Employment Services

Employment Skills Development

Employment skills development services are designed to provide learning and work experiences. Services can include volunteer work, which can help the participant develop skills and build strengths that will lead to paid employment in integrated settings. Employment skills development services can be a needed first step to getting a person ready for work, learning, and integration into the workplace.

Job Finding

Job finding is an individualized service that assists participants in obtaining employment that is competitive and integrated into the community. Job finding identifies and/or develops potential jobs. Services also assist the participant in securing a job that meets the employer’s needs while fitting the participant's skills and preferences.  In some cases, services may include customized job development based on matches between a participant’s skillsets and the needs of an employer.

Career Assessment

Career assessment is an individualized employment assessment process used to identify potential career options based on the interests and strengths of the participant. Activities include a review of participants' works and volunteer history, situational assessments for a variety of jobs, the development of a Career Assessment Report, and other career discovery options.

Benefits Counseling
 
DON has two trained Community Partner Work Incentives Counselors on staff. These counselors can review the benefits an individual is receiving. Counselors can also review how employment will work in conjunction with benefits, which may include, social security income such as SSDI or SSI, food benefits through SNAP, subsidized rent, or health insurance coverage. Benefits counseling is offered to provide an accurate individual assessment regarding work incentive programs. Participants will learn how employment income will impact them financially from the knowledge gained in counseling.

Authorized via:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
Office of Long-Term Living
CommCare, Independence, and OBRA Waiver Services
Under the “Employment First” Initiative – Commonwealth of Pennsylvania