PAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION NETWORK

The purpose of this contract is to:

Facilitate person centered planning processes to assist individuals with disabilities in planning and strategizing a clear vision and path to employment.

Refer individuals to the existing community resources related to the employment process.

Utilize the Quality Framework as outlined by the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) for the implementation of ongoing quality outcomes.

To continue to support people to document and share their personal stories. These stories will become part of the PAL Resource Library and will be shared on our web site and with our community partners.

Activities include:

• W.O.R.K Series

  This series is designed for individuals with disabilities who are working on accessing employment. This 4 part series is offered twice a year.
  Participants will walk away with:
  
  - A better understanding of the benefits of having a job
  -Being able to identify a job that is meaningful to them plus understand their rights and responsibilities with having a job.
  - Learn about resources that will help with their job search
  -Answers to questions they might have about their benefits
  

• Pre/ Post Employment Services

  Based on the need to go beyond the 90 days of ORS services, we will facilitate a network of support through the common goal of discovering, obtaining, and/or sustaining employment for the alumni of the W.O.R.K. Series. Learning opportunities related to job readiness and retention will include:
  
  -asset planning
  -resume writing
  -transferable skills
  -interview skills and practice utilizing video modeling
  -social skills in the workplace
  -problem solving strategies
  -soft skills and dressing for success
  -community resource mapping
  
  
  

• Career Readiness Series for Youths in Transition

  We will offer, annually to 10-12 families, the following components of the Career Development Series based on federal government and foundation efforts that promote successful transitional services to the world of work:
  
  -Facilitate assessment tools for identifying skills and interest that would lead to successful job search and employment and generate a student asset based portfolio -Acquire and/or create and assemble Universally Designed Learning (UDL) materials and resources -Create quarterly opportunities for families, students and teachers to learn from entrepreneurs, their vocational support networks and state agencies the benefits and challenges of small community based business ventures and customized employment -Increase capacity of youth participating in the Career Readiness Series to make informed decisions about disclosure of disabilities - Host an informational Session on Benefits Planning for families
  
  

If you and your networks of support are interested in transition planning, please see RIte Click (Rhode Island Transition Exploration) Information sheet under “Resources” (Left-Side of Screen).
To find out when the next series is beginning see our “Events” page.

PAL Employment Information Network is supported by a Cooperative Agreement between Rhode Island Department of Human Services- Office of Rehabilitation Services and Department of Mental Health Retardation and Hospitals- RI Division of Developmental Disabilities