The Pennsylvania Employment Reform Resource Project

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

 On April 28^th Clint held his grand opening at his office and has already worked with a number of customers. 

About three years ago Via staff were contacted by a local transition coordinator and vocational rehabilitation counselor about Clint.  Clint has always been motivated to work and for about six years worked weekends as a greeter at a local Kmart, until he was recently laid off because of the slow economy.  Via staff were asked to help Clint develop some type of career opportunity that meets his ideal conditions of employment.
Clint uses a chair, a support dog, and needs help with some personal supports.  Clint recently graduated from Pen Argyl high school and had over 300 people show up for his graduation party.   Because Clint lives in a rural community with limited opportunities for traditional wage employment we thought he would be an excellent candidate for customized employment.  
We quickly discovered that Clint has great people skills, has good sales skills, and is pretty comfortable on a computer. We also discovered that because of Clint’s mobility challenges that a home based business might be a preferable option for Clint and his family. Clint and his customized employment coordinator began to research developing a notary public/licensing business that he could run out of his home.  We began to research with people from Clint’s community if they would use Clint for Notary services and received a very positive response.  Clint and his employment coordinator have developed a highly involved business plan that was reviewed and give positive marks by the Lehigh University Small Business Development Center. Clint has now finished notary training and passed his state notary exam. He has also completed the training for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, passed the exam, and can issue vehicle registrations and titles. Clint will also be highly involved with his own “gorilla marketing,” strategies.
With the assistance of his vocational rehabilitation counselor the business plan was improved and a Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) was written to support the start up costs for Clint’s business. With the help of our local Social Security administration Clint has recently applied for a Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) to cover his start up costs. Clint is receiving a lot of support provided by grant funding from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council Employment Reform Resource Project.  Clint is receiving technical support, and job coach funding from the local Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and will receive follow along support funded by the local county office for Intellectual disabilities.
Clint’s highly supportive family has funded necessary home modifications to add an office to their home.  Clint is hoping to be OPEN for business by April 15th!!! 

Mary and Green Pad Living

Green Pad Living is a family business that is owned and operated by Jackie Giordano. The company manufactures and retails a line of environmentally conscious body care products. All of their products are natural and include chemical, gluten, and dairy free body salts, shampoo bars, body soaps, shea butters, and shaving bars. Because of the approach that Jackie uses to manufacture her body care products, they have been very popular among her community and wholesalers and Jackie has had to move her business out of her home and into a shop in Kimberton, PA. Green Pad Living products are now frequently sold at Whole Foods, Wegman’s and local specialty shops.

When Mary, a student in transition at a local high school, and Community Integrated Services, approached Jackie about employment for Mary, she was welcomed with open arms. As a new business, Mary’s hours were initially limited.  Mary started off doing one specific task at work, labeling salt and soap bags but owner Jackie focused on Mary’s abilities to help her become successful at Green Pad Living. Using grant money provided through the DD Council PA Employment Reform Project and other resources, CIS was able to purchase resources for Green Pad Living on Mary’s behalf, and in turn increase Mary’s employment potential with Green Pad Living. These resources include a Point of Sale System, hot water heater, and the computer tablet, I-Pad, which will allow Mary to learn new skills, work more hours, and become more independent in her job.These new resources will also allow Green Pad Living to expand their product distribution and customer base.  During interest based negotiations with Jackie, it was revealed that the hot water heater in their retail spaced only provided about 5 minutes of hot water. This limited production, as hot water is crucial in producing the product. Now with a larger hot water heater, Green Pad Livings production, profits, and Mary’s hours and skills are able to increase.

The business is currently in the process of opening a retail site and the point of sale system is a greatly needed resource. This new system will provide more opportunities for Green Pad Living and more hours and customer service  experience for Mary. The I-Pad computer tablet will allow Mary to do inventory, take pictures of displays, and run credit cards at local Farmer’s Markets where Green Living products are sold. Mary’s success at Green Pad Living can be attributed to her own hard work and Jackie’s willingness to think outside the box. We are very excited to see Mary’s transition from high school to a valued member of Green Pad Living!    

 

 

How Strong Relationships Can Cultivate Economic Growth

Michael is a current Havertown resident, who in the summer of 2010, was a high school student looking to make the transition to work.  While still attending Haverford School District, Community Integrated Services (CIS) began the discovery process led by Michael and his job coach.  As part of discovery Michael did an informational interview at Havertown Health and Fitness where they met the owner, Mark Rodney. After a few meetings, Michael was able to land an internship at the gym for the upcoming school year.  During the internship, Michael was able to develop great relationships with Mark and the rest of the staff members.  Everyone loved his cheerful personality and his wonderful sense of humor.  Michael was able to perform several tasks such as vacuuming the floor, cleaning the fitness equipment, sweeping the outside area, and wiping the mirrors.  Mark considered hiring Michael right away but could not because he had a full staff and limited budget. Even though Mark did not have any positions available, he met with us several times to brainstorm ways we could create a customized position for Michael. During one meeting, we came up with a creative idea while discussing the cost of the gym’s towel service. At the time, Havertown Health and Fitness paid a laundry service company to wash the towels.  The laundry service company would only wash the standard white towels, not the higher quality towels with the Havertown Health and Fitness logo. The laundry service did not want the risk of possibly losing the quality towels and having to pay to get them replaced. During the meeting, Mark revealed that the gym would benefit if it were able to clean its own towels because they would have more flexibility and they could use the higher quality towels which the members preferred. Mark stated that if he were able to get a washing machine and a dryer, he would hire Michael to wash the towels instead of paying a company to do it.  Over the next few months, we used a resource ownership model to provide Michael with a washing machine and dryer.  The appliances were paid for by Michael’s parents and grant money provided by the PA Developmental Disabilities Council, Employment Reform Resource Project. Michael is responsible for washing, drying and folding all the towels in the gym as well as some of his old responsibilities such as cleaning the glass mirrors and the shelves, and sweeping outside.  Initial job coaching supports are being funded by the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and follow along supports are funded by the Office of Intellectual Disabilities of Delaware County, PA. Through the use of resource ownership, and partnering with several funding sources, we were able to create a job for Michael and give Havertown Health and Fitness members a better product that will enhance there workout experience. 

 

New Employment First/Customized Initiative Launched in Philadelphia

Networks for Training and Development, Inc. and the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health / Intellectual disAbility Services announces Employment Mini-Grants FY 2012. These grants will go to 3 community employment provider agencies to help underwrite participation in a neighborhood focused customized employment project, with Griffin-Hammis Associates providing training and technical assistance alongside Networks staff.

In 2008, as a part of the Philadelphia Vision for Employment 2010 initiative, a Mini-Grant competition was initiated as a creative way to bring change to employment services and to encourage practices that better promote employment outcomes in Philadelphia. The competition was viewed as very successful and so has continued each year since with a total of 19 projects funded to date with very innovative and diverse goals and outcomes realized.

Last year, the theme of the Mini-Grant competition was Employment 1st Philadelphia and four (4) $5,000 grants were awarded to three (3) community integrated employment providers in Philadelphia. A total of three (3) projects will be awarded for this year, fiscal year 2012 with financial support to accompany increased commitments. These small projects are being supported by “Employment 1st Philadelphia” as a way to enlist interested employment providers in an innovative supported employment demonstration project.

This year, the focus of the Mini-Grant competition is on “Spreading Employment 1st.” We are looking for agencies to take part in an employment demonstration project aimed at helping identified people develop competitive employment. Proposals should reflect an increased commitment to Employment 1st principles by an earnest interest in applying best practices through customized employment strategies, involvement in a year-long training series, and the development of a Community Action Team.

A Community Action Team (CAT) is an integrated learning community representing community organizations, schools, workforce development agencies, employers, family, and friends who work one-on-one with employment seekers to discover his or her ideal conditions of employment. The group forms through a common interest in applying customized employment planning. For this project, the CAT will first assist with identifying local resources, barriers and opportunities essential to achieving outcomes. The outcome is to acquire and implement innovative employment strategies, include community members in the process, and increase the number of jobs for people with intellectual disabilities.

Please see the attached file for more information on this innovative and timely project:

Download Phila FY12 Mini Grant RFP

Thinking outside the Box Store

Transitioning from School to a Career

 
Justin is a recent high school graduate who received traditional special education and community based work experiences. He is a customer with the local Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and he and his family chose Quest Inc. to provide his employment services.  Justin started doing some assessments and appeared to be a good candidate for Customized Employment.  Justin began to work with Mike Barnhart grant manager for Quest’s DD Council funded Non- segregated Employment Incentives grant with support from his OVR counselor Bill Blackway, and his mom.  
Mike and Justin began the Discovery process by getting to “Really Know” Justin, his skills, interests, and investigating Justin’s “ vocational themes” and “ideal conditions of employment.”  Justin’s strongest vocational interests kept coming back to:                                                                       

>   An interest in Computers
>   Computer research
>   Taking things apart
>   Stocking

Some of Justin’s Ideal Conditions of Employment that were found included:

>    Working with a limited number of people without a lot of noise
>    Working indoors, away from inconsistent weather elements
>    Working with supportive coworkers where his opinions will be listened to and valued.  

Mike and Justin began to do “informational interviews” based on his vocational themes and ideal conditions of employment.  Mike spends a lot of time doing community committee work including the local chamber of commerce.  Through the Chamber of Commerce, Mike knew Robert Yeagley a local entrepreneur who owns a local informational technology (IT) business called Eagle Secure Solutions.    Robert invited Justin and Mike to come by his place for an informational interview. Justin and Robert really hit it off and soon discovered that Justin had some true skills and a passion for working with computers.  Justin was able to come back to Eagle Secure Solutions a few times and Rob began to see some marketable skills including his love of taking computers apart. Based on Justin’s skills and interests, Robert and Mike began to negotiate a new position for Justin. With support from the DD Council grant Justin was able to purchase some computer equipment (resource ownership) to help him be more productive and marketable to Eagle Secure Solutions.  Justin is now working for and his job responsibilities are:

>    Installing Windows Operating Systems on Computers
>    Backing Up Information on the hard drive to an external or remote location
>    Dissasembling used computers and determining fair market value for sellable parts
>    Identifying the problem on a computer by reading over the customers description of the problem that they bringing the computer in for
>    Working with Rob to remotely fix computer issues  at other locations

 

Economic Development at its Best

Josh standing in from of his garage with a completed vehicle

 

Bedford County Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities (MH/ID) services has always been interested in helping more of the people they serve attain jobs in rural central Pennsylvania where typical entry level jobs are not very abundant.  Bedford County has attained a Non-segregated Employment Incentives grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council. 
 Lois Frederick, grant manager is a retired special education teacher and an incredible “community leader.” Lois has been spending her time learning a lot about customized employment and how to “find the jobs behind the jobs.” Lois’s training has been funded through the PA DD Council Employment Reform Resource grant, with training provided by staff from Via of the Lehigh Valley and GriffinHammis Associates. Lois began to work with Josh who lives in a highly rural area outside of Bedford Pa.
Josh has been hanging around Gary Stufft’s garage with his dad for a long time. Josh’s dad drives truck and Josh has always enjoyed the truck wash.  So it seemed natural for Josh and his Discovery Team, led by Lois, to look into some possibilities in which Josh could wash vehicles. Gary’s garage is about a mile from Josh’s house and Gary welcomed Josh and Lois to come by the garage for an “informational interview.”  They learned that Gary and his staff do great work fixing cars but sometimes the cars leave Gary’s garage needing a good scrubbing!! With resources provided by the DD Council, Lois and Gary were able to negotiate a new position for Josh to work for Gary washing and detailing cars.  (See pictures)
Resources were provided to build a car wash bay for Josh to wash cars in all kinds of weather.  Soon after, Gary was awarded a contract from Bedford (MH/ID) to wash their fleet of cars, and also do some state inspection and service work.  Josh learned his job with support from Gary, Lois and his step dad. Gary and his staff pick Josh up for work and give him a ride home after work. Gary is thrilled with the added value to his business that Josh has been able to supply! Josh’s motto is, “Get her done,” and he enjoys his job where he is mostly outside, around a garage, and making lots of money. His first goal with his increased wages is to “get his scooter fixed.” 
Congratulations Josh! 

 Josh using a schedule to complete all the tasks of car washing and detailing.

Bush's Lawn Service

 New Business Owner:
Anthony (Tony) Bush is a new business owner of Bush’s Lawn Service and currently offers lawn mowing, weed whacking, leaf raking, and garden/plant maintanence. Tony began the discovery process by showing a lot of interest and aptitude with snow removal and lawn work. Tony was hired to do some snow shoveling and excelled at this and also subbed in on the lawn crew for Bedford MH/MR. 

 

With support from the DD council Employment Reform Resource Grant Tony has attained all of his needed equipment for lawn work, and liability insurance. Thanks to a lot of hard work from Lois Frederick from Bedford MH/MR and grant manager and Whispering Creek Foundation local entrepreneur Lynn Hocker, Tony has developed a customer list and is now actively in business! Tony really enjoys project work and being his own boss.

 

Gina's Closet

 
Gina’s Closet is one of the best up and up coming boutiques in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with their unique touch of high fashions of all age. This store is the dream job for many young ladies interested in working in retail, but luckily that opportunity was first presented to one of our own, Lauren Brown. Lauren Brown started working at Gina’s Closet as a job try-out. At that time, the goal was for her to gain experience while the staff at Community Integrated Services continued to look for other employment opportunities. Lauren’s primary tasks were to color coordinate clothing, clean the mirrors, tag the new items, and vacuum the floor. Lauren loved her job so much that one some occasions she would ask to come in on her days off just to work. Within a few months, Lauren mastered all of her responsibilities within the store. Lauren could locate any item in the store, down to size, color and brand; she even offered fashion advice to customers. 

Lauren was such an excellent volunteer that Dawn started to pay Lauren to work 2 days a week despite having a very tight budget. Dawn believed that Lauren was a huge asset to the store. Lauren had a great work ethic and was also able to offer insight on which clothes would be fashionable to the younger generation, which is very important in the consignment business. As time went by, Dawn noticed how much business was growing. She realized she needed more help; she could no longer do it on her own. She knew that Lauren was capable of taking on more responsibility at the store, so dawn started working together with Community Integrated Services to brainstorm ideas of ways she could expend her role. We began to consider Customized Employment to create a job that would be a good fit for both Lauren and Gina’s Closet. During this process, CIS and Dawn had Lauren try various different tasks to determine the best job within the store that fit Lauren’s strengths, needs, and interest, and also meet the specific needs of Gina’s Closet. After supervising several assessments, Dawn created a specialized job for Lauren as an administrative assistant.
Lauren’s new responsibilities included organizing and documenting all sales and expenses on Microsoft Excel, contacting other businesses to gather information, and filing all documents and receipts. Lauren will also continue some of her other tasks including coordinating and organizing clothing. Dawn is working with Community Integrated Services to provide Lauren with an office, computer, printer, fax machine, file cabinet as well as many other office supplies, so that Lauren has all the tools to complete her new administrative tasks. This resource ownership has led to an increase in Lauren’s wages and will give Lauren the opportunity to use and expend her organizational and computer skills. Dawn is also increasing Lauren’s hours and has giving her a raise. Dawn is honored to have Lauren on her team, and we are so grateful that she offered this opportunity to Lauren; it has enlightened her life in so many ways.

Andrew Kilfoyle

 
Originally from Utah, Andrew moved to Pennsylvania in 2007 and shortly thereafter began receiving vocational training services at QUEST, Inc.  Andrew’s desire for community employment led to a seasonal opportunity at Liberty Tax Services in 2009 but his true gifts and passions are musical entertainment. Andrew showed a natural aptitude for the piano at a very young age which was nurtured and supported by his mother Jan. Though Andrew does not read music he has an uncanny ability to hear a song and then play it from memory. He also composes his own songs and sings.

 
Andrew had performed on a volunteer basis at numerous care facilities in the Lebanon area but also expressed a desire to be a paid performer. Through the use of the discovery process the Staff at QUEST, Inc. began to find opportunities in the community for Andrew to showcase his musical talents. Early in the discovery process Andrew attended an open house at a newly opened recording studio which led to two recording sessions and the production of his first demo CD. With the help of a little networking and promotion from the QUEST staff, Andrew landed his first paid performance in December of 2010. His holiday performance at Columbia Cottage was a rousing success with Andrew gaining new fans, selling copies of his CD and being booked to perform there on a regular basis in 2011.

Andrew has since been asked to perform at other local venues as well. Presently, a professional production of his CD is in the works and Andrew has expressed a desire to branch out with his musical repertoire to begin performing for children as well.