When a referral is received from one of our funding sources our intake staff person reviews the file and schedules an assessment. An extensive assessment process provides a good basis to determine a client’s wants and needs including which skills will need to be developed in order to obtain successful job placement. We include parents, case managers, and advocates in the assessment process if appropriate, and disseminate information to parents and clients explaining our respective roles in the job development process.

When a job is found, a Job Coach will go on-site and learn the job him/herself. The Job Coach will write a job and task analysis and describe the work environment. Defining clear expectations of the job helps the screening process make the optimum match for the job from our client pool.  Clients usually begin a job with a great deal of assistance from a Job Coach. The Job Coach gradually fades his/her presence, as the individual becomes more proficient in work performance. Our individualized approach to placement, on-the-job training, continued support and follow-along services have contributed to our success in supported employment. JCI believes that by designating a single Job Coach to each person served we are able to more effectively coordinate the progress of the individual client’s goals.

The best predictor we have found of a person’s ability and desire to perform a job is a chance to try it. We recognize that businesses have many different standards, safety codes, management practices and expectations and we determine those before we recommend placement. We expect that individuals will earn their wages and cooperate with both the employer and the Job Coach. We are as much an advocate for employers as we are for employees. It is made clear from the beginning that the client is the employee of the business that has hired him/her, not an employee of Job Connection, Inc.