Community Based Employment

Community Based Employment is an opportunity for workers with disabilities to match their skills and interests with a job in their community. It is a successful national program and is defined as paid work in a community setting for individuals who need support. Support may mean personal counseling, job training, advocacy, coordination of services, and assistance to the employer for a successful placement.

 Workers are provided assistance in a variety of ways, including:

• Job development and placement to find work that matches interests and abilities

• Job coaching services to help learn and master new job skills

• Work site modifications in order to achieve quality standards

• Job accommodations

• Job keeping skills training

• Follow along support and intervention as deemed necessary

Employers can benefit because Community Based Employment provides:

• A pool of pre-screened workers to fill jobs which may otherwise be difficult to fill

• Job coaches who assist in training and supervising workers

• Analysis of job tasks and work stations that may lead to increased productivity

• Job and worker matches that can help decrease hiring costs by reducing turnover

• Expertise regarding production qualities of workers with disabilities

• Economic incentives and community awareness

The Community Based Employment Program is available to individuals with disabilities who want to work in their community and who would otherwise have difficulty finding and maintaining employment without support services. TRICO works closely with state departments of vocational rehabilitation in Michigan and Wisconsin, Northpointe Behavioral Healthcare Systems, and the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District to provide community employment to workers with disabilities in our area.

For more information on Community Based Employment, please contact: