Bell Farkas, Executive Director for the Sonoran Center
“We envision that all Arizonans, with or without disabilities, experience belonging and are full, contributing members to their communities – competitive integrated employment is a key component to making this a reality.”
For more information about the Arizona Office of Employment First and to stay connected with future updates, visit azemploymentfirst.org or contact employmentfirst@arizona.edu.