Making Sense of Supported Employment FAQ
Sheet
What is the
Breakthrough Supported Employment Program?
What
a person does for a living is an enormously important part of one’s identity
and how one fits into their world and communities. Unfortunately, many people
with disabilities think they are not qualified to work or do not have the
support necessary to achieve and maintain successful employment. The
Breakthrough Supported Employment Program seeks to breaks down the barriers and
misperceptions that surround employment for individuals with disabilities by
providing various programs and avenues of support. We offer employment
placement, resume writing workshops, one-on-one vocational coaching, employment
classes, and job coaching. We sincerely believe that every single person who
desires an opportunity for competitive wage employment should be given a chance
to achieve their goals.
What is Vocational
Rehabilitation?
Vocational
Rehabilitation is a State run program under the direction of the Department of
Human Services. This program offers qualified agencies the funding to work with
persons with disabilities to assist them in finding employment. The first step
in the process of the Breakthrough Supported Employment Program is to open an
employment case with VR. This can be done through Breakthrough Corporation as a
referral, or a family or individual can contact the program directly. For
details and VR contact information, please visit
www.tennessee.gov/humanserv/rehab/vrs.html.
What is a
Breakthrough Supported Employment Plan of Action Meeting?
Plan
of Action Meetings are designed to offer support to the Breakthrough
Residential staff and the Breakthrough Day Services staff. These meetings are
scheduled and facilitated by the Breakthrough Supported Employment Director.
Through communication and formal goal development, a plan of action is put in
place to help each individual served reach their vocational goals.
What is Discovery?
Discovery
is the process of getting to know the interests, strengths, preferences and
skill level of those we support through the use of various tools such as home
visits, interviews, observation, etc. Discovery is an important step in the
vocational and placement process.
What is the REDI
Program?
The
Retail Employees with Disability Initiative is a 4-week retail training program
through Walgreens Corporation. Training includes soft skills classes (getting
along with co-workers, interview skills, etc) and also hands-on, one-on-one
practical in-store instruction. Breakthrough hosts two REDI trainings each
year, one in the spring and another in the fall.
What is Project
SEARCH?
Project
SEARCH is a nationally recognized program originally started at Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital. This is a 9-month internship program in which individuals
experience 3, 10-week internships in a hospital setting in order to gain hands
on employment skills and vocational classroom instruction. Breakthrough
currently runs a Project SEARCH program at the University of Tennessee Medical
Center. Enrollment for this program begins each fall with a new internship
class beginning each winter.
For
more information about the Breakthrough Supported Employment Program, please
feel free to contact our Supported Employment Coordinator, Kendrise Colebrooke, at
kcolebrooke@breakthroughknoxville.com or 865-247-0065 ext 28.
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