Supported employment emerged rapidly after the onset of federal incentives for state systems change in 1985. This expansion was influenced by local innovations, policy initiatives, and legislation as well as by fiscal incentives. Nonetheless, states have implemented supported employment with variable success. This article reviews state outcomes in implementing supported employment in order to identify states that have excelled in implementing supported employment and to consider the possible relationship of supported-employment outcomes to economic, sociopolitical, and cultural factors. This initial analysis suggests that a variety of factors influenced the federal systems-change strategies for the implementation of supported employment across states.
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