This applied research project was developed to examine the social value return of investment (SV-ROI) of a community rehabilitation provider (CRP) in order to identify services that may optimize employment outcomes, better understand the associated factors affecting the employment outcomes and retention, and explore how vocational rehabilitation partnerships addressed, managed, and met employment and retention outcomes for people with disabilities in the Fresno, California, community. There was ample research literature that addressed the linkage of supply-side factors, vocational interventions, and employment outcomes for people with disabilities, but little research related to interventions that could be viewed as evidence-based practices. There was also a growing body of literature focusing on the demand-side factors. Job placement staffs were recruited from the local CRP employment program and cooperative education and mental health programs. The SV-ROI of the Fresno CRP was found to have measurable community social services cost savings and a high rate of successful placement and retention within their employment program, along with a well-developed job placement infrastructure from which success factors were identified. Using an appreciative inquiry approach, interviews were conducted with job placement staff personnel to obtain their perspectives in working with consumers toward achieving successful employment and retention outcomes. Four themes related to employment issues emerged from the participant responses: Employer Perceptions, Environment Issues, Systemic Issues, and Individual Impediments. All of the participants provided vocational services, and significant time was spent addressing their perceptions of individual impediments. The consumer individual impediments appeared to be a necessary preparatory stage toward becoming employable and sustaining employment. The "ideal job ready" consumer was best described as showing congruency between his or her words and behavior. The job placement staffs held altruistic values in wanting to help consumers and had positive regard for their personal roles in assisting consumers toward achieving self-sufficiency. These values were mirrored among their descriptors of work, organization, expressed peak experiences and wishes. The results of this applied research project indicated that both the supply- and demand-side factors were important. It also revealed another lesser known factor, Individual Impediments, which appears to warrant further examination. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]