Situational Assessment Program
The Situational Assessment Program provides a systematic approach to assessing vocational aptitudes and work skills of an individual by using a “real work” setting. The setting is provided either by our store locations, or by community-based employers who allow us the use of their community facility for the individual assessments. On an average, five to ten days are used to assess the individual's ability to work independently with co-workers, to identify work skills and to follow established procedures, which is closely monitored by a job coach. The overall purpose of the program is to provide recommendations for the next best steps in assisting the person to be successful.
Employment Services
Employment Services, also known as Ready to Work, provides pre-employment, job development, job placement and post-employment follow along for clients who have a variety of disabilities and a wide range of severity. Clients are referred to Goodwill by the Department of Rehabilitation. Depending on the need, some clients may receive job coaching services also; however, the majority of the clients are ready to work with a short amount of assistance from the Goodwill Employment Services Specialist.
Client Profile
Larry completed a Situational Assessment, which determined he was ready to go to work and also identified his job skills. Larry has a Traumatic Brain Injury, which manifests through problems with concentration and organization. His financial resources were very limited and at one point his PG&E was turned off for lack of payment. Because of the manifestations of his disability, Larry does not have the organizational skills to prioritize how to spend his money and does not consider paying his bills to be a priority with the money he has. Goodwill assisted Larry with his PG&E debt through the use of the Fredrich Foundation monies, which is available to assist clients when there are no other resources available to them and the assistance is needed to either get or keep their job. Having no hot water to shower qualified as assistance needed to keep his job.
Larry was referred to our Employment Services program by the Department of Rehabilitation, for job search and placement services. After a few weeks of exploration, Larry decided he wanted to work as a part time Janitor. With guidance from the Employment Services Specialist, Larry met with employers and toured work sites. Larry had the opportunity to observe the janitorial staff doing their work at each work site. Larry liked the variety of tasks in the job and ability to move around. As Larry is a bus rider we needed to find an employer who was flexible with work schedule. It was not long before Larry was hired by a local retail store. He has been on the job for five months, feels proud of his accomplishments and has recently purchased a car.
