The Arc of Clarke County’s Customized Employment Solutions (CES) offers services funded by the Alabama Department Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) and Medicaid Waiver.
CES’s is also accredited by CARF. The focus of this program is to assist individuals with obtaining competitive employment in the community. This is achieved by offering the following services:
- Medicaid Waiver- Supported Employment (SE)-SE is funded through the Medicaid waiver program for employment individuals. This includes two distinct services: Job Developer and Job Coach and is reimbursed per 15-minute unit of service. Both services must be provided in integrated settings and paid at minimum wage (or better). SE-Job Coaching is a service funded by the Medicaid waiver. It is implemented by a community-based service provider and is reimbursed by 15-minute units of service. A job coach’s duties include: training individuals to perform specific jobs consistent with their abilities; working with employers to modify job duties or work stations so the individuals can have maximum opportunity for success; teaching individuals associated work skills and responsibilities; assisting the individual to become an integrated member of the work force; communicating through written and oral reports with program director and QDDP; providing continuous ongoing supports to individual’s in supported work; and performing other job duties necessary to ensure the success of individual’s in support work.
- Medicaid Waiver- Discovery is funded through the Medicaid waiver program. An employment specialist meets with the individual to develop a discovery profile. The profile includes input from the person’s family, friends, and support system. A profile interview and intake are completed and include identification of the support team, health information, and connections for employment. The purpose of this service is to develop a profile that helps facilitate a better job match that focuses on the person’s interests, strengths, barriers, and support needs.
- ADRS Funded Services- Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Pre-ETS is a service provided to high school students in Clarke, Washington, and Choctaw Counties. The purpose of the service is to support the students to be prepared for entering secondary education or the workforce after graduation. This is achieved by offering the following services: 1) Career Assessment, 2) Job Exploration Services, 3) College Tour- Group, 4) Workplace Tour- Group, 5) Driver’s Training, 6) College Preparation, 7) Workplace readiness, 8) Social Skills Training, and 9) Job Readiness Training. It is billed by service, and the fees are outlined in the contract with ADRS. This service is conducted at an educational institution and CES must adhere to the board of education regulations. Transportation is coordinated through the BOE or after hours with a transportation release signed by the student, parent/guardian, and CES/TACC staff.
- Job Exploration Training Services (JETS) JETS is a summer program offered to high school students in Clarke, Washington, and Choctaw Counties. This program is a 3 week/30-hour program that includes classroom time and paid work experience. The purpose of this service is to offer the student job readiness training and work experience. The service is billed per day of service, and the fees are outlined in the contract with ADRS. This is a community-based service. Transportation can be provided if the TACC’s transportation release is signed by the student, parent/guardian, and CES/TACC staff.
- CRP/Steps- This program is offered to individuals referred by ADRS. To qualify for this program the individual must have an IQ score of above 70. This program offers the following services to the participants: job preparation services, job development, and employment retention and closure service. The services are billed at the pre-determined rate outlined in the contract with ADRS.
- Supported Employment/Milestones Program- This program is funded by referral from ADRS. It is focused on providing supported employment. Supported employment can be defined as competitive integrated employment for individuals with the most significant disabilities. It is intended for individuals for whom competitive employment has not traditionally occurred, or for whom competitive employment has been interrupted or intermittent because of a most significant disability. Support employment promotes placement in a competitively integrated setting for the maximum number of hours possible, based on the unique strengths, resources, interests, concerns, abilities, and capabilities of the individuals. These individuals are expected to require on-going support to maintain employment. This service is conducted by completing the following steps: 1) determination of needs, 2) hire, 3) job retention, and 4) closure. The services are billed at the pre-determined rate outlined in the contract with ADRS.