Research
Fidelity Related Research
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Riesen, T., Hall, S., Keeton, B., & Snyder, A. (2023). Internal consistency of the customized employment discovery fidelity scale: A preliminary study. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552211043259
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Riesen, T., Hall, S., Keeton B., & Snyder, A. (2021). Building consensus among experts regarding customized job development fidelity descriptors: A Delphi study. Journal of Rehabilitation, 87(3) 22-30.
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Riesen, T. Hall, S., & Keeton, B. Jones, K. (2021). Customized employment discovery fidelity: Developing consensus among experts. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-180985
Other CE-Related Research
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Juhasz A, & Riesen T. Propensity Score Analysis of RSA 911 Supported and Customized Employment Outcomes. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 2025;62(3):268-278. doi:10.1177/10522263251326493
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Kim, J., Park, S., Castruita-Rios, Y., Weathers, M., Park, M., Inge, K., Riesen, T., Keeton, B., Avellone, L., & Tansey, N. T. (2024). Customized employment for transition-age youth in state vocational rehabilitation program PY 2017 – PY2020; analysis of service outcomes and related factors. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 60 (3), 281-297. DOI: 10.3233/JVR-240013
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Riesen, T., Juhasz, A. C., Remund, C. (2023). An analysis of the Rehabilitation Service Administration 911 supported and customized employment outcome data for fiscal years 2017 - 2020. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 48 (3), 115-126. DOI: 10.1177/15407969231181901
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Kim, J., Riesen, T., Inge, K., Keeton, B., Weathers, M., & Tansey, T. (2023). Customized employment as a pathway to competitive integrated employment: An analysis of RSA 911 data of state vocational rehabilitation agencies with the highest use of this intervention. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 58, (1). 89-98. DOI: 10.3233/JVR-221227
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Riesen, T., Snyder, A., Byers, R., Keeton, B., & Inge, K. (2023). An updated review of the customized employment literature. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 58, 27-38. DOI:10.3233/JVR-221222
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Riesen, T. & Morgan, R.L. (2018). Employer’s perspective of customized employment: A focus group analysis. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation.
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Riesen, T., Morgan, R. L., & Griffin, C. (2015). Customized employment: A review of the literature. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 43, 183-193. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-180952
Blueprint for Sustainable Statewide Customized Employment
The CE Blueprint is a framework for building sustainable, statewide Customized Employment systems that deliver services with fidelity and efficiency. Developed by Griffin-Hammis Associates, it draws on established performance improvement models to address gaps across four levels—worker, job, program, and external funders. The Blueprint outlines expectations, tools, resources, and incentives needed at each level to ensure employment specialists, organizations, and funders can align practices, strengthen fidelity, and achieve better employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
Consultative Employment Training and Supports Fidelity Scale (CETSFS, January 2022)
The Consultative Employment Training and Supports Fidelity Scale ensures that employment supports following job placement align with Customized Employment principles. It replaces traditional job coaching with a consultative model that prioritizes coworkers as primary trainers, supported by employment specialists. The CETSFS includes system and service tenets that promote skill acquisition, cultural competency, and inclusion, increasing the likelihood of lasting, high-quality employment outcomes for people with significant disabilities.
Discovery Fidelity Scale (DFS, July 2026)
The Discovery Fidelity Scale gives practitioners a clear, tenet-by-tenet framework for carrying out the Discovery process in Customized Employment with integrity. It defines what strong practice looks like at each step, from home and community visits to familiar and unfamiliar Discovery activities, conversations with the people who know the employment seeker best, and employment planning. Every tenet comes with specific scoring criteria, so teams can gauge how faithfully Discovery is being implemented and see exactly where to strengthen it. The result is a consistent, high-quality process that surfaces a person's real strengths, interests, and ideal conditions for employment.
Job Development Fidelity Scale (JDFS, June 2022)
The Job Development Fidelity Scale defines best practices for Customized Job Development, distinguishing it from traditional labor-market approaches. It emphasizes interest-based negotiation with employers, economic development strategies, and the use of Discovery Employment Plans to create individualized employment opportunities. The JDFS includes systems and services tenets to guide practitioners in negotiating mutually beneficial roles, preparing job site training plans, and supporting long-term employment success.