Department expands return-to-work tools: ERTW, WorkSource partnerships and skill-enhancement training
LNI described a continuum of return-to-work services—early employer-facing consultation, WorkSource vocational counselors, private vocational referrals and a new skill enhancement benefit (2024 law) to support foundational training and credentials apart from formal retraining caps. Staff reported early positive outcomes and plans to use occupation-coded wage data for outcome tracking in 2026.
The full story
Caitlin Jekyll and Linda Ducharme presented the department's return-to-work continuum and programs intended to keep workers attached to employment. They described three complementary elements: early return-to-work (ERTW) employer consultation (job banks, light-duty planning), WorkSource co-located vocational counselors (12 sites statewide, ~1,200 workers assisted in last 12 months), and private-sector vocational rehabilitation referrals (about 7,500 referrals last year for claims showing risk of long-term disability).
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