Employment
Employment Enterprises, Inc. (EEI)’s employment and Work Skill Development programs provide training and employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and/or mental illness near Little Falls, MN.
How do our employment services work?
EEI takes individuals through a process when they are seeking employment. Individuals are involved in prevocational services while developing work skills. Individuals will typically start in the Work Skills Development classroom working on basic work skills, team building, public speaking, job search, the interview process, resume building, communication, and listening to specific directions. While in this program, they can apply for in-center recycling shop jobs as recycling and reclamation aides, in-house cleaning jobs as environmental service aides, and community crew jobs.
Community crews focus on employment support services. Individuals and job coaches go into the community to work as environmental service aides, grinder assistants, and production workers and helpers. The goal is for individuals to enter individual placement in the community. A handful of individuals have been hired directly by community partners in production work.
“Range Printing has been partnering with Employment Enterprises, Inc., for many years to bridge the gap in its labor needs at our Brainerd location. EEI provides us with a reliable work team that can accomplish certain packaging tasks during peak demand. Over the years, Range Printing staff members have gotten to know some of the EEI team members and enjoy interacting with them. The EEI team members enjoy working with the Range Printing staff and are a great addition to our production team. We look forward to a continued partnership with EEI and the team they provide to support our fluctuating labor needs.”
— Kevin Kapsner, Range Printing
How do clients spend their time?
Individuals involved in employment services focus on training and work by splitting their time between the employment program and Work Skill Development program.
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EEI’s employment program supports individuals who are seeking independent employment consistent with their interests, skills, and goals.
The individuals who attend EEI’s employment program are 18 and over.
While at the program individuals focus on building job skills in our recycling shop and in the community on crews. Individuals can focus on finding competitive employment opportunities through discussing their person-centered goals. An individual’s job search aligns with their skills and interests.
Individuals attend EEI’s employment program to strive for independence, achieve economic self-sufficiency, participate in their communities, and pursue their life goals.
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EEI’s Work Skills Development program is designed to train individuals in basic employment skills. Skills include following directions, communicating clearly, managing emotions, maintaining quality and efficiency, and keeping focus.
Challenges individuals face include mental and physical disabilities. Barriers to employment include poor attendance, lack of focus, poor communication skills, range of movement, and low stamina for work.
While at the program individuals participate in learning activities that focus on soft skills. Skills include goal setting, focus training, communication, and physical stamina. Basic employment skills are taught through cleaning simulation activities.
Individuals attend EEI’s Work Skill Development Program to get involved in planning activities, making choices, and building employment skills.
What does the future look like?
In the future, the state of Minnesota will focus on a person-centered approach to employment. The focus will be on community integration and inclusivity, competitive employment, and state and federal initiatives. Collaboration with businesses, community organizations, and community members is essential. Utilizing community resources creates opportunities for individuals to engage meaningfully in the community and create awareness and understanding about developmental disabilities and mental illnesses.
Individuals in EEI’s employment program will utilize the structure of employment exploration services and employment development services to seek competitive, integrated employment.
Useful Terminology
Here are definitions of services according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services Community-Based Services Manual (CBSM).
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Work-skills training and support services that advance people toward competitively paid employment in community jobs. Prevocational services focus on strengthening people’s fundamental work skills and achieving their individualized work-skill goals through meaningful work experiences and vocational training.
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Services that help a person gain a better understanding of competitive, integrated employment opportunities in their community. Exploration activities and experiences strengthen a person’s knowledge, interests and preferences so they can make informed decisions about competitive employment. Employment exploration includes individualized educational activities, learning opportunities, work experiences, and additional related services identified in the person’s coordinated services and supports plan (CSSP).
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Employment that pays a minimum wage or an industry standard, customary or prevailing wage with comparable benefits (e.g., health insurance, leave time).
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Individualized services designed to help a person achieve competitive, integrated employment, become self-employed or establish a microenterprise business in their community.
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Individualized services and supports that help people maintain paid employment in the community businesses/settings. Employment support services occur in integrated community settings.