EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Outcome Report Additional Information
July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011
Number of persons placed in jobs: Number of placements continues to be strong despite the economy. Training through Project SEARCH has changed employment outcomes for many with positions such as medical records clerk, insurance verification, data entry, office admin assistant, library tech, and a clerk with the Sheriff’s Office. Alameda County hired two individuals; Alameda County Law Library and the Sheriff’s Office, with the Sheriff’s office hiring the first individual with a developmental disability ever through the Alameda County STEP UP Program.
Transition to natural supports: 2 individuals transitioned to natural supports and no longer receive job coaching through EBI: A bakery assistant and a person performing food prep at a college cafeteria.
Provide outreach to local service clubs and other groups: Presentations to service clubs and other groups have increased and are too numerous to count. Presentations have included the Mayor of San Ramon, ATT, Supervisor Wilma Chan’s office, Alamameda Pediatric Dentistry and the broader dentist community, Public Health, Lifelong Medical Care, (with the help of former Assembly person Dion Aaroner) La Clinica, (also with the support of Dion Aaroner) Alameda Health consortium, Hacienda Business Park, Axis Health Care, (with the support of Alameda County Supervisor Haggerty) Washington Hospital, Eden Hospital leadership team and union stewards, Unity Council, the Alameda County leadership team and the Alameda County Annual Employment Diversity Conference.
Host informational meetings at High Schools and other venues for parents, teachers and students: A highlight this year included “Ramping Up For Independence,” held in February at the Ed Robert’s Campus, which provided training to 20 families with transition age young adults in employment options. This led to a grant to continue this effort next year. Presentations were made to Congresso Familiar; Del Amigo High School students, teachers and parents; Alameda County Transition Fair; Friends of Children with Special Needs; and three presentations at Village High School in Pleasanton regarding Social Security Benefits, sharing of successful employment stories by previous students and an overview of The State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, East Bay Regional Center and Supported Employment and Project SEARCH. Presentations have also included several groups of parents of children with Autism.
Highlights: “Prime the Pump Pilot” was developed by EBI, SEIU, Consumer Directed Services Network with participation from Employment Development Department, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Association of Regional Centers, CA State Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Developmental Services and the Department of Health Care Services. Pilot provides Ticket to Wrok-like incentive payments to supported meployment providers when the they place a consumer in a job with employer based health benefits. Projected start date January 2012.
EBI assisted the College of Alameda to write a grant proposal to develop a program titled “College to Career,” or “C2C,” to help people with developmental disabilities to become prepared to be employed. EBI provides ongoing consultation on the C2C project and also educational and internship coaching to the participating students.
SES = Supported Employment Services: People who are entitled to lifelong supports due to a developmental disability and Regional Center services.
ES = Employment Services: People who are eligible for short-term (usually 3 to 9 months) of support through Department of Rehabilitation eligibility and who have disabilities other than developmental.
ESA = External Situational Assessment: A short-term service (usually 3 to 5 days) funded by Department of Rehabilitation to allow EBI to arrange an opportunity for individuals to explore job goals through exploration and actual “try-outs” at real employment sites. ESAs also help to identify any barriers to employment that should be addressed prior to placement. Individuals are paid minimum wage by EBI during all hours worked.
PVSA= Personal, Vocational, Social, Adjustment: A short-term service (usually 3 to 5 days, but can last as long as a couple of months) funded by Department of Rehabilitation to allow EBI to address barriers to employment prior to placement. The most common barrier addressed under PVSA is transportation and often used to assist people learn bus routes, public transportation safety, time management and develop back-up plans for transportation.