The FAST program sought to provide individuals with disabilities, or family members of individuals with a disability, with improved employment outcomes by incorporating motivational interviewing and an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model into the existing Family Support Services (FSS) program.
FAST provided extra services to participants who qualified for FSS. FAST integrated the IPS supported employment model into the existing FSS program to provide participants with individualized job search assistance based on their preferences, a vocational assessment, and job development services. FAST also integrated motivational interviewing into the existing FSS program alongside IPS. The caseload of FAST case managers was reduced to 50 active cases from an average of 75 to 100 to better support FAST participants with individualized assistance. FAST served Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients who were individuals with disabilities or people who shared a household with those individuals. FAST was implemented in Ramsey County, MN.