Relay Resources Selected to Participate in NEON Initiative

Relay Resources is honored to have been selected to participate in the National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network (NEON), a national initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

Relay is participating in NEON through ACCSES, a national organization that advocates for and supports disability service providers across the country.

NEON works with employment and day-support providers across the country to strengthen employment outcomes for disabled people. This year, the initiative has an enhanced focus on people with mental health disabilities, including people with co-occurring disabilities.

For Relay, this work is a natural extension of what we have been committed to building. As both an employer of nearly 1,000 people, and a service provider supporting organizations across the Pacific Northwest, we know that lasting change requires transforming the systems, policies, and practices that shape access to employment, opportunity, and belonging.

Through NEON, we’ll strengthen our systems, deepen our teams’ expertise, and advance trauma-informed evidence-based approaches. This work will include deepening manager and staff knowledge, expanding access to individualized accommodations and career pathways, and improving job quality, retention, and opportunities for advancement, both within Relay and beyond.

“As a mental health advocate, I know real change comes from building it into how we operate, not leaving it to chance. With NEON and ACCSES, we are committed to systems, training, and support that put people's well-being at the center. That's the kind of workplace I want to help create, both here at Relay and in workplaces across Oregon." said Oscar Rico-Cazares, Vice President of Relay Resources.

We’re grateful to NEON and ACCSES for their partnership and confidence in our mission.