CARES OF WASHINGTON PROGRAMS

CARES of Washington provides over [500] low-income and/or individuals with disabilities access to a continuum of inter-connected services that help clients overcome barriers to gain and maintain employment and long-term financial stability.

Each client partners one-on-one with CARES staff to create their own individualized, comprehensive program of services that fits their needs. Our programs are designed to support clients throughout their entire employment career. Frequently, a client will begin with job readiness-training, followed by employment and job retention services. Clients can further strengthen their self-sufficiency by participating in our financial skills-building programs.

VOCATIONAL COUNSELING/JOB READINESS TRAINING - Clients work with staff to identify their interests, enhance their work skills, and clear hurdles that have previously prevented employment. Our strengths-based approach allows clients to focus their employment search on jobs that best meet their interests and needs. Our services include:

• Identifying clients’ choice in type of work, geographical area, and number of employment hours
• Skills assessment and training (some clients may be placed in a volunteer role to develop pre-employment skills)
• Training in resume writing, application completion, interview skills, job search resources, communication skills, and time management
• Assistance to individuals with disabilities to increase independent work skills and prepare for their life-transition into an unfamiliar work atmosphere

JOB PLACEMENT - CARES works with both clients and employers to cultivate a mutually-beneficial partnership that places individuals in jobs that fit their interests and skill-level while adding value for employers by filling the recruitment needs that employers have identified. Our services include:

• Placement assistance, including for individuals with disabilities, in jobs that provide opportunities for stable employment, wage progression, career advancement, and economic self-sufficiency
• Recruitment and placement services for employers to hire reliable, skilled and knowledgeable employees

JOB RETENTION - Following job placement, CARES provides clients with long-term follow-up services that promote their ability to maintain employment. Our services, provided to clients at the location of their employment and/or in their homes, include:

• Job coaching, mentoring, and ongoing training
• Connection to service partners that provide housing, transportation to-and-from work, and child care, etc
• Working with employers to meet the accommodation needs of clients with disabilities.

CAREER COACHING – A coach works one-on-one with clients to set and support their employment goals and help them build personal resiliency and financial assets. Our services, provided to clients at the location of their employment and/or in their homes, include:

· Life-skills coaching

· Financial management coaching

· Career advancement coaching

FINANCIAL COACHING AND EDUCATION - Clients gain the financial and money management skills necessary to become and remain financially stable, independent, and resilient through both one-on-one and group services that include:

• Income tax filing assistance
• Assistance to individuals with disabilities to access disability benefits
• Money management plan based on setting a budget and achieving financial goals
• Techniques to reduce debt, improve credit ratings, eliminate reliance on payday lenders

CARES services are free to clients that meet program eligibility guidelines (our services are also available through private-pay or employer paid services). Clients can access our programs through self-referrals or referrals from case managers, community partner agencies, and WorkSource Centers. Interpreters are available for ESL and deaf clients. Please see the accompanying list of CARES programs to learn which services are offered by each program.

For more information about CARES of Washington services or to see if you are eligible for free services, contact Stan Shaufler at email: Sshaufler@caresofwa.org or phone: 206-938-1253 or visit www.caresofwa.org.

CARES of Washington Programs

Program	Vocational Counseling/ Job Readiness Training	Job Placement Assistance	Job Retention Assistance	Career Coaching	Financial Skills-Building
SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT Eligibility: ages 18 – 62; person with developmental disability Counties: King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish	x	x	x
SCHOOL TO WORK Eligibility: Last 2 yrs of high school; person with developmental disability Counties: King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish	x	x	x		x
CAREER ADVANCEMENT/SELF-SUFFICIENCY Eligibility: ages 18 +; live or work in King County; at or below 200% federal poverty level Counties: King, Pierce	X	X	x	x	x
CONNECT FOR SUCCESS Eligibility: ages 18 +; live or work in King County; at or below 200% federal poverty level Counties: King, Pierce		x	x	x	x
BASIC FOOD EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING (BFET) Eligibility: 18+; food stamp recipient Counties: King, Parts of Snohomish Additional Services: assists clients who are receiving food assistance from DSHS find a job, complete training, and advance their career	x	x			X
FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANCE Eligibility: 18+; at or below 200% federal poverty level Counties: King, Pierce and Kitsap					x
VOCATIONAL REHAB FEE FOR SERVICE (DVR, DSB) Eligibility: 18+, persons with disabilities, unemployed Counties: King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston	x	x	x
TICKET TO WORK (TtW) FEE FOR SERVICE Eligibility: 18+; Receiving SSI or SSDI Counties: King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish	x	x	x		x
COMMUNITY ACCESS Eligibility: 62+; person with developmental disability Counties: Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish Organizes and provides seniors access to social and recreational activities that promote community inclusion.

CARES services are available to clients that meet program eligibility guidelines (services are also available through private-pay or employer paid services). Clients can access our programs through self-referrals or referrals from case managers, community partner agencies, and WorkSource Centers. Interpreters are available for ESL and deaf clients. For more information, contact Stan Shaufler at email: Sshaufler@caresofwa.org or phone: 206-938-1253 or visit www.caresofwa.org.