Supported Employment and Enclaves: Serving the Community, in the Community

The Supported Employment program is one in which persons with mental retardation/developmental disabilities (MR/DD) in Clay and Platte counties are assisted in obtaining their choice of employment in the Northland.

This is accomplished through partnerships with Clay and Platte counties, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the State of Missouri Department of Mental Health.

The key to VSI’s successful Supported Employment includes job development, assessment of consumer needs and abilities, and follow-along to ensure that workers succeed on their job. From 50 to 100 individuals generally receive services through the Supported Employment Program. Some of the jobs include: food preparation, maintenance, dish washers, sacking and stocking shelves at local grocery stores, groundskeepers for an Apartment Complex, maintaining an exercise facility, and working as an assistant teacher in a toddler room at a daycare.

Typical of the work are consumers who work at grocery or discount stores, as cart gatherers, door greeters and maintenance personnel. Our Job Developer works with consumers who are interested in pursuing community based employment. If individuals qualify for supported employment, they begin a job assessment process.

During the assessment period, individuals go to various job sites to see what interest and skills they have, and what areas they will need assistance with. The next step of the process is job development where they create a resume, complete applications, and work on interview skills. Consumers are accompanied to interviews with a Job Developer.

After accepting outside employment, individuals receive job coaching and follow-along services. VSI also operates an “enclave program” at the Clay County Courthouse and Administrative facilities. These work teams combine close supervision similar to workshop employment with community work sites similar to supported employment. A total of 19 individuals are being served in VSI’s enclave program.

VSI programs receive strong support from individual donations. It is our goal to help you make well-informed donations and that is why we have made an in-depth organizational profile available to you at the highly respected Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. You can make a credit card donation to Vocat

 
Vocational Services, Inc. is recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The Arizona-based organization is considered the nation's leading accreditation agency for rehabilitation services. VSI has earned CARF's highest rating, a three-year accreditation.

Vocational Services, Inc. 935 Kent St Liberty MO 64068 816.781.6292
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