Why competitive employment updated

“Promoting Personal Growth, Opportunity and Hope for their

future”

What is Competitive Employment?

COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT IS:

• Work in the “market place”• Get paid at least minimum wage• Part-time or Full-time work

OPTIONS FOR COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT

• TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT• SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT• CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT• SELF EMPLOYMENT

TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENTWHAT IS IT?

• It’s an opportunity to work out in the workplace environment while supported by job coach.

• A chance to experience different types of jobs before deciding what kind of job they might like for a career.

TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT

• Job coach supervised• Work as individual or on team• Paid at least minimum wage• Opportunity to showcase skills to potential

employer

TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENTWHERE IS IT NOW?

Currently we have mobile work crews at:• Garden Spot Food Distributors – labeling / mowing• Garden Spot Village Greenhouse –

planting/harvesting• Several Churches – lawn care & custodial services • Personal Residences – housekeeping & lawn care• Lancaster Bible College – Dish room

TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENTWHERE CAN WE BE?

We are looking to partner with other businesses to provide a

wider field of employment training options!

Transitional Employment WHO QUALIFIES?

• Individuals can be considered for this program as long as individual has a goal for competitive employment in their I.S.P.

• Waiver funded as well as Private pay individuals can choose this service.

SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

WHAT IS IT?• Two categories: Job Finding & On the Job

Support once hired.• Has to be done in the community• Directly hired by employer to work for them

Supported EmploymentWHERE IS IT?

Out in the Market Place!! Currently we have record of placements in

several local businesses:Casual Living, Good Will East Earl, Good Will Morgantown,

Achenbach’s Bakery, Lancaster County Weekly Newspapers, Yoder’s Restaurant, New Holland Comfort Inn

SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENTWHERE CAN IT BE?

WHERE EVER EMPLOYEES ARE: • ACCEPTED FOR WHO THEY ARE

• TREATED FAIRLY AND • KEPT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE!

SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENTWHO QUALIFIES?

• Waiver funded individuals can be considered for this program as long as individual has a goal for competitive employment in their I.S.P.

• Private pay individuals can also choose this service

CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENTWHAT IS IT?

• It is basically Specialized Supported Employment that is “job carved” or designed from parts of different jobs at one location that are combined to create a job that an individual can do!

CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT• Can be done at any place of

employment who is open to the idea.

• Can qualify for this service if deemed appropriate while in the job finding phase of Supported Employment

SELF EMPLOYMENTWHAT IS IT?

It is just what it sounds like! You are your own boss! You own the business! You keep the profit! No limit to your income!!

SELF EMPLOYMENT• WHO CAN DO IT?

ANYONE!! -- WITH THE PROPER SUPPORTS --

-- AND THE RIGHT BUSINESS IDEA -- -- AND THE RIGHT PLAN! – even if you

are on disability with the state.

Competitive EmploymentWhy do we provide these services through

Lighthouse Vocational Services?

Because our employment seekers

CAN WORK!

What can they possibly earn?• In the first half of the year, we have had 15 individuals out

working in the community in Transitional Employment mobile work crews for over 1200 man hours!

• Estimating wages based upon earning minimum wage, that translates into the team earning a total of over $8000.00. (1200 x $7.35=$8820.00)

• Of course, what each person made individually depends upon their total number of hours worked.

What else do they gain?• Self esteem and personal growth• Independence• Respect in the community• Fulfillment that they are part of community• Appreciation of their employers• Hope and proof that they can live a fuller,

blessed life!

Shared Successes

• At Garden Spot Food Distributors, we have a crew of 3 to 4 people who affix front and back labels to approximately 1500 bags in just a few hours!!!

Transitional Employment at Garden Spot Food Distributors

Using a skill he learned at Lighthouse Vocational Services. IT’S A WIN / WIN !!!

• Job seekers gain paid work experience in the community with support of a job coach and the business receives quality work.

Paired here with a Master Gardner in a Aeroponic Greenhouse, job seekers continue to learn while they work.

Wisdom from Eleanor Roosevelt• “No one can make you feel inferior without

your consent.” • “You must do the things you think you

cannot do.”• “The future belongs to those who believe in

the beauty of their dreams.”

Sometimes… success is… doing things that you know you

can do, but others doubt!• Could you have imagined that we

have a visually impaired individual who planted 2352 seeds in less than 4 hours at Garden Spot Village Aeroponic Greenhouse?

Here he is at work at a transitional work site planting seeds and seedlings.

Seeds a few short days later.

Vision impairment does not equal can’t work. Here is proof! He’s planting the seedlings that grew from the seeds he planted two weeks before. He can’t see the plants but he CAN plant them! He wants to work…anyone hiring?

Transitional to Supported = Shared Success

• Also this year someone who had worked on a Transitional Employment team obtained a similar job in a local business! That’s the goal!

• Since then, she has had opportunity to grow and do additional work that she had not done on the T.E. team!

Opportunity builds success!• These are just a few opportunities

that have been available to job seekers through the unique partnerships built with local businesses through Lighthouse Vocational Services this year.

IT IS POSSIBLE!!!• It takes teamwork to get there.• It takes open mindedness to change• It takes acceptable risks• It takes courage• It takes God opening the right doors for the

right people!

“Promoting Personal Growth, Opportunity and Hope for their

future”

Presentation Created By

Pam Wise, CESPEmployment Services Team Leader

Lighthouse Vocational Services

Phone: 717 - 405 - 7643

Email: pamwise@lighthousevoc.org