TThe Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF) accredits Link's Supported Employment & Skills Training Programs. There are three programs for persons served to participate in: LEEP or Supported Employment (Job Development or Job Coaching).
Skills Training Programs:
Provide assessment, skill training and support to find and maintain work in numerous settings.
Link Employment Exploration Program (LEEP) is designed to help prepare an individual for community employment by offering job shadowing and hands on instruction to gain job experience in real life business settings. LEEP is a non-paid internship opportunity lasting up to ten weeks. The program is designed to offer participants
a selection from a variety of industries. Businesses will identify duties and tasks that are routine and entry-level for the participants to gain exposure to during their shift. Each site will have an assigned Employment Training Specialist (ETS) to assist participants with daily tasks and goals.
LEEP is designed to have the participant go through three different phases. Phase one is the discovery phase, where each participant will have a chance to shadow at potential businesses of interest. Phase two is the internship phase, once the participant has chosen a site, they will begin their internship. Phase three is the job development stage, where each participant will begin looking for community employment with a Community Placement Manager (CPM). Throughout each phase the CPM will be meeting with the participant to build a relationship and gain an understanding of the desired employment objective. The desired outcome of LEEP is for the participant to gain experience and to become employed in the community. This service is provided directly from Link Associates.Here are some of the different internship locations offered through LEEP: Alphabet Academy (Childcare), Aspen Athletic Clubs, Bickford of Urbandale (Assisted Living), Big Lots, Blank Park Zoo, Fareway, Heartland AEA, Hop-A-Lot Rentals, Pizza Hut, Rasmussen Bike Shop, Raygun, St. Vincent DePaul, Stuff ETC, Wines of Iowa.
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Support Employment:
Are you looking for an individual to fill an open need in your place of business?
An individual through our Supported Employment program could be the perfect fit! Our talented Job Developers can help you locate the ideal match for your need. At no cost to you, we can assist you in finding the right person to fill your opening. We can even assist you in finding ways to eliminate costs you’re currently incurring by evaluating your worksite to see where individuals can best assist you! Upon employment, Link Associates offers additional education and support with Employment Training Specialists. Again at no cost to you, our educated, professional Employment Training Specialists support you in the training of your new employee to ensure that all job components are fully understood. We provide on-going support to your business in order to ensure satisfaction and continued success for the business and individual.
Find out what employers like Hy-Vee, Wal-Mart, TJ Maxx & Pizza Ranch already know: Supported Employment is the Way to Go! To learn more about our talented individuals seeking employment in the community, contact our Admissions Coordinator at 515-262-8888.
Supported Employment is designed to provide work experience in a community environment along with supports necessary to ensure success. This program assists individuals to find a job, provide necessary training at the work site, and to monitor the work performance to assure excellent quality. During the training period, a staff person is with the consumer at all times and assures the employer that the required amount of work is being completed. Once the consumer independently performs the work tasks, Link staff supports the consumer as needed to ensure continued success. When support is not required for the period of one year they can be discharged from the program and continue to work independently. There is NO cost to the employer for the supports provided by Link Associates and consumers are compensated directly by the employer and wages and other benefits all fall within the employer’s standard hiring practices.
Our admission criteria includes:
• Dependent adult age 18 years or older, individuals 23 years or younger must have an open case with IVRS
• Ability to tolerate a three-to-eight-hour work day and be willing to participate/benefit from services
• The person served may not require a level of care greater than the service is able to provide
• The person served must have a primary diagnosis of intellectual, developmental and/or physical disability
• Must be eligible for Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) ID Waiver Services (Medicaid Funding), Iowa Total Care, Amerigroup, Molina, IVRS, 100% County funded or Private Pay