1. Mainstream Employment and Learning Center (MELC) Employment Services

2. Job Placement Features Of Our Services Employment Preparation 1. Critical Choices Who Am I? Who Am I? Where Am I Going? Where Am I Going? How Do I Get There? How Do I Get There? How Do I Stay There? How Do I Stay There? 2.Benefits Planning

3. Job Placement Job Placement Process Placement Plan Placement Plan Employment Specialist Employment Specialist Regularly contact local employers to learn about jobs that are available, and then we connect job seekers with these employment opportunities. Provide job seekers with resources that help them conduct job searches, practice their interviewing skills. Regularly contact local employers to learn about jobs that are available, and then we connect job seekers with these employment opportunities. Provide job seekers with resources that help them conduct job searches, practice their interviewing skills. Follow Along Service After Placement Follow Along Service After Placement

4. Other Employment Services Enclave or Group Employment Eight or fewer individuals work under the ongoing supervision of a staff member. Eight or fewer individuals work under the ongoing supervision of a staff member. Enclave can serve a variety of purposes for an employment program. Enclave can serve a variety of purposes for an employment program. –Long-term employment option for some because it provides the level of support that they need. –Long-term employment option for some because it provides the level of support that they need. –Other individuals use it as a stepping stone to an individual placement. –Other individuals use it as a stepping stone to an individual placement. Pay exceeds Iowa’s minimum wage. Pay exceeds Iowa’s minimum wage.

5. Skills Training Employment skills training services are organized formal training services that assist a person seeking employment to acquire the skills necessary for specific jobs or families of jobs. MELC currently offers three skills training courses. These courses are a combination of classroom work and an unpaid internship. Employment skills training services are organized formal training services that assist a person seeking employment to acquire the skills necessary for specific jobs or families of jobs. MELC currently offers three skills training courses. These courses are a combination of classroom work and an unpaid internship.

6. Skills Training General Office Clerk General Office Clerk This course prepares people for employment in entry-level administrative support positions. Customer Service Representative Customer Service Representative The intent of this training is to prepare individuals to work as certified call center professionals Computer 101 Computer 101 The course provides individuals with limited computer experience the opportunity to increase their computer skills.

7. Supported Education Supported Education is an emerging best practice in the employment field. Essentially, supported education is intended to help students with disabilities succeed in post-secondary education. Similar to supported employment. Education Specialist assists with enrollment, develops an education support plan, tracks the educational progress of the student throughout the course, and intervenes when additional supports are needed.

8. Supported Education With the support of PCHS and a partnership with DMACC MELC is doing a pilot project with supported education beginning in January 2009. DMACC offers a variety of short-term non-credit certificate courses. These courses are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required for employment in a variety of fields, including health care, human services and manufacturing.

9. Contact Information Tricia Crain Mainstream Living 333 SW 9th Street, Suite J Des Moines, Iowa 50309 309-0324 Ext. 22 tcrain@mainstreamliving.org Website: mainstreamliving.org