Pioneer work program enjoys success in McHenry

As the people of McHenry County go about their lives, they are likely to see clients of Pioneer Center for Human Services working in many stores and businesses that they frequent.

There are a growing number of Pioneer clients working in the community due to the success of the Employee Development Services program at this agency headquartered in the town of McHenry.

Pioneer serves people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, traumatic brain injury and provides early intervention therapies for children from birth to age 5.

It also serves victims of sexual assault through the VOICE program and homeless men, women and children through the PADS program.

The Employee Development Services program is one of the "gems" in the Pioneer portfolio of services and programs and has become a national model of excellence.

The EDS program has been awarded two consecutive "exemplary" ratings from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. The most recent rating was received at Pioneer's accreditation survey in March 2008.

Pioneer's EDS program was also recognized by the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities as one of the "Best of the Best" programs in the state of Illinois in 2005.

EDS is a training program for individuals with developmental disabilities who would like to develop the work behaviors, attitudes, personal characteristics, interpersonal skills and functioning capacities to enter the workforce in the community.

Participants experience volunteer work, job exploration, skills training, computer training and interviewing as part of this broad- based program to prepare them for the working world.

Graduates enter the work force with a working portfolio, self-inventory profile and a recorded mock interview.

Since the program's inception in 2004, 16 graduates have realized their dream of finding fulfilling jobs in the community, in areas ranging from food service to animal care.

The EDS program was launched in 2004 with two initial areas of focus: curriculum-based vocational training and ongoing support for clients after they landed a job.

It was difficult, since there were no known programs to use as a role model. A curriculum was developed focusing on the current needs of service based employers, where communications and problem solving are priorities, versus the earlier focus on assembly in a manufacturing environment.

Skills training now includes an hour a day of computer classes.

Each client has an e-mail address and is able to access and begin computer training using assistive technology regardless of their disability using both hardware and software applications.

EDS has evolved over the years to include several other innovative aspects to its programming that contribute to its success: Focus on cross-programs transition planning.

EDS has partnered with other Pioneer programs in developing cooperative efforts in helping clients reach their career potential.

High school transition program-EDS has been successful integrating students transitioning from high school and has contracts with several school districts.

Volunteering leading to employment: One example of this is EDS clients volunteered at an animal therapy facility to experience "hands-on" the skill set needed to work with animals.

After experiencing the realities of job duties and employer expectations, two individuals pursued employment in the animal care field rather than their original preference of grocery and retail.

Job retention services: After securing a community job, EDS works with an employee on keeping their job. Currently eight clients continue to attend EDS for job retention skills on their days off.

Balancing work and Pioneer seems to be the key for individuals who need a little more support in transitioning to the working community.

After the launch of the EDS program, Pioneer experienced an increased ability to place clients in community jobs. The EDS program has more than doubled the number of clients placed in community jobs since its inception.

Graduation from EDS is a proud moment for clients and some family members who were initially doubtful that their loved one could be successful in a community job have been pleasantly surprised.

An Alumni Club has been formed of clients who graduate to community employment and when these individuals come back to visit, they are looked up to as role models by the other clients and inspire them to work hard to be successful.

One of the most exciting success stories of EDS is that it has proved to be effective for individuals with varied disabilities and backgrounds. EDS can be considered a model of how to accommodate a wide variety of intellectual, social, and physical differences.

In the future, Pioneer hopes to further integrate the EDS program into the community through the launch of a parallel EDS program at McHenry County College. It already offers classes one day a week at MCC and will move to two days a week during the summer.

As Rachel Merke, the EDS program manager, said, "The EDS program has really raised the bar of our expectations for clients and it is truly inspiring to see individuals reaching their goals and achieving their full potential every day."

And, most important, more and more individuals are living happy and fulfilling lives that include working in the community.