Transitions reverses the traditional approach to disability employment services by starting with the employer. The program is designed to meet the employment needs of young people with disabilities and change the culture of the employment community. JVS works with employers to analyze targeted jobs and identify skills needed to succeed, staff then design training curriculum that is held at employer sites to equip participants with the necessary job-specific skills in a real workplace prior to beginning employment. Because initial employments through Transitions to Work represent either a first job, or a return to work after a long absence, Transitions clients enter bridge jobs usually averaging 18-20 hours per week. The curriculum is designed to provide ongoing skill development through the employment experience. In particular, clients build and practice the soft skills necessary to successfully navigate their new relationships with co-workers and supervisors including communication, receiving and implementing feedback, time management, self-advocacy, and asking for help. This period of the program also functions to help clients build the confidence necessary to extend their employment from the initial bridge employment to a goal job that can form the true basis of a career ladder.

The model creates strong employer partnerships to raise awareness about inclusive hiring practices and recognize young adults with disabilities as qualified candidates. JVS is so committed to this model that when the organization had to transition to remote services in March of 2020, staff quickly secured informational interviews with diverse employers and integrated these interviews into our curriculum. Fortunately, starting in October 2021 Transitions to Work returned to in-person sessions at our employer partners. Since our clients benefit greatly from in-person internships we are hoping to continue training on-site for the foreseeable future. However, during early months of the COVID pandemic JVS developed the capacity that we need to provide our Transitions to Work sessions in a virtual environment if needed in order to protect the health of our clients and staff.

JVS will run 9 sessions in Boston and 2-3 sessions on the South Shore, enrolling 6-9 individuals each session. Sessions are either training-based or internship-based.

Trainings include 6 hours a week of in-class training for 4 weeks. This 24-hours of training will focus on skill development in retail and customer service and takes place on-site at our employer partner, CVS Health, in their Workforce Innovation and Talent Center (WITC). The fifth week is a 10 hour Externship at a CVS retail location.

Internships are 7 weeks with the initial first week of classroom instruction includes orientation, onboarding, and building skills, while the sessions in weeks 2 – 7 include 4 days a week of individual internships that start at 2 hours each day and increase in half-hour increments, preparing clients for a 4-5 hour daily shift. The internships occur at employer partners like Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Cambridge or Charlestown, NewBridge On the Charles in Dedham, Boston Children’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and the VA Hospital in Brockton. Internship opportunities are in Food Service Prep, Food Delivery, Cafeteria Server, Cashiering and Retail, Environmental Services, Family Navigator, Materials Handler, Maintenance, and Package Delivery. Interns are mentored by the employer partners’ staffs and learn hands-on skills, develop confidence, and increase independence while they are coached and assessed by JVS Career Coaches.

After students complete their session, staff work with the graduates for up to one year to secure paid employment, provide the entry level job coaching they need to develop professional workplace skills, sustain the employment, and equip the client to develop a plan and pursue the ongoing education required to develop a growing career–moving from the initial bridge job experience to advancement to a goal job. Alumni are also invited to speak to current students to share their experiences, providing inspiration as well as a professional development opportunity.

UIF – Program Applications