Employment Services

Customized Employment (funded as fee for service through School District, OVR, MHMR, etc…)

“Customized Employment offers the chance for a job to fit who we are, what we need, and what we have to offer.  It provides an avenue to employment for any job seeker who feels that traditional job search methods do not meet their needs. 

“Customized Employment means individualizing the relationship between job seekers and employers in ways that meet the needs of both.  It is based on an individualized determination of the strengths, requirements, and interest of a person with a complex life.  The process is designed to meet the workplace needs of the employer and the discrete tasks of the position.  When a customized relationship is developed, a shared employment alliance results.”  (U.S. Department of Labor)

Customized Employments involves process/steps that must be followed to insure the best placement possible.  Process/steps to be followed for successful employment in Customized Employment are:  Discovery, Vocational Profile, Planning Meeting, Job Development and Job Coaching.    

Discovery Process

Is an alternative way to the comparative testing procedures that have been traditionally used to assess a person’s interest and abilities.  The job seeker will be observed in many different settings including home, school, and the community.  The job seeker and their family will have the opportunity to provide pertainat and relevant information about the job seekers needs to determine the areas that need to be negotiated within the employer relationship.  The outcome of the discovery process will be a clear picture of the job seekers areas of interest, ideal conditions, and the contributions the job seeker has to offer an employer. 

Vocational Profile

The Vocational Profile is a written document that captures the information learned in the discovery process.  The Profile is a descriptive picture of the job seeker and relevant aspects of their life, including the complexity of their disability.  The Profile will describe the job seeker in a positive manner that will allow the job developer to share contributions and qualitities that can be effectively translated and negotiated into a personalized job description with employers. 

Planning Meeting

The Planning Meeting is a strategy for achieving individualized outcomes by creating a blueprint to be used by service providers, schools, and families.  The purpose of the Meeting is to identify the individual’s conditions for employment, individual preferences and potential contributions, such as personality characteristics and tasks to be performed, and linked to direct job development to meet those characteristics.  At the conclusion of the Planning Meeting a task list and a list of potential employers will developed, as well as connections to the employers.

Job Development

A job will only be developed in the area of interest of the job seeker.  This provides the motivation and desire for the applicant “to be their best.”  The ideal conditions are matched to the environment of the worksite and to the job tasks.  The applicant’s contributions lead toward the tasks an applicant can offer an employer, thus a tailored job description is developed.  A Representational Portfolio is used to represent the job seeker to employers.  The Representational Portfolio is a “visual resume.”  At the conclusion of the presentation to the employer a tour of the worksite will be requested.  If and only if job tasks are identified that will meet both the job seeker and the employer needs a subsequent meeting will be requested.  Job Development will occur simultaneously among multiple employers until a job offer has been negotiated and offered. 

Job Coaching

Systematic Instruction is the method used to help individuals learn new job skills and tasks.  It is job coaches are trained in systematic instruction and ways to develop “natural supports” in the workplace so a job coach does not become a permanent part of the customized employment process.  The goal is to train existing employees how to support the individual with a disability in the workplace and to fade the job coach’s level of involvement.  The job coach is as much of a resource for the employer and their employees as they are to the job seeker. 

Employment Network (funded as a fee for service through MAXIMUS)

The “Ticket to Work” (TTW) incentive is designed to remove the barriers that disability beneficiaries currently face in returning to work. TTW allows individuals to maintain their availability of health care services and medical coverage (Medicaid buy-in) when returning to work, eliminates the medical disability review while seeking employment, and provides for enhanced benefits planning and assistance from Employment Networks, such as CILNCP.

Under TTW, the Social Security Administration provides disability beneficiaries with a Ticket that they may use to obtain support from their chosen Employment Network. As an Employment Network, CILNCP will coordinate employment, vocational rehabilitation and other support services to beneficiaries. The ultimate goal of CILNCP is to assist beneficiaries to become self-sufficient through employment and, thus, no longer dependant on cash benefits.

When one selects CILNCP as their Employment Network, CILNCP will assist the ticket holder with the following employment services:

  • Job search assistance
  • Resume preparation
  • Interview Skills
  • Job placement
  • Job postings
  • Vocational counseling
  • Past employment support systems
  • Job coaching support

Social Security Work Incentives Outreach (funded through AHEDD)

Provide outreach on work incentives such as:

  • Impairment Related Work Expense
  • Plan to Achieve Self– Support
  • Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities  
  • Student Earned Income

 Serves: Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Northumberland, Montour, Snyder, Tioga & Union