Job Placement and Job Readiness Training

Job Placement – This component will identify potential employers and refer all qualified clients for consideration.

Job Readiness Training (JRT) – Will educate clients how to conduct effective job searches. Will demonstrate how to complete employment applications, develop resumes and conduct mock interviews to see what areas may require further training in order to obtain employment.

Job Seeking Skills – Provide clients with the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct an independent job search and maintain employment by educating them on the following:

Goal Planning – Will help clients identify realistic short and long-range goals, establish real realistic timelines, and focus on the activities required to achieve a positive employment outcome.

Resume and Application Development – Clients will receive assistance with the development of a personal resume and prepare an application that highlights their skills, training and previous work history in a positive manner.

Job Search Plan Development – Each client will leave the training with the knowledge of where and how to identify employment opportunities and openings. They will also receive assistance with developing and individual job search plan.

Interview Preparation – Workshops will discuss the dos and don’ts of interviewing. Role-playing will help the clients prepare for upcoming interviews.

Job Keeping Strategies – Will educate clients on performance and behavioral issues that affects success on the job. Will work with clients to ensure they get to work on time and doing a good job.

**Insurance participants for Employment Assistance and Supported Employment Program in Texas
We accept Texas Medicaid for (STAR+PLUS Waiver Program) from the following insurance providers UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Molina Healthcare, and Amerigroup. If we do not accept your insurance, we can provide a statement of services that you may use to seek reimbursement on an out-of-network basis. Note: County service areas are Austin, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Matagorda, Montgomery, Waller and Wharton

Employment Support, Evaluation, and Analysis

Job Coaching – Provide on-site job training for clients needing assistance through intervention techniques that will help the employee learn to perform job tasks to the employer’s specifications and to learn the interpersonal skills necessary while at job site in the community. In addition to job-site training, job coaching includes related assessment, job development, counseling, advocacy, travel training and other services needed to maintain employment and self-sufficiency.

Work Literacy – provides training essentials instructional activities designed to develop the necessary literacy skills with which to seek and retain employment.

Supported Employment Services – In order to ensure the success of our clients, it is very important to provide follow-up to assist the client in maintaining employment, this component is for a client who have completed the JRT program and was not able to sustain or maintain employment. Job Coaching allows the client to return to the agency in case of situations that may develop while working or return to self-sufficiency. Counseling will be provided to avoid workplace problems and help client to be a productive employee.

Limited Vocational Evaluation – We will measure client’s strengths and identifies areas of need. Ranges from general assessment of skills, aptitudes, interests and academic levels and abilities to develop specific job training program recommendations; therefore it’s tailored to questions re: consumer needs and strengths.

Job Analysis Evaluation – Is a detailed look at a particular job or job classification. It is a process that identifies the tasks performed on the job and knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal characteristics needed to perform those tasks. In order to accomplish a job analysis in the most meaningful and useful manner, jobs will be analyzed as they exist, and NOT reply on written descriptions that may be provided by an employer, worker; however, we will use the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), or O*NET only.

Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation – Is a process which incorporates background information and uses a combination of testing, work samples, situational assessments, job tryouts, prevailing labor market data, occupational information, assisted technology, functional capacities, accommodations and modifications in which an individual will learn viable vocational options and develop employment goals and objectives.

Career Guidance and Counseling – This is a comprehensive, developmental service designed to assist individuals in making and implementing informed educational and occupational choices. The career guidance and counseling program develops an individual’s competencies in self-knowledge, educational and occupational exploration, and career planning.

Schedule A Letter – Upon meeting the qualifications and you have a significant disability that is documented, the licensed life care planner could assist with a “Schedule A Letter,” which gives the federal government permission to hire people with significant disabilities for jobs within the federal government without requiring them to compete against non-disabled jobseekers for those positions. Federal agencies hire Schedule A employees on a probationary basis. This means that Schedule A employees work on trial basis and, at the end of the probationary period, if they have earned positive reviews for their job performance, they may be eligible for conversion to a career-conditional appointment within competitive service.

Personal/Social Adjustment Training – Provides specific vocational self-management skills training in a group setting to enable each individual to adjust to the ever increasing demands of the work environment. It focuses on assertive communication, stress reduction, emotional coping, and rational thinking skills.

Comprehensive Vocational Profile – Will be used to match an individual to an appropriate job by providing an in-depth evaluation of a client who is unable to fully benefit from a Limited or Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation. The profile is based on a file review and client interview and it provides insight to client abilities, strengths, limitations and support systems for clients who have had little work experience. The evaluation clearly determines training, support and accommodations recommended for successful employment. It provides effective job matching recommendations without relying on traditional measurement instruments. The results do not adhere to standardized or norm-referenced testing to determine job readiness. The profile provides information are: strengths, preferences, needs and barriers not evident given the severity of disability. It provides detailed information related to client’s activities of daily living, emotional functioning, independent living needs and accommodations for home and work.

Job Task Analysis or Job Sampling – This component will provide the collection of information surrounding work tasks for the purpose of making a step-by-step comparison of between the requirements of the job task and the capabilities of the client through job observation in a community-based worksite. Work behaviors at 1 or 2 work sites and job descriptions are reviewed while performing their job duties. A personal interview will be conducted with the client and their supervisor to obtain meaningful and knowledgeable information about the duties that can better assist the client to maintain self-sufficiency.

Work Evaluation – Will provide a short-term assessment that analyzes objective observations of work behaviors, physical capacities, work habits and functional skills to determine vocational options and interventions. Observations may come from specific job settings or a variety of work situations to determine what work habit deficits a client may have and what vocational options and interventions are possible.

Earning Capacity Evaluation – Is an evaluation of an individual ability to work and earn wages prior to and following the event of disability. Also, earning capacity evaluations provide information regarding lost wages and diminished (or lost) future earning capacity arising from the injuries sustained in the event that is the subject of possible litigation. As a vocational expert at Healthways Services we can provide an individual-specific analysis to provide objective evaluations of an individual ability to work and earn wages.

Pre-Employment Analysis – Is a service that will include the guidance necessary to enable client’s to make sound vocational choices, improve self-esteem, become employment focused and set career and placement goals.

Employment Skills Training Services – Is designed to prepare individuals for immediate entry into the workforce. The client will assess their skills at the time they enter into a classroom, on the job site or in an actual work environment (both specific and transferable) and learn how to apply them towards their job goal. The process will enable the individual to secure employment because of the enhanced communication and job skills taught, including managing conflict, self-esteem building, job retention, job responsibilities and job search.

Work Adjustment Training – Is a comprehensive, time-limited service that assists consumers seeking employment to develop or re-establish work habits and behaviors, quality and quantity of work, personal and social skills, functional capacities, and attitudes appropriate to employment. These services utilize realistic work tasks to develop on-the-job behavior skills, proper work habits, interpersonal skills, work-related communication skills, and to increase stamina.

**Training may address issues such as:

• Adhering to work/safety rules
• Appropriate dress and grooming
• Attendance and punctuality
• Communications/relationships with co-workers and supervisors
• Following verbal and written instructions
• Interaction with the public
• Job tolerance and stamina
• Staying on task

**There are two types of “Work Adjustment Training”:

• Facility Based – This takes place in one of Healthways Services facilities.
• Community Based – This training takes place in a local business setting and reflects the economic environment of the workplace.

Ticket-to-Work

Ticket-to-Work (for social security administration beneficiaries) – Is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work. (Please see Ticket-to-Work section)

Requirements

The basic eligibility requirements to participate in the TTW program are:

• Current beneficiaries of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) age 18 through 64;
• Current beneficiaries of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits age 18 through 64

Tax Incentives for Employer’s*

We service credible, stable employers nationwide. As an employer, your organization can receive up to a $2400 Tax Credit per candidate hired with a disability through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).

You may also be eligible for a Small Business Tax Credit (IRS Code section 44, Disabled Access Code). Under the code, small businesses may take an annual tax credit for making their business accessible to persons with disabilities. A credit of 50% of expenditures over $250 is allowed for a maximum benefit of $5,000.

With the Architectural/Transportation Tax Deduction (IRS Code Section 190, Barrier Removal), businesses may take an annual deduction for expenses incurred to remove physical, structural, and transportation barriers in the workplace for persons with disabilities. Businesses may take a tax deduction of up to $15,000 a year for these expenses.

*Please consult your CPA for up-to-date tax deductions and information.

Note: We are trained professionals who are here to help you.  As an employer you can use our job board as your Human Resource partner, which is a no cost service for job postings. This is an effort to assist individuals with disabilities obtain gainful employment and advanced job and employment counseling services matching to help you quickly find the best candidate. Contact us now for a free initial consultation.