Employee Presentation & Introduction

Employment First!and

Community ParticipationServices at SJCS

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About SJCSNot for profit, 501c(3) OrganizationHave services in Washington, D.C., Virginia (Loudon, Annandale), PA, and TennesseeWe have ben in existence since right after the Civil WarCARF Accredited Licensed by DBHDSContracts in many jurisdictions for services

Core ValuesAt SJCS we believe that each person should:

  Have a career, have dreams for the future and make meaningful contributions. Be included, respected, and valued Have on-going information, experiences, and expectations from which to make choices  Have a variety of relationships  Live and participate in the community of his or her choice     

What is our role?

A couple of things before you get started:

Remember, ALWAYS do what is in the individual’s BEST interest.Always support our missionIf you have a problem with something, ask!You will attend numerous trainings over your couple of weeks of in-service training Ask lots of questions

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To help people envision the life they would preferTo promote paid work as a first option as it has the greatest benefits to the individual To assist people to learn about the activities & resources in their communitiesTo prepare school aged students for work starting at very young agesTo support people to make informed choicesTo provide support to make those choices realTo make sure that all of the support we can’t directly provide is arranged for.

Programs in Virginia Community ParticipationSupported EmploymentCommunity Living ServiceIn-Home Residential

Offices: Fairfax & Loudon CountiesServing: Prince William, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, LoudonExpanding soon into Winchester

Programs Overview

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The first question we ask when trying to figure out how to help people to have a full and happy life in their community is “what makes a meaningful life?”

No matter who we ask the answers are

usually the same Working, having a home and feeling financially secureBeing recognized and making a contribution to the community Having relationships with family and friendsExperiencing good health and having access to competent health careBeing free to choose things in life – work, recreation, spirituality 1

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But what is SJCS’s role in helping people find a

meaningful life?

Supported Employment (SENVA)

Paid employment in the community Never sub-minimum wages

SJCS’s Employment Philosophy

ONE PERSON = ONE JOB

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Employment FirstSJCS believes that individuals with disabilities should have the same standards, responsibilities and expectations as any working age adult.

Employment First means educating people to the benefits of work and encouraging the pursuit of this preferred outcome while respecting the individual informed choices

Our Commitment Ensuring that people we support to work are employed directly by the business at which they work, not SJCS, unless we have an individualized job that fits the person and that they desire;

That people supported are not fitted into jobs that may be available at our convenience rather than customized to their preference;

People are always paid at least minimum wage or whatever the prevailing rate for the position is; and

We approach job development as a business to business proposition, not a charitable endeavor.

Our Staff:We have three full-time job coaches on staff at this time and are hiring for a fourth Two have been on staff for more than 14 years with SJCS!All staff are required to complete the employment certification through APSE or ACRE.

Part of this process is a 12 week course through VCU.

What do we offer?SJCS Employment Specialists provide:

comprehensive vocational assessments,career planning,job development and selection,

– on-the-job training,– travel training– job coaching, and– other life skills training.

Funding & Referrals• Funding comes from:

– ID Waiver– DD Waiver– Local CSB Funding– DARS– Private pay contracts

• Where do we get our referrals?– Department of Family

Service – Community Services

Boards– DARS– Private referrals

Who is appropriate?Anyone who wants to work

I want employment… what does that mean?

• We will request a meeting with your Support Coordinator

• We will work with individuals on their needs which sometimes means:– Developing a resume– Administering career interest inventories – Practicing completing applications– Practicing with mock interviews– Applying for jobs– Attending interviews – Getting a job

How long will it take to get me a job?

• That depends on you.• We have been able to get people a job in

days and sometimes it has taken months• We individualize all services so it truly

depends on every individual

What are the schedules of individuals?

• Some people work 1 day per week for a couple of hours

• Some work almost full-time

How much support do you provide?

• We work with you and your team to determine how little or how much service you need.

• We support people as little as 2 hours per week or as much as their entire shift.

Where do people work?What else can you tell me?• It depends on your

interests and what you want!

• People make different hourly rates and many have full benefits such as health insurance and 401K.

• Some people have obtained employment at government agencies, the mall, office buildings, and retail stores.

Benefits Counseling

We partner with Full Circle who is certified to provide benefits counseling to you at no charge. They will discuss with you various options to help you make an informed decision.

Why is work so important to the people we support?

For the same reasons it is important to you!

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Individuals Gain:

• Economic security and choice

• Status and value in communities

• Self-esteem – increased self confidence and self direction

• Opportunities to develop relationships – new friends

• Opportunities to develop skills and interests – career development 25

Businesses gain: • Employees whose skills and interests are carefully

matched to their business needs

• People who are truly motivated to work and can increase productivity for businesses.

• Extra support in orienting and training workers

• Consultation when job requirements change or adjustments need to be made in job responsibilities

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Sounds good but how do you do that?

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Employment SupportAt SJCS

One Person, One Job

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What is employment support?

• Helping someone determine what job they would like to do• Assisting them to get that job by focusing on businesses that have those types of jobs and matching business needs with worker skills and interests• Supporting the individual and business to develop a successful relationship - helping supervisors and co-workers to provide *natural supports to the individual• Providing direct or indirect support as long as that support is required. 2

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Customized Employment Defined

• Customized Employment(CE) is the voluntary negotiation of a personalized employment relationship between a specific individual and an employer that fulfills the business needs of the employers

In short, customized employment

• Individualizes the relationship between the job seeker and employer in ways that meet the needs of both

• Based on the strengths, requirements and interests of a person with a complex life

• Process is designed to meet the workplace need of the employer and the discrete tasks of the position

Why consider this approach?• Provides an advantage for job seekers who

struggle in a competitive job market

• Especially useful for people who have significant barriers to employment such as people with physical disabilities, communication differences or cultural/language differences

Everyone Customizes• Job seekers routinely consider work

environment, employer characteristics and other conditions they prefer

• Most people after starting a new job begin to customize their jobs based on personal preferences, contributions and strengths

Translation• The relationship between job seeker and

employer is individualized and voluntarily negotiated, opportunities can be created that benefit both parties

• Gives the advantage to the customized job seekers since they uniquely fit the position

• The Employer gains the best possible person to meet the company’s needs

Okay, but what if I have never worked, I work part-time or I don’t know what I want to do

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Community Participation (OPCO)Volunteer work Learn new skillsParticipate in employment or eventually obtain employment

What does that look like?

• All activities are conducted 100% in the community. No SJCS facilities are operated that would separate people with disabilities from their communities.

• Staff accompany individuals to pre-planned activities in the community to conduct skill training – no van therapy!

• Staff to individual ratios no greater than 1:4, usually 1:3*

• Activities chosen by individual’s and reflective of their interests and choices

• Activities close to individuals home community – no long commutes on vans 3

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Why Are There No SJCS Facilities for Day Programs?

• SJCS believes in community inclusion and involvement

• Separating people from their community deprives them of the development of “natural support” from non-disabled peers and access to role models

• People learn best in “real world’ settings• At SJCS we would have higher staff to

individual ratios than “bricks and mortar”38

Benefits to Individuals:• Connections with the community for relationships, social

outlets;

• Opportunity to explore different types of community resources, build skills and develop a strong resume for future work;

• Chance to contribute to the community and build confidence , a sense of self worth and shared responsibility with other community members;

• Greater independence and interdependent relationships through the development of community access skills and cultural interests

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Community Participation

•  People with disabilities become involved in their communities by developing relationships, skills, abilities and an improved sense of personal value. 

• Learn new skills through community activities such as shopping, banking, and using library services, as well as forming relationships through shared interests such as art, writing, computer technology, religion, and culture. 

Community Participation

• We are a program without walls.• We do not have facilities.• We operate solely out in the community.• Two sites: Annandale & Fairfax

Staffing & Sites: Community Participation

Two Program Coordinators Two team leaders A staffing ratio of 1:4 More than 20 total volunteer sites that

rotate on a regular basis People do not have to do the same thing

day after day if he/she does not want to!

Sites for Community Participation

What are some of the sites like? We participate at

various sites doing activities such as administrative work, food delivery, helping at a homeless shelter, and recreation centers.

What are some of your sites: Volunteers of

America Food and

Friends Meals on Wheels Wolf Trap Shelter House

Community Participation…

Who is appropriate? People who want to learn skills to better prepare

them for the work world. People who want to volunteer their time. People who do not want to be in a sheltered

setting. Where does funding come from?

Private pay ID Waiver DD Waiver Local CSB Funding (vocational or high school

transitioning students)

Can I participate in both programs?

• Many individuals participate in both programs at the same time.

• Some individuals want to try the Community Participation Program first, and then ease in with a couple of hours a month in the Supported Employment Program.

• We have job coaches that work with people their entire shift

• We have job coaches that work with people outside of their job due to the person not wanting their employer to know information about their disability

• We have job coaches that work with individuals a couple of hours per week

In Summary • Meaningful lives are ones in which people feel respected, valued and included.

• At SJCS we believe in employment as the first and preferred outcome for working aged people

• Making a contribution to one’s community, through work, volunteerism and civic participation, brings respect, value and a sense of belonging

• The success of each community option hinges on the development of relationships in the community.

• Our job at SJCS is to provide just the right support to assist people to have the most meaningful life possible in accordance with their individualized vision

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References• APSE: http://www.apse.org/certified-employment-

support-professional/ • ACRE: http://www.acreducators.org/content/acre-

2013-competencies• Know your Rights:

http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/disabilityrights/welcome.html

• VA DARS Supported Employment Manual: http://www.vadrs.org/essp/downloads/SEGuide/SEGuide11.pdf

Contact Us• Visit our website: www.sjcs.org • Program Director, Employment & Day

Services• Barbara Schultheiss

– 703-916-2741 (Direct)– Bschultheiss@sjcs.org

• Questions?• Comments?• Concerns?