

			Get Latest WorkWORLD

	www.workworld.org	workworld@vcu.edu

South Dakota [Sioux Falls] Business Leadership Network

Logo of South Dakota-Sioux Falls Business Leadership Network

The Sioux Falls Business Leadership Network (SF-BLN) is an employer-led coalition dedicated to promoting opportunities that benefit Sioux Falls employers and people with disabilities. The SF-BLN provides training and support to employers to assist with tapping into this valuable emerging market of new employees and customers. It is an affiliate of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) initiative, a national business-led endeavor upholding workforce initiatives that enable qualified individuals with disabilities to succeed in the workplace.

The Sioux Falls Business Leadership Network is sponsored by the State of South Dakota - Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), in partnership with related government agencies, business and community organizations - all of whom share a common interest in promoting employment opportunities and community access for people with disabilities.

How It Works

Business and community leaders are invited to join our local network. In partnership with the State of South Dakota - Division of Rehabilitation Services and other important community employment agencies, SF-BLN staff work with individual employers to develop a local BLN Steering Committee to help guide BLN development activities. Training, technical support and other resources are then provided to help encourage improved hiring results within the disability community.

The SF-BLN motto is to provide low-cost, high impact activities and services which:

· Promote best practices relating to employment and people with disabilities

· Provide networking and professional development opportunities for employers who want to have better access to the disability community

· Build effective connections between employers and community partners

· Improve the response time in delivering qualified job candidates to employers

· Access quality, career-oriented employment opportunities for job seekers

· Encourage creative, aggressive employer disability recruitment outreach efforts

Benefits To Members:

After joining the SF-BLN, members are able to:

· Gain easier access to a pool of job qualified candidates

· Obtain valuable information regarding disability employment issues and opportunities

· Network and share information with other employers

· Share learning experiences with other employers

· Contribute to and learn human resource practices

· Access community resources for recruitment, training and more

Services

The SF-BLN offers terrific programs, services and activities to assist businesses to attract new employees and customers with disabilities. The SF-BLN staff can help develop a customized plan to take advantage of the opportunities presented by this valuable emerging market.

Education

SF-BLN members receive professional development and networking opportunities including employment and disability awareness training, regular membership meetings, special topic presentations, seminars and special events.

Training Topics Include:

· Disability awareness

· The ALL WAYS WELCOME seminar for increasing your customer base

· Interviewing people with disabilities

· Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and effective recruitment strategies

· Mental Health in the workplace

· Other topics designed to meet your needs

Consultation

SF-BLN members receive a variety of personalized consultation opportunities to meet workforce and customer service needs. Consultation services can include:

· Individualized assistance in developing customized recruitment outreach initiatives.

· Worksite/Job Accommodation assistance and information referral

· Employer Training and Hiring Incentives: including internships, situational assessments, on-the-job training and Work Opportunity Tax Credits

· Job Modification and Restructuring

· Other consultation services tailored to meet your needs.

A2Ajobs.com

Access 2 Ability job and resume posting service:

· Offers a recruitment service that assists employers in advertising job opportunities to all organizations representing people with disabilities in Sioux Falls and neighboring communities.

· Provides employers with individualized assistance in developing customized recruitment outreach initiatives.

Access 2 Ability is available online at:
http://www.a2ajobs.com/

Membership

In addition to the training and consultation services, SF-BLN members enjoy networking opportunities, information, access to the job ad service and a copy of the comprehensive Disability Employment Practices Handbook for your Human Resource department.

The SF-BLN provides education, technical assistance, leadership development opportunities and a peer support network for its members, allowing them to access all the resources needed to recruit, hire, train and support both new and existing employees with disabilities, and also attract new customers with disabilities.

Contact Information:

Sioux Falls Business Leadership Network
Michael J. Frost, SF-BLN Director
2601 S. Minnesota Avenue, Suite 105, #267
Sioux Falls, SD 57105-4730

Phone: (605) 582-8543
E-mail: sf-bln@alliancecom.net

Internet: http://www.sf-bln.com/

Roger J. Van Lieshout, SF-BLN Development Coordinator
Phone: (970) 204-9409
E-mail: rogervan@aol.com

Source

Information for this topic was drawn from the SF-BLN website at:
http://www.sf-bln.com/

WorkWORLD™ Help/Information System

Share/Save: Click the button or link at left to select your favorite bookmark service and add this page.

This is one topic from the thousands available in the WorkWORLD™ software Help/Information System.
Complete information about the software is available at: http://www.WorkWORLD.org

See How to Get WorkWORLD page at: http://www.WorkWORLD.org/howtogetWW.html

NOTE: Sponsored links and commercial advertisements help make the WorkWORLD™ website possible by partially defraying its operating and maintenance expenses. No endorsement of these or any related commercial products or services is intended or implied by the Employment Support Institute or any of its partners. ESI and its partners take no responsibility for, and exercise no control over, any of these advertisements or their views or contents, and do not vouch for the accuracy of the information contained in them. Readers are cautioned to verify all information obtained from these advertisements prior to taking any actions based upon them. The installed WorkWORLD software does not contain advertisements of any kind.