Since 1985 Heritage Farm has supported individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities in becoming engaged, employed citizens of their communities. We offer several supported employment services that provide various hands-on educational opportunities to prepare individuals to find and maintain competitive integrated employment. We are committed to finding employment opportunities that align with each person’s unique strengths, abilities and interests.
1. TRANSITIONS
Service recipients in Transitional Employment will experience at least one of the four employment opportunities offered on the farm: customer service, housekeeping, agricultural and farm & grounds. Recipients will not only earn a paycheck, but also develop the skills necessary to pursue competitive employment. Emphasis will be placed on the realities of employment including accountability, task completion, quality of work, hygiene, communication, etc.
2. EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAM (ETP)
Service recipients participate in an integrated internship or “paid employment opportunity” through an agency partnered community organization or business. ETP service recipients receive intensive employment training as well as classroom time to complete a more comprehensive discovery packet. A job coach will be assigned to work alongside the individual during scheduled work hours with a plan to fade as deemed appropriate.
3. COMMUNITY PREVOCATIONAL
Community prevocational services are habilitation services that assist the individual to develop employment readiness skills and that are provided in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of the individual receiving such services. The services consist of learning and work experiences, including volunteer work, that are not job-task specific but contribute to an individual’s ability to attain paid employment in the community.
4. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT (SEMP)
SEMP is an employment model that provides service recipients the appropriate, ongoing support may be necessary for success in a competitive work environment. A job coach will work at the job site and help service recipients learn job tasks, identify, if necessary, job modifications that are needed including assistive technology, and work with the employer to support/solve behavioral or social problems that may occur.