Job Well Done: Job One & Disability Employment Services

We like to shine the spotlight on our partners whenever we can to spread the word about the incredible work they do. Together, we can make a real difference for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Jackson County, Missouri. This month, that partner is Job One. 

A Long Partnership: Job One and eitas

Job One and eitas have an enduring history of partnership going back to eitas’ founding in the mid-1970s. At that time, Job One provided employment opportunities in sheltered workshops for people with developmental disabilities and eitas provided supports for individuals employed by those workshops. In the decades since, both organizations have expanded their missions to provide more comprehensive and individualized support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We sat down with Job One CEO, Aaron Martin, to learn about some of the most recent changes to Job One’s work, enabled by funding from eitas.

Moving Toward Community-based Services

In the last few years, Job One was looking ahead to the next several decades of their organization and putting plans in place to ensure their continued success. As part of that plan, they wanted to move away from offering sub-minimum wage employment and move toward more community-based opportunities and employment. When their 14(c) certificate ends in fall 2024, all Job One employees will make Missouri minimum wage or above. To facilitate this transformation effort, eitas granted Job One $375,000 beyond the usual program support. CEO Aaron Martin spoke to what the grant has already made possible. “We needed to staff up, as an organization, to accommodate this change. It takes a different kind of staffing to excel at community-based services. Thanks to the grant from eitas, we have been able to make that transition as smooth as possible and not pull the rug out from under anyone in the midst of this change.”

Community-based Services for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Job One offers several meaningful opportunities to its program participants, both through employment and day services. 

Job One Careers is a program people are referred to through Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation or Missouri Department of Mental Health. Job One puts a lot of effort into benefits planning, making sure they understand people's goals, connections, social capital, non-negotiables and more. “There's a lot of planning on the front end. It’s a very customized approach,” said Martin. 

Community-Based Day Services (CBDS) are an opportunity for individuals who have a Medicaid waiver which gives them funding to purchase services from organizations like Job One. It is geared toward helping people connect with their community and build skills and self-confidence outside of an employment setting. “There have been employment outcomes even though they weren't necessarily the goal on the front end. People were saying: Hey, I want to get out and learn how to swim or become more active in my neighborhood… and, of course, that's how it works,” said Martin. 

Job One Apparel Shop was built as a way to offer meaningful work in-house. The board was adamant about this kind of employment option as Job One moves away from sub-minimum wage employment. Martin spoke to the benefits of the shop. “We have our own business and control of our own destiny. It aligns with our fundraising and community engagement efforts,” he said. The shop does screen printing, embroidery, direct to garment printing, and they make stickers and labels. 

Norman’s Story: from Sheltered Workshop to Community-based Employment

Norman is a program participant who had been employed in a Job One workshop for many years. That work wasn’t necessarily the best fit for him, so when Job One began the transition to more community-based employment, Norman was a prime candidate for a change. The team spent a lot of time with Norman and were able to find him a position at Christian Brothers Automotive. He has worked his way into doing several different jobs around the shop that add value to the company. Christian Brothers Automotive has worked with Norman to ensure that he is an integral part of the team.

Funding Positive Change for People with Disabilities

Job One, like many nonprofit organizations, needs funding to do the intensive and important work they do. Oftentimes, funding is restricted, limiting their ability to be innovative and adaptable. Martin talked about the necessity of unrestricted funding to be able to make changes for their continued success. “Eitas funding helps organizations like Job One when they have a new idea. Startup funding is one of the hardest things to come by. Our success rests on helping people make really good fits with hiring a person with a disability into their company and then providing ongoing support. Thanks to eitas’ funding, we're able to stay with a person a little bit longer than we would normally be able to,” he said. 

To learn more about the important work Job One does and how to get involved, visit www.jobonekc.org.