Focus Newsletter Building Opportunities....Enriching Lives
October 2012
All the Right Stuff We all know the face of happiness when we see it. But Lawanda’s face was the definition of “ecstatic” when she learned that she had been hired as a regular employee at Community Care of Central Wisconsin (CCCW). “Lawanda was being very patient, but we all knew how much she really wanted this job,” said Ann Lepak, Employment Resources Manager at ODC in Wisconsin Rapids. “When we told her, the look on her face was overwhelming. She walked through the entire ODC facility and told everyone she met!” Lawanda has worked at the Wisconsin Rapids ODC facility for many years when she found herself ready for a change. So as Lawanda was working at ODC, the employment team were doing their jobs, actively recruiting local businesses to hire ODC workers that could fill their unmet needs. Lawanda’s position at CCCW is a great example of the “customized employment” model – her job was created after CCCW identified tasks that were part of someone else’s traditional job description but that weren’t getting done. In mid-July, ODC employment staff met with CCCW representatives to develop a “trial” position for Lawanda. She would be working at their facility for four weeks; her primary responsibilities would include cleaning tables and chairs in the conference room and employee break room. She would work for one hour every week. CCCW staff were so impressed with Lawanda’s professionalism and work ethic that after four weeks, they had determined that they wanted to hire her. They did, however, want to add some new tasks to her position description – dusting the bottoms of chairs and washing windows in the facility’s entryway. “We knew after the four week trial that she was to be hired,” said Ann. “But we also knew that she would need some extra support and training to learn and complete these additional tasks.” Sue King, Lawanda’s ODC job coach, went to work. Lawanda was given an additional four week trial period at CCCW while she also practiced her new tasks at ODC. Sue purchased a duster with an extended handle so Lawanda could use it to dust chair legs. She worked with Lawanda to practice cleaning windows at ODC. She put arrows on the walls at CCCW, to assist Lawanda in getting to the areas she needed to clean. Even though Lawanda wasn’t sure how she would accomplish her new tasks,” said Ann, “she was always positive and always willing to try. Because she was able to work through her barriers here at ODC, she was confident in her ability to succeed at CCCW.” Why did Lawanda dream of taking on a job outside of ODC? “I wanted to be more independent,” she said. “I like washing and cleaning and I’m good at it.” How did Lawanda get to this important place in her life? Said Lawanda, “You guys taught me the right stuff.”
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They’ll Search No More! Brandon, Marissa, Mark and Melissa have recently realized a dream … they are all 2012 graduates of Marshfield’s Project SEARCH program, and each of them has now become a valuable, productive member of their community’s workforce. Project Search is a high school transitional program for students age 18-21 who have intellectual disabilities. The first Project SEARCH program in Marshfield was initiated by the Marshfield School District for the 2011-2012 school year, and these four students were selected to participate in the program at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital. Throughout the program, they benefited from classroom instruction provided by the school district, internship opportunities within various departments at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital, and job coaching services provided by ODC and funded through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. They spent their final year of high school focusing entirely on transitioning into the world of work.
Project SEARCH graduates Brandon (left), Marissa, Mark and Melissa at their Project SEARCH graduation ceremony in May 2012. Mary Blanchard, ODC Employment Resources Manager in Marshfield, oversees ODC’s part in this collaborative program, which is now entering its second year. Not only is she responsible for ensuring that students have the support and guidance they need to succeed during their training, she is tireless in her search for regular community employment opportunities for each student as graduation draws near. Mary is now in very high spirits. She recounts how she was able to tell each of the graduates that their hard work had paid off - that they were all moving forward in their dream. Mark was the first of the students to find a job in the community. He was hired at Chips restaurant in Marshfield the week after graduation, and is happy and comfortable with his new janitorial position. He loves routine and structure; his internship at Saint Joseph’s Hospital involved working in their central supply area, where Mark cleaned and organized six large storage rooms. According to Mary, “If the job is systematic and requires great memory and retention, Mark is thrilled to do it. He never veers off of his routine.”
Mark was sanitizing the public cafeteria at Saint Joseph’s Hospital before he began his work at Chips.
As luck - and persistence - would have it, the three other students were all given the good news about securing employment on the same date - August 17.
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On that day, Brandon was the first to be notified – he was offered a position at Saint Joseph’s Hospital Peri Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). During one of his internships, Brandon had been responsible for cleaning and sanitizing rooms in the PACU; he had grown to love his job and his colleagues, and he was hopeful that they would keep him on. “When I told Brandon that he would be working at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, he jumped up and put his fists in the air,” said Mary. “He said, ‘I’m a working man now!’” “On that same day, I gave Marissa the news of her hire over the phone,” said Mary. “She had been waiting for my call. Her mother told me, “We were going out for a fish fry one hour ago, but Marissa wouldn’t let us leave until you called. And I’m glad you called, because I’m really hungry!” According to Mary, Marissa’s dream was to work with babies and children. At Saint Joseph’s Hospital, she was responsible for cleaning and janitorial tasks within the neonatal intensive care unit, pediatrics and the birth center. Now, she will provide these same services for the Child Care Center of Marshfield at their Tiny Tiger Day Care location. The third student that day to be notified of her hire was Melissa, who had filled a temporary position at
Marissa is fulfilling her dream at the Child Care Center of Marshfield.
Brandon is responsible for the cleanliness of the Peri Anesthesia Care Unit at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
Weber’s Farm Store in Marshfield during the preceding month. Her employer found that the janitorial tasks she performed truly fulfilled an “unmet need” at their organization, and Melissa was hired.
Mary and her staff have been with the program from the beginning and are proud of the students’ successes. “We watched this first Project SEARCH group transform from school kids to working adults,” she said. “They grew by leaps and bounds.” Mary attributes this transformation to the high expectations that were set for these students through Project SEARCH. Initially, ODC job coaches were present to support them during every internship hour; as their confidence and the natural support of their work colleagues increased, job coaching became less intensive and their independence grew. “ODC job coaches and other employment resources staff are advocates for our workers,” said Mary, “but just as importantly, we are advocates for the employer. We are here to provide the supports necessary to make it a win-win situation. That’s the reason that we’ve been working with many employers for over 15 years.” The Project SEARCH model was developed in 1996 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital by Nurse J. Erin Riehle. The program is worldwide and has grown from one program to 150 programs across 42 states and four countries. There are five other Project SEARCH programs in Wisconsin.
Melissa helps to portion products sold at Weber’s Farm Store.
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