CAREERS Support Solutions, Inc.

CAREERS\u0027 fundamental goal is to assist our clients in achieving the satisfaction of sustained, gainful employment within their communities.\r\nWe find productive employment for individuals with learning, intellectual, developmental, psychiatric and/or physical disabilities, as well as long-term unemployed, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. CAREERS\u0027 provides extensive on-the-job training and ongoing support services for high school students and adults, based on their individual needs, skills and interests.\r\n\r\nWe also aim to educate employers and the community about the benefits of hiring workers with disabilities, and provide workers for jobs that may be difficult for employers to fill.\r\n\r\nCAREERS has a variety of programs in place to help individuals with disabilities find employment. Our Workforce Readiness, Placement and Training Program helps people with disabilities find jobs and provides the support needed to keep them. Our School-to-Work Transition Program provides job training, coaching and placement to students with disabilities. Our Ambition In Motion (AIM) Program teaches life, social and prevocational skills to young adults who are not ready for a supported work program. Our Workforce Readiness Program for long-term, low-income unemployed was started with a grant from NY State to help these individuals find and keep gainful employment.

1) We conduct comprehensive outreach to organizations and schools that work with individuals with disabilities who are in need of learning job readiness skills, job placement, and/or ongoing support to help keep their job. From these contacts, we receive referrals and provide individualized services, in collaboration with special education teachers, guidance counselors, social workers, appropriate government agencies and families. \r\n\r\n2) We conduct a thorough intakes/assessments to determine abilities, interests, goals and objectives to assure that we procure employment consistent with each person\u0027s preferred employment outcome. We assist with resume writing and teach interview techniques and other pre-emplyment soft skills. We then look for employment opportunities, matching interests and strengths of each person to jobs. We set up interviews that we usually attend, and continue to follow-up until the individual has been hired. We also provide emotional support and guidance to build confidence critical to success in the job search process. \r\n\r\n3) Once hired, we provide intensive on-the-job training, with the frequency and level of training based on the needs of each client. Additional interventions may include transportation and/or travel training, advocacy with coworkers and/or supervisors, facilitation of needed accommodations on the job, and interaction with other service providers involved with the client to insure a good adjustment to the job. We remain on the job with each worker for as long as necessary to insure that he/she achieves competence and independence. We spend as much time as needed, either in person or on the phone, providing emotional support, social guidance and problem-solving, to foster social integration skills.

CAREERS\u0027 enthusiastic and qualified professional staff have years of specialized training in the field of vocational rehabilitation. Executive Director Tina Cornish-Lauria has dedicated her career to helping individuals with disabilities become self-sufficient through employment. She has a B.S. in Rehabilitation and has worked with adults with disabilities since 1981. She joined CAREERS in 1989 to open the agency\u0027s northern Westchester and Putnam branch, and was appointed Executive Director in 1991. \r\n\r\nCAREERS\u0027 Program Coordinators in both our Carmel and Valhalla offices have 20\u002B years of experience each. Our Employment Specialists are highly trained, skilled and selected for this program based on years of successful experience, with proven track records in job development and placement. We have very little staff turnover which means that our qualified professional staff have long-standing relationships with our clients and their families, employers and communities we serve.\r\n\r\nSince 1987, CAREERS has been a leader in the community for providing the training, placement and follow-along support individuals with disabilities need to be successful in the workplace. We have developed outstanding relationships with schools, businesses and government agencies to reach as many individuals as possible and provide the job training, placement and support they need to be successful.

Our primary accomplishment is placing individuals in jobs, many of whom may not be able to find employment on their own. In 2016, we placed 119 individuals in new jobs and 39 in internships in Westchester and Putnam Counties. In 2016, 74% of our clients with disabilities retained their jobs for a year or more. Over 742 individuals are still in the jobs we placed them in since our organization\u0027s inception! The skills they acquired through our program, and the ongoing support they receive from our highly skilled Employment Specialists, enable them to successfully carry out their job responsibilities and maintain their positions by working effectively with co-workers and managers.\r\n\r\nAnother ongoing accomplishment is the number of clients we reach through our Workforce Readiness classes, held in several locations to accommodate our clients who have transportation issues. In 2016, we taught 165 clients during 115 classes.\r\n\r\nThe recent expansion of our services to include low-income, long term unemployed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients is another stride we have made to keep our organization moving forward. \r\n\r\nExpansion of our services also includes our Ambition In Motion (AIM) Program, a unique day habilitation program for developmentally disabled young adults who have aged-out of high school and need a place to learn life and job skills in order to be productive members of the community.\r\n\r\nOur accomplishments can also be measured one client at a time\u2026\r\n\r\nWhen Shannon came to CAREERS to participate in our Workforce Readiness program, she needed every skill our Employment Specialists could offer. She is learning disabled and needed assistance with everything from interview proficiency to appropriate workplace behavior. Shannon\u0027s lack of real world experience and social skills led to frustration and concern for her ability to successfully get and keep a job.\r\n\r\nAfter participating in our Workforce Readiness \u201CJob Club\u0022 and working with staff on job readiness skills, Shannon was placed at Barnes and Noble in 2011, where she has made remarkable strides. Originally hired to shelve books, she has gone well past her job responsibilities, including inventory, assisting customers and using computers to find books. Initially, her Employment Specialist spent several weeks working Shannon\u0027s entire shift with her to make sure she had the skills needed to succeed. Having surpassed all expectations, Shannon received a personal Achievement Award at CAREERS\u0027 25th Anniversary celebration, and has been named Employee of the Month at Barnes and Noble, where she recently celebrated her 6th anniversary.