Beaver County Rehabilitation Center, Inc.

“We teach work with work”

Supported Employment

According to the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment, Supported Employment facilitates competitive work in integrated work settings for individuals who, because of a disability, need ongoing support services to perform work.  At BCRC, the Supported Employment Program works with individuals to find suitable employment in the community.  Individuals can be referred to BCRC’s Supported Employment Department by one of several resources including the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Beaver County Behavioral Health System, and an individual’s school district.

Our certified Employment Specialists hold long-standing relationships with many locally owned and operated businesses and are familiar with the transportation routes throughout Beaver and Allegheny Counties.  The program offers several different levels of vocational training.  Click the link below to learn more about each individual part of the program.

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PROGRAMS

A list of programs provided within the Supported Employment Department

± TUTORING

±   Community Assessments

±   Habilitation

±   Skills Training

±   Competitive Employment

±   Case Management

The Tutoring Program provides knowledgeable staff that tutors individuals on exams including the Pennsylvania State Driver’s Permit Exam and various state boards and licensing tests.  In addition to tutoring, the staff provides instruction on computerized training for the Microsoft Office Suite and the GED exams utilizing the PLATO Web-Based Learning Network.

The Community Assessment Program provides vocational exploration in real work environments while allowing our Employment Specialists to observe a full range of established work skills.  By identifying an individual’s strengths, the Employment Specialist can match the skills to a specific employment situation.  While these assessments are unpaid, they provide a unique learning experience and often lead to employment.

The Habilitation Program provides training in daily living skills including cooking, money management, housekeeping, laundry, safety,meal/menu planning, and appropriate peer interaction.  While in the community, an individual receives one-on-one coaching in a variety of situations including public transportation, route planning and time management.  Families can direct the scope of an individual’s activities in order to prepare them for a more independent lifestyle.

 The Skills Training Program utilizes the Enclave Model to provide pre-employment work experiences for individuals.  According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment, an enclave is a group, usually consisting of five to eight individuals with disabilities, which trains and works at the company’s worksite among non-disabled co-workers.  A specially trained supervisor who works for the agency provides initial training, supervision and support.  These sites provide carefully structured environments in which individuals can work in the community to develop appropriate work skills and habits that include initiating interaction with coworkers, taking direction from supervisors, making transportation arrangements, and managing time and money.  While at these enclaves, individuals learn new job tasks and take on various responsibilities while working immersed in a fully functioning business environment.  BCRC currently has several community enclaves that operate throughout the county. 

COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT:

The Competitive Employment Program uses a model of on-site training and long-term support for an individual in order to ensure success in a community setting.  The program approaches employment from a customer’s perspective and matches an individual’s strengths and interests with an employment situation that pays at least minimum wage.

 The staff of the Supported Employment Program works hard to create a strong support network that centers on each individual.  The Program Specialist is a very important part of this process because they aid in communication with the employer, coordination of transportation, benefits and financial issues, communication with the family, and expansion of the support network.  Another integral part of that network is the certified Employment Specialists who to provide on-site support to identify and teach the job, help in the development of appropriate work behaviors, identify any necessary accommodations, and establish natural supports within the workplace.

 After 90 days on the job, the individual moves into a phase of Competitive Employment called Follow Along.  While in Follow Along, an individual can receive assistance with life issues including benefits, childcare, transportation and work-related situations such as co-workers, supervisors, and schedules.  This program allows an individual to benefit from a solid support network that can change and grow as their needs do.

CASE MANAGEMENT:

Case Management is a service that accompanies each of the other programs.  The goal of Case Management is to assist individuals with coordination of services between agencies and allows for a network of supports that help guarantee lasting success.  One part of that support network is a Program Specialist who is responsible for assisting the individual in coordinating services and benefits, resolving crises and conflicts, communication with the family and others on the support team, and the development of self-advocacy and decision making skills.  In addition to the Program Specialists, Employment Specialists play a very important role in the program because they work closely with the individual and the Program Specialists to provide a full range of comprehensive services throughout every Supported Employment Program.