About CARES
Mission
CARES of Washington provides opportunities for people in the Puget Sound region to achieve and sustain their full employment potential and achieve self-sufficiency in their lives. CARES specializes in providing individualized and long-term support for people with disabilities and those experiencing adversity due to low income.
Over the past three decades, CARES programs and services have expanded to five counties in the Puget Sound region - King County (1980), Pierce County (1990), Kitsap County (2002), Snohomish County (2008), and Thurston County (2010).
For additional information about CARES of Washington please contact our Executive Director Lars Nowack at 206-938-1253, or e-mail: lnowack@caresofwa.org.
Benefits of Our Programs
- Our participants contribute to the community through volunteering and working, building life-long connections to the people they meet, and benefit from increased self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. 53 participants were successfully placed in jobs in 2009.
- Employers benefit from valuable new employees’ contributions to the success of their business.
- The community benefits from the diversity of talent, ideas and perspectives which our participants offer, and the strength of the friendships and mutual support nurtured from these connections.
History (Milestones)
- 1981 - CARES of Washington is established and begins providing assistance to people with disabilities living in the Puget Sound area
- 1995 - CARES of Washington became one of the founding partners of the Work Source system in King County.
- 2003 - The organization becomes a local nonprofit. For 20 years we have operated Supported Employment Programs specifically for people with disabilities. Offices are located in Snohomish, King, Pierce and Kitsap counties and also in the Renton Work Source Center.
- 2006 - Career Coaching/Self-Sufficiency Program established
- 2008 - Snohomish County Employment program
- 2008 - CARES earned a second three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
- 2009 - Financial Education/Benefits counseling project
CARES of Washington is an equal opportunity employer and provider of training services and programs for people living with developmental disabilities and low income. CARES added 10 new staff members over the last 3 years due to program growth.
Get Involved
CARES invites you to work together to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and support their efforts toward self-sufficiency and community involvement.
Here are a couple of ways you can make a difference:
- Make a donation online today using the Network for Good link here on our website.
- Employers - create a position that fills a need in your business. CARES staff will work with you to ensure the talents of the individual you hire meets your needs. Contact one of the CARES representatives in your county to find out more.
- If you are interested in volunteering with our organization, please contact Lars Nowack, CARES Executive Director, at lnowack@caresofwa.org.
CONTACT US
Individuals & Families
King County:
Lisa Roy 206-938-1253
lroy@caresofwa.org
Kitsap County:
Tony Mendioloa 360-443-8607
tmendiola@caresofwa.org
Pierce County:
Doug Stauffer 253-274-1479
dstauffer@caresofwa.org
Snohomish County:
Jacki Oravetz 206-938-1253
jlalonde@caresofwa.org
Employers
King County:
Gary Banis 206-938-1253
gbanis@caresofwa.org
Kitsap County:
Tony Mendiola 360-443-8607
tmendiola@caresofwa.org
Pierce County:
Doug Stauffer 253-274-1479
dstauffer@caresofwa.org
Snohomish County:
Jacki Oravetz 206-938-1253
jlalonde@caresofwa.org
Partners & Funders
Lars Nowack 206-419-3010
lnowack@caresofwa.org
TESTIMONIAL
"CARES (Client Support) staff is genuinely concerned about the welfare of their clients, not only in terms of initial job placement, but on a much longer-term basis. I see CARES case workers getting genuine satisfaction out of their job. They are really successful in proactively building relationships with the Safeway store managers, by setting up employee assessments, and persevering in accomplishing the win-win situation for both people with disabilities and Safeway."
Katie Deschenes, Regional Human Resources – Employment Representative, Safeway
