STEPS to Employment
Steps To Employment is an exciting new pilot project that builds on the work of our Employment Services. It is a joint initiative between the Ministry for Housing and Social Development, and Community Living British Columbia. PRACL is one of eight agencies in the province who are testing our own unique customized employment models with the goal of creating a blueprint for the province. This project builds on the theme of the real work for real pay and begins with a journey of discovery for each participant and their personal network.
Purpose:
To engage young people to gain valuable employment skills and experiences.
Target:
Young job seekers, with a developmental disability, between the ages of 15 and 30 years, who are at the beginning stages of employment or who do not yet feel they have been successful in establishing themselves in the work place.
Access:
This is a three-year pilot program with a maximum of 10 participants. Any job seeker interested in the program should get their name on our waiting list, as we anticipate that not all participants will be involved in the full three years of the pilot.
Key steps in this project include:
- Planting the Seed - Imagining Myself as a Worker is the first step involved in the discovery process. Participants together with their support team develop a personal profile that helps them to target where and how they might be involved in work.
- Testing the Waters - Venturing Out into the World of Work is the second step involving trying different types of jobs on for fit.
- Making the Grade - Establishing Myself in the World of Work is the third step involved in settling into a paid position in the community. Participants will have paid work with the support and resources in place to be successful in this position.
- Rising to the Challenge - Becoming Independent in the World of Work is the fourth and final step involving the transition of specialized supports to more natural supports within the workplace.
- Benefits to the Clients: Participants will have long-term employment with natural supports within the workplace, to ensure their success.
In addition to direct services for the program and their personal networks, this program will be develop new resources for all PRACL program staff to use when supporting individuals to pursue their employment goals.
This project, while time-limited is expected to bring long-term benefits to our agency in the community as a whole and helping all of us to build capacity, to ensure the full inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities into the local labour market.