CRP Spotlight – Career Path Services

Originally published in the Un Primer Vistazo @ DVR Newsletter, May 2014:

Career Path Services was established in 1971 through funds provided by the 1962 Manpower Development and Training Act, which President John F. Kennedy signed into law on March 15, 1962. Since that time, our organization has grown to encompass three primary Divisions: Transitional Jobs, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Workforce Investment Act Programs. We now serve clients in 12 counties through our 17 office locations across Washington State.

Career Path Services is a non-profit organization – we help anyone disadvantaged in the job market for various reasons, such as high school drop outs, public assistance recipients, low-income adults, persons with developmental disabilities, people injured on the job who need re-training, and people laid off who need help  finding a new job.

We can pay for training, provide skills improvement, help someone get some experience at minimum wage, and help with things like transportation costs, or interview clothes.

We also work with employers of all sizes, especially smaller employers without an HR department, helping match the best candidates to their job openings. We can even help pay part of a new hire’s wages during a training period, and help employers find tax credits they may be eligible for.

Moreover, we do this with no fees to the people looking for work, and no fees to the  employer.  We are funded through various governmental agencies – our tax dollars at work putting people to work.

Career Path Services began providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities in Spokane in 1988. Soon after, we opened our offices in Colville (1989) and Omak (1992). In 1989, Career Path Services began providing services under certification with DVR. Recently we experienced additional growth with the opening of offices in Republic (2008) and Wenatchee (2011).

Our DD/DVR Division includes staff located in five office locations, serving clients located in seven counties through contracts with Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Okanogan Behavioral Healthcare, Northeast Washington Alliance Counseling Service (NEWACS), The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Omak School District, and Okanogan School District.

The Spokane DD/DVR Team (left to right, from the back): Marianne Uhrich, Ty Lingo, Program Manager Kurt Umberger, James Hughes (amazing ASL skills!), Dan Dwyer, Gina Young, Cathy Eylar, and Audri Bondo.

This is a talented group!  Their hobbies and interests include mountain biking, music (guitar and drums), motorcycles and sports.  They have some coaches on the team, including a wrestling coach and a cheer/dance coach. This team also annually plays in a softball league together.

Success Story: Career Path Services recently worked with a client who was struggling to find success in employment, with his many barriers including Community Protection, criminal history, limited reading and writing abilities, limited communication abilities, limited transportation and more. We were able to connect this client to a quality employer through a tour. During the tour, the employer learned about the various programs offered through DVR and the services Career Path Services could offer. After this tour, the client only wore blue shirts to his meetings because it was the color of the employer. When one of our employment specialists followed up with the employer and shared this information with them, they decided to hire this client. It’s his first permanent job! He is now working 6-10 hours per week, accrues paid time off, has earned some company gear and has a greater sense of purpose in life. The employer shares that the client is a joy to have onsite.

The Stevens and Ferry County DD/DVR Team (left to right, front to back): Jessica Loseke, Noah Theckston, Sheila Parker, Kevin Young, and Program Manager Linda White.

Their hobbies include family time, camping, fly fishing, reading, collecting books, painting, shopping, and gardening, thrift store shopping for colored glass to build garden totems and colorful dishes to break for mosaic bird houses.

Annually, this team prepares a FREE community-wide Thanksgiving dinner serving approximately 200 community members every year.

Success Story: Cole went through the process of going to WorkStrides, completing a community-based assessment, and finding employment in the field he wanted. He is now getting paid over $11.00 per hour and has full benefits. He has been able to pay down his debt and is looking for a place to live that is closer to work. Cole had never had a paying job before and the employer is very happy with what he is doing.

Omak and Wenatchee DD/DVR Team (left to right, front to back): Mary Whiteside, Lee Root, Sharmon Hilliard, Pam Sorlagas, Becky Day, Kristen Blue, Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Jodi DeCesari.

We enjoy scheduling events where we can socialize together and include our families. We love, and we do mean love, FOOD! Couponing, dog training, bowling, gardening, and working out are just a few of our interests. And to top it off, in Omak, we usually form our very own Hoopfest Team!

Annually, the Omak and Wenatchee teams prepare a FREE community-wide Thanksgiving meal in the Omak area serving as many as 300 meals each year.

Success Story: Abbie was referred to us in June of 2013 for a CBA. She was placed at a thrift store to complete herassessment, and initially, struggled with approaching her supervisor to ask questions. She often would not respond ver- bally to her supervisor and struggled with remaining on task. She continued to show improvements throughout her as- sessment, completing her assessment and being referred for a job placement plan. Abbie currently works at Mountain View Fitness. She is wrapping up her retention plan with us, and her employer recently increased her hours. She will soon be training to work at the front desk. She interacts comfortably with her supervisors, co-workers, and guests – they LOVE her!

The Vault – a relic from when the office used to house attorneys; it’s now used to store supplies and medical equipment.

• The three F’s “Food, Fun, and Fellowship”
• The support network is great and understanding. I like the fact that family is important and the company tries to support you when things come up. I also like helping people who want help.
• The sense of unity. We all have struggles, but we also have triumphs and everyone celebrates the triumphs with you and consoles you through the struggles
• I love how caring of an organization Career Path Services is.
• When our clients work so hard, and then it all clicks. For example, finding a relationship with a co-worker or learning tasks. The “Aha” moments and successes, whether large or small.

Biggest Challenges in Placing Clients

• Helping others to see the possibilities
• Changing perceptions of employers and dispelling myths
• Getting businesses to look at the benefits of hiring our clients
• Getting an employer to commit to a job offer
• Employers lack of understanding and knowledge regarding the abilities of people with disabilities

Gina Young modeling the Team Rhino (Responsibly Helping Individuals Navigate Opportunities) t-shirt.

• We work and support each other together.
• We share job leads.
• I think that as a group we are good at what we do because we all care about what is happening to our clients.
• I believe that ALL people that want to work should have the opportunity to work & utilize their skills & abilities
• I am a very empathetic person and I think that helps me to put myself in the shoes of our clients. Their passion and drive becomes mine.
• We have a passion to serve.
• We’re compassionate “go-getters”.
• We’re passionate about helping people.